Should VW's dirty-diesel-debacle concern GM diesel owners?

[Gorehamj]

John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
9/21/2015

Over the weekend the big news in the automotive world was that the EPA has accused Volkswagen of purposely rigging its diesels to cheat emissions testing. According to an EPA document, VW has admitted to the cheating. The upshot is that VW diesels from 2009 through 2015 have been operating at 10 to 40 times the legal limit of NOx (oxides of nitrogen). Whether you care about the environmental impacts of emissions or not, you should care about automakers cheating on emissions equipment. Cars and trucks that don't meet emissions standards and have not had recalls completed can be precluded from being registered in California and the 10 other states that follow its guidelines. Consumer Reports has issued a statement saying it won't recommend any VW diesel until VW proves the fix does not change performance or fuel economy.

 

Chevy and GM are unlikely to be in any way affected by the VW cheating scandal. GM does not share any engines with VW, nor does it have any cooperation on emissions control technology we are aware of. In its recent advertisement for the Chevy Cruze Diesel Chevy says of its technology:

"Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel emissions are below strict U.S. environmental standards. New technologies including exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalyst reduction, a particulate filter and advanced fuel system components allow the diesel engine in Cruze to generate at least 90% less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions than previous generation diesels and very low particulate emissions."

 

[kstruckcountry]

To my knowledge, VW is far and away the leader for diesel car sales in the US. I'd bet that they are still running cleaner than most diesels on the road today. It's a shame to see good tech ruined by an outside force.

 

As far as the EPA, they're the ones who are really dirty.

[BRay'sGirl]

To my knowledge, VW is far and away the leader for diesel car sales in the US. I'd bet that they are still running cleaner than most diesels on the road today.

 

Maybe that's true - I don't know. It doesn't matter.

There are rules and now they have to pay a high price - love it!

 

Something is really wrong with some people. And, how can someone be so stupid? One day it's a switch, the next day it's cheating on emission tests - they admited already ....the thing that bothers me is it's not necessary.

 

Words mean nothing anymore.

[newdude]

As long as GM has been testing properly and not cheating, I don't think they should be worried. They should be worried about getting the 2017 Cruze Diesel to market faster depending on how long VW supply gets constrained by this. They might run out of any 2015 Cruze diesels left over very quickly if they defect to GM.

[Junkyard33]

Enjoy the gas mileage and reliability while you can, VW owners! The EPA is here to ruin your day.

 

There's got to be a VW engineer cracking up that it took them this long to find out they had a workaround for their testing. I WISH GM did this, it would save alot of people doing it after the fact some money.

[SnakeEyeSS]

Well, after VW posts their losses after this($18B is going to HURT, especially with the ever weaker Euro), it'll be a good time to buy some stock.

 

 

They did it because it DID hurt performace. Proof: Why would you risk getting caught for literally no reason or gain?

[BRay'sGirl]

They did it because it DID hurt performace. Proof: Why would you risk getting caught for literally no reason or gain?

 

Seriously? Thought GM already answered that question.... they needed to be bailed out and still made unthinkable decisions. VW is just another loser -

[Black02Silverado]

Love my Cruze diesel. Tail pipe is just as clean as my trucks. I have noticed some sooty rear ends on VW TDI vehicles. At least the ones that don't seem to wash their vehicles.

 

Check out the tail pipes on this BMW.

 

Sent from my MaxiPad

[SnakeEyeSS]

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/09/21/vw-stock-plummets-euro-markets-open/

 

 

Ouch.

[MikeNH]

Well the issue was that the diesels had a special mode for dyno-based emissions testing. All that is supposed to do is keep the traction control and similar systems from throwing a fit on the dyno but it also enabled some alternate engine calibration. So assuming GM trucks don't have a emissions/dyno mode (which to the best of my knowledge, they don't) there is no need for concern.

[j-ten-ner]

Like a slap in my face.

Very disappointing.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[Cowpie]

Well, it really doesn't matter on one level, but the possible outcome is that the EPA starts getting goofy about what might be not complying and start mandating some form of periodic testing of diesel vehicles. And if that comes about, you can darn sure bet, that those that fail to meet the prescribed emissions levels will be forced to make repairs, and if it is found the owners messed with stuff, pile on some serious fines to go along with mandating the repairs. It is never a good thing for the EPA giant to be shook from it's slumber. All it takes is one idiot, in this case VW, to screw things up and make everyone else's life more miserable. I hope it doesn't get this far, but based on past experience, I would be keeping my eyes open that the EPA monster gets riled.

['01LS1]

 

Maybe that's true - I don't know. It doesn't matter.

There are rules and now they have to pay a high price - love it!

 

Something is really wrong with some people. And, how can someone be so stupid? One day it's a switch, the next day it's cheating on emission tests - they admited already ....the thing that bothers me is it's not necessary.

 

Words mean nothing anymore.

 

Why do you love that they are paying a high price?

 

 

Seriously? Thought GM already answered that question.... they needed to be bailed out and still made unthinkable decisions. VW is just another loser -

 

Please clarify?

['01LS1]

To my knowledge, VW is far and away the leader for diesel car sales in the US. I'd bet that they are still running cleaner than most diesels on the road today. It's a shame to see good tech ruined by an outside force.

 

As far as the EPA, they're the ones who are really dirty.

 

EPA: Toxic river? What river? Look what these guys are doing over here...

[BRay'sGirl]

 

Why do you love that they are paying a high price?

 

 

Please clarify?

 

The question that came up was Why would you risk getting caught for literally no reason or gain?

 

 

High price:

first of all for a lot of companies around the world quality in general seems to not be important anymore, and you and me are paying the price on a regular basis for that. I am disappointed that most things I buy these days are not made to last but well, I have to deal with it. Fine.

So since the companies don't give a s... about (loyal) consumers I am happy to see that they, in this case VW have to pay the price for once. Especially if they make stupid decisions like this one. VW is having troubles for a quiet while (structure wise within the company) and so I wonder if doing business like that is the answer. I don't think so because in the long run workers might lose their jobs...

 

 

GM.... when a company needs financial help from the banks / Government (GM 11 billion?) to stay in business I would expect them to make even better choices for consumers. Instead one day they put the so called 'switch from hell' into their cars just to save some money and put peoples lives in danger.

They knew it's wrong, they could be sure they would get caught but still did it. So that's why I said GM answered that question already - and yes, I know there are a lot of companies playing the same game.

 

It looks like what they (the companies in general) are doing (wrong) is okay because everyone else is doing it.