Tougher emissions laws mean more servicing
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• Detroit Diesel's US engineering director Arnold Vander Bok says more frequent engine servicing will be needed to meet future European exhaust and noise emissions limits.
He believes Mercedes-Benz might not be able to maintain the 45,000km (28,000 mile) oil change interval it introduced along with its Powerliner 2 range in 1989. He also thinks that other engine and truck makers may have held off similar moves in the light of tough particulate legislation now being implemented in the US. "If you (in Europe) end up with similar constraints as the US you will not be able to maintain those oil change intervals," he says.
Vander Bok's comments follow his company's oilchange period reduction from 32,200km (20,000 miles) to 24,100km (15,000 miles) on some twostroke engines in order to comply with 1990 US particulate legislation. The more modern four-stroke Series 60 range has maintained its 32,200km (20,000 mile) service interval. He explained the problem is related to how much lubricating oil is burnt and how dirty it is. The latter is dependent on levels of soot contamination, which rises whenever timing is retarded to reduce noise emissions.
Mercedes-Benz denies its 45,000km oil change interval is at risk, stating that improved oil maintenance; such as better filtration and high-grade lubricants, will ensure it is maintained, if not improved. It also says the particulate laws will affect engines which burn oil, and that its low oil use engines will be less affected as a result.
In addition to reductions in gaseous emissions, the current US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposals will, if adopted, see an 83% reduction in the particulate limit from 0.6g/hp hour to 0.1g/hp hour in 1994. Similar percentage reductions were recently agreed by EC Environment Ministers.