Ford extends exhaust lab
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A it).5 in extension to Ford's exhaust emission laboratory at its Minton, Essex engineering and research centre was officially opened this week by Environment Minister William Waldegrave.
Four highly advanced test cells have been built mainly for development of Ford's next generation of lean-burn petrol engines, but also for exhaust emission type approval certification.
A further SD million is soon to be spent on two more test cells.
The exhaust emission laboratory at Dunton was first opened in 1971. Since then it has been responsible for all exhaust emission research and certification testing of all European Ford commercial vehicles and cars, petrol and diesel-engined, up to 3.5 tonnes GVW.
The laboratory now has 11 cells including a recently updated atmospheric test cell which is used to investigate the effect of altitude, ambient temperature and relative humidity on exhaust emissions.
• Ford has responded to CM's criticisms of the new Transit's fuel Idler — in our back-to-back road test last week.
We found that the fuel tanks were difficult to top up, and Ford engineers have redesigned the breather tube to prevent the air lock which causes a fuel blowback.
A Ford service fix is already available for existing vehicles and will be changed for on-line production as soon as possible.