Shocking results from one of Europe’s foremost vehicle emissions testing labs have revealed massive shortcomings in some (legal) replacement exhaust systems. The results show 20 times the level of harmful Nitrogen Dioxide and 50 percent higher levels of damaging Hydrocarbons being emitted by non-type approved exhausts compared to fully type-approved exhausts, leading to calls for Type-Approval to become mandatory in the UK, as it already is in Europe.

Extensive testing by Longbridge-based Emission Test Facility UK has called the quality of construction, design and materials used in exhaust pipe make-up into question. Emission Test Facility UK’s directors and testers, Tim Colgan and Graham Downing, tested a selection of non Type-Approved exhaust systems against an original manufacturers unit and a fully Type-Approved replacement model.

The results make startling reading: NOx emissions are twenty times higher and hydrocarbons emitted are 50 percent higher when comparing the non-type approved exhaust with both the OE and a fully type-approved replacement.

The news comes after a report last year cited the UK as having the worst road pollution in Europe, according to the government report, 95% of UK cities exceeded the European Union limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This figure is almost double that of the next worst polluter, Germany, where 52% of cities exceed the limit, followed by Italy with 42%, France 21% and Spain 14%. The report, by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), warns that the UK will face large fines for breaching the EU limit unless radical measures are taken.

The effect of potentially millions of vehicles with poor quality replacement exhausts systems, (industry figures estimate over 8 million vehicles on UK roads have an aftermarket exhaust fitted), driving around kicking out thousands of tonnes more Nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons than the manufacturers intended not only represents a serious health risk, and a huge environmental issue, it could mean that government and industry quoted figures for road car pollution would be extremely wide of the mark.

In the wake of recent publicity (19th April 2010) surrounding Corby council being found negligent over its reclamation of an old steelworks site; toxic pollution from which was blamed for causing birth defects during the 1980s and 1990s, the public is unlikely to be sympathetic towards official inaction towards addressing another serious pollution issue when it has now been highlighted.

These figures have been sent to the Department for Transport, and although interest has been expressed in the results, there is no clear intention being expressed by the department to make changes to the law in order to protect the public from this severe pollution issue.

Following repeated industry calls for the protection afforded the consumer by new legislation by UK and EU manufacturers of type-approved exhaust systems, there’s little support from government for law changes – despite the alarming results: “The UK government has changed the law to ensure that replacement catalysts are type-approved, in order to improve pollution levels, but refuses to apply the same controls on exhaust systems, although the rest of Europe already complies.” Colgan says.

So why are non-type approved exhausts showing such a poor results? Colgan again: “The quality of the material and the design of the internals used in the exhaust pipe and silencer boxes will affect the way gases build up in the catalyst, and if that gets too hot the catalyst won’t work properly. And while non Type-Approved exhaust systems might be cheaper to buy they can have more drastic effects.”

So what is the legacy of that poor-quality pipework? Graham Downing explains: “People will buy a cheaper replacement or a performance exhaust because it saves them money or is claimed to increase performance. That’s usually not the case, especially with a cheap performance system, which might look good but does nothing other than make the car much noisier.”

And because of their poor quality, cheaper standard systems often either don’t create enough back pressure or create far too much back pressure for the engine to work properly. The result is more emissions because the engine is working inefficiently, and as Colgan says; “When the original exhaust fails it should be replaced with a good-quality one in order to protect the car and it seems now our environment.”

But the economic slowdown has led to some exhaust suppliers and retailers considering reducing quality in order to cut costs. And while alternative products might seem cheap, there’s a reason for it – they’re not up to the job. Traditionally far more exhaust pipes than catalysts are replaced every year, and Colgan accepts that even with a smattering of technical nous most motorists will insist on a good-quality catalyst, but won’t be worried what sort of pipe and silencer system is being fitted, due to a lack of awareness.

“Motorists should insist on a system that will last, because anyone can currently make and supply systems to the aftermarket,” Colgan says.

Type-Approved systems will not only raise the quality bar while reducing harmful emissions and increasing miles per gallon, their introduction will also help to level the playing field between independent workshops and national fitting centres, making sure both channels to market deliver a quality product that does not pollute unnecessarily.

Ever-tightening legislation today puts the onus on vehicle manufacturers to clean up their cars’ emissions, car companies have to design a complete system involving the engine, the management system and the exhaust system working as a complete unit. Only for a non-type approved aftermarket item to potentially nullify all those efforts.

“It’s important to create the correct back pressure and achieve the optimum temperature so that the catalyst is working properly – if the temperature gets too high the dashboard warning light will be set off and that means the use of the right components cannot be over-emphasised. Ultimately I think that within the next five years all aftermarket components will be Type-Approved,” Downing says.

How long before government follows legislation across mainland Europe is open to debate, but Type-Approved catalysts as well as exhausts would be good for the environment, our health, our cars and their running costs, all it takes is a simple law change to stop this potentially devastating pollution.

About Emission Test Facility UK

Emission Test Facility UK recently gained a top three placement in the most accurate test facility results, as assessed by the BTC Testing Advisory Group who arrange regular correlation exercises across several vehicle emission test facilities. The company which is based in Longbridge Birmingham offers a variety of testing services which includes Conformity of Production, research and development and type approvals. The company has the capability of testing petrol, diesel, LPG and CNG. The laboratory comprises of a 20 inch two wheel twin drive chassis dynamometer, Horiba MEXA 7000 ULEV and DLS 9100S exhaust analytical measuring system, temperature controlled environment and highly motivated, skilled engineers with more than 20 experience . ETF UK Ltd is a member of the BTC Testing Advisory Group.

Captions

Picture 1. Results show 20 times the level of harmful Nitrogen Dioxide and 50 percent higher levels of damaging Hydrocarbons being emitted by non-type approved exhausts.

Picture 2. Type-Approved replacement exhaust systems match original vehicle manufacturers standards, reducing pollution drastically, and adding to fuel efficiency.

Picture 3. UK exhaust manufacturers are calling for the law to be changed, bringing the UK into line with other EU countries that already require type-approval.

Picture 4. Emission Test Facility UK based at Longbridge - one of the most accurate test facilities in Europe – performed the tests that compared non-type approved exhausts with type-approved replacements.

Picture 5. Tim Colgan of ETF UK, “The quality of manufacture and the design of the internals makes the difference, affecting the way gases build up in the catalyst, resulting in varying back pressure and wildly differing levels of pollution”

Picture 6. Millions of vehicles on UK roads could be subject to this issue, but there is rarely any price difference by the time the public buys a replacement; consumers need to know what to ask for and increased pressure needs to be applied to politicians and the DfT in order to effect change.

About the KLARIUS Group

The Klarius Group is the fastest growing automotive aftermarket manufacturing and supply business in the world today. The Klarius Group operates five high-volume Manufacturing Plants, a Research & Development Centre, four European Technical Centres, six International Logistics & Distribution Hubs, and twelve national and regional Stock Warehouses. Klarius Group Headquarters are located in Manchester (UK).

The two current major market brands within the Klarius Group are Klarius Emission Control Products and Quinton Hazell Automotive. Both the QH and Klarius product brands represent a range of high-quality replacement and OE automotive products. Klarius Group companies now offer over 100,000 parts, covering the majority of the European Car Parc, supplying over 40,000 parts every day, to over 5,000 delivery points in more than 136 countries.

Other Klarius Group brands include: Lip (Lipmesa), Commercial Ignition, Krooklok, Moprod, Friesen, Wix (distribution).

Editor Contact

DMA Europa Ltd. : Roland Renshaw
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Email: roland@dmaeuropa.com

Company Contact

Klarius Group Ltd. : Véronique Auger
Tel: + 44 (0) 1524 751 292 Fax: +44 (0) 1524 751 604
Web: www.klarius.eu
Email: Veronique.Auger@Klarius.EU