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SUPPLEMENT TO McHENRY PLAI^DEALER - PAGE 2 -FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6,1978 . Let emissions controls do job--EPA Tampering will not boost mileage; is costly, illegal By Marvin B. Durning Assistant Administrator for Enforcement, EPA Time was, when we shop­ ped for a new car the only thing we cared about was how big it was and how fast it would go. Out of that era of automatic gears and reclining seats came an air pollution problem. The amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides blowing out of automobile t<*..pipes contribute more than one- half of the man-made air pol­ lution. Recognizing the effects of automobile emissions on the health and welfare of the na­ tion, Congress passed a law which requires manufactur­ ers to produce cars that will reduce the emissions. Auto makers have done this by in­ stalling pollution control equipment which will greatly improve the air quality. Proper care important But the auto owner must realize that proper care of that equipment is every bit as important as the care we so generously lavish on the rest of the automobile. Since August 8, 1977, all automobile service or repair facilities have been prohi­ bited by Federal law from knowingly tampering with a car's emission controls. This new law provides a significant legal reason why you should not ask your au­ tomobile repair facility to remove or disconnect some part of your car's emission control system in hopes of improving gas mileage or driveability. If a repair facil­ ity breaks this law, it is sub­ ject to a civil penalty of up to $2,500. The penalty is up to $10,000 for automobile manufacturers and dealers. Reasons not to tamper In addition to the law, there are other good reasons why tampering should not be done: • In most cases, tampering will not improve a car's gas mileage or driveability, and may make them worse. • The one certain result of tampering is that it will in­ crease your car's emissions and add to air pollution. • Tampering is an expen­ sive waste, nullifying emis­ sion controls that on a new model car may have cost you between $200 and $300. Another important point is that the law does not contain a prohibition against car owners tampering with their cars' emission controls. But nearly all states do have such a prohibition. You can be prosecuted and fined under many state laws for any tam­ pering that you do to a car's pollution controls. Tampering is removing, disconnecting, damaging, or in any way rendering ineffec­ tive any emission control de­ vice or element of design in­ stalled on a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine. Tampering may include: • removing or rendering inoperative such devices as the catalytic converter, air pump, and EGR valve. • disconnecting vacuum lines and electrical or mechanical portions of the pollution control system such as electrical solenoids or vacuum-activated valves. • adjusting an element of a car's emission control design out of line with the manufac­ turer's specifications. • knowingly installing a replacement part that is not equivalent in design and function to the part that was originally on the car. Exam­ ple. incorrect EGR valve. (This, however, does not mean that you have to use replacement parts sold by the motor vehicle manufacturer or its franchised dealers.) • adding on a part that was not originally certified on the car. Example: installation of dual carburetors to replace a single carburetor. • enlarging the fuel filler rest­ riction inlet to allow the use of regular leaded gas in cars that require unleaded gas. Gas mileage suffers Contrary to the belief of some vehicle owners, the catalytic converter, a major means of pollution control on most cars made after 1974, has no negative effect on gas mileage and driveability. In fact, the catalyst has helped make it possible for cars with emission controls to achieve the same or even better gas mileage than cars had in 1967, before emission controls were installed on cars. Maintaining your car ac­ cording to the manufactur­ er's specifications will al­ most always enable your car to get better gas mileage and lower emissions. In addition, keeping your car well tuned will almost al­ ways improve driveability and lengthen the life of your car's engine. Under the Clean Air Act, car manufacturers are re­ quired to provide a warranty covering emission control devices for a period of five years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, when a car's emission controls have been tampered with, or when leaded gas is used in cars re­ quiring unleaded, a car man­ ufacturer may not be obliged to honor warranty rights. The car manufacturer or dealer can justifiably argue that the car has not been properly maintained according to the manufacturer's spec ifications. The emission controls in­ stalled on motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines are there to reduce the pollution from these sources to help meet national ambient aif quality standards which were established to protect public health. The removal or ren dering inoperative of these devices defeats a vital por­ tion of the nation's program to clean up the air. You can help clean the air by not requesting to have your emission controls tam pered with, but instead, make sure the mechanic fol­ lows the specifications rec­ ommended by the manufac­ turer for best performance and emission control. Easy does it if rocking car out of ice Automatic transmissions have a tough way to go in deep snow This is due in part to the added resistance against the tires rolling through the snow. But the greatest damage can come from attempts to rock the car out of an icy rut. When attempting to free yourself by alternately shift­ ing from drive to reverse, do it gently. Changing gears abruptly while wheels are spinning can be harmful, if not fatal, to your automatic transmission. Since you probably won't get out of your rut any faster by increasing the speed of that spinning rear tire, go easy on the gas and be sure you have brought the wheel to a complete stop before changing from forward to re­ verse or vice versa. If you p a u s e b y a p p l y i n g y o u r brakes between change of direction, you'll help ease the strain too - m Wm The First National Bank Of McHenry is geared to move fast. Got the new car bug? . . . Shift to the FIRST NATION VL BANK OF McHhMn for a|| Qf your automobile financing -needs. Our loan officers can set you on the right track with payments designed to fit your budget. We offer 36, 42 or 48 month financing on NKW (ARS. anc| up to 36 month financing on USED ( AKS. Check our rates and terms. Most applications receive at­ tention within 24 hours. You'll like our way of puttina vou in first gear! Serving the banking needs of the McHenry area. Member FDIC XclTIONJcll BaiMK OF !VI< HeiMRY 3814 WEST ELM STREET P • BOX 338 McHENRY ILLINOIS 60050 81 b 38b b400