Words by Ramsay Beacham
Photography by Lachlan Payne

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With the demand for cleaner emissions always on the incline, engine designers have been put under the pump to find solutions. They’ve been going ahead in leaps and bounds, and they have improved exhaust gas emissions to help to create a cleaner planet.

As consumers, we rely on a steady supply of fuel to power our vehicles. Most of us are more concerned about petrol prices than the impact exhaust gas emissions have on our environment and air quality.

These are the two biggest issues that engine designers must continually address in order for us to carry on driving our beloved machines.

Air pollution is the most obvious exhaust gas emission, and it can affect us directly as it actually reduces the quality of the air we breathe.

An exhaust gas analyser uses a probe inserted into the tailpipe to obtain exhaust gas emission levels	A variable geometry turbo (VGT) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve have been used on the ZD30 since its inception in 2000. This both improved power and reduced exhaust gas emissions

Many pollutants contribute to this including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. These can often be seen pluming from the back of older diesel engines.

In rural areas, air pollution is less of a concern to human and animal well-being. However, in urban and built-up areas with high traffic volumes, it can cause major health problems.

The biggest issue for our environment where motor vehicles are involved is the emission of greenhouse gases from exhausts. The major one we are concerned with is carbon dioxide, which contributes heavily to climate change and global warming.

The rate that any given engine emits carbon dioxide is directly proportional to how much and the type of fuel being burned

The Australian Design Rules (ADRs) is a system where all new and second-hand imported vehicles that come into Australia must comply with strict safety and emission laws.

The ADRs relating to tailpipe emissions are derived directly from the more recognisable Euro standards as compiled by the European Union (EU).

The Euro standards set limits on the amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and particulate matter that different vehicle and engine types are allowed to emit.

They are becoming increasingly strict as the years go by. Increasing pressure is on vehicle manufacturers to develop cleaner-running engines, or to develop new methods of filtering out these pollutants.