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Apologies for the few days delay from typical schedule but this is the most interesting story I have found regarding the diesel world. Cummins is hot water again with environmentalists.

I wrote about the fine Cummins faced a few months ago from the EPA for the engines put into the Ram trucks over the past decade. Once again the engine manufacturer finds themselves at the mercy from environmental organizations but this time just the California Air Resources Board.

Cummins settled on a $46 Million fine with CARB and the DOJ for violations related to the engines placed in the Nissan Titan trucks. The allegations including selling engines to Nissan that completely failed the emissions compliance, submitting field fixes to vehicles with submitting proper paperwork, and implementing software changes that lowered the effectiveness of the emissions control systems. All of this Cummins denies and accepts no wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

In my opinion they have more than likely committed all of these alleged violations. Now I need to be clear I do not blame Cummins or wish to speak ill of them. I am very sympathetic to their concerns when it comes to emissions standards. For those that don’t know how these systems work they are intentionally restricting flow of the exhaust to catch all the ‘bad carcinogens’ from leaving the tailpipe. Doing this to the EPA and CARB’s requirements comes at the cost of performance of these engines.

Now Nissan Titans are probably a bad example of the point I am going to make because that is a diesel truck that is not as often used for heavy work purposes. These diesel engine manufacturers’ number one goal for their customers is to be able provide engines that can perform to their needs. The average diesel truck is not (typically) going to the home and office and back. Often they are hauling or towing heavy loads which means the customers expect a certain amount of horsepower and torque out of these engines. And pushing the higher end of horsepower out of these engines while equipped with emissions equipment often results in repairs these manufacturers are on the hook for in their warranty.

This becomes relevant when you have a breakdown and perform a field fix. This is where someone comes and makes a change to the engine so it keeps working. At this time is likely when someone comes and changes the effectiveness of the emissions equipment so the truck will actually work (one of the things Cummins is accused of). Ironically this is something that both the customer and the manufacturer want; a functioning vehicle that is not constantly requiring warranty work. The only one who wants these devices on these engines are the one party who really is not affected and that’s a bureaucratic environmental organization who has no clue how these vehicles are used. They want emissions systems solely so they can claim they are saving the world.

The real irony is that Cummins is not likely the only one of the manufacturers doing this they just seem to be the only one who was caught. Just as Volkswagen was guilty of a decade ago all of these diesel engine manufacturers are doing anything in their capability to appease the smog police whilst still offering a vehicle that customers actually want. The more of these I come across the more I hope some of these companies begin to speak out on the stupidity of these requirements just as the coats guard did in last week’s story.

On a more positive note I have a private group on Skool called the Diesel Den where you can post content on diesel vehicles whether it be a project of your own or if you need help with something.

ALSO! On May 31 we will have a giveaway excusive to those in the group. The more you contribute to the group the more entries you get into this giveaway. Click the link below to check out the group and also see the rules of the giveaway

Thanks,

Steven C