Ontario's Drive Clean : a new mandatory vehicle emissions-testing program

2008·1.4 MB·English

Drive Clean makes a difference
Ontario’sDriveCleanprogramisreducingsmog-
causingpollutantsfrombothlight-dutyandheavy-
dutyvehicles.Theprogramisconcernedwith
helpingusmakesmartchoicesaboutthewaywe
maintainanddriveourvehicles.Drivingcleancan
saveyouupto10percentinannualfuel per.
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FormoreinformationonOntario’sDriveClean,call: S Ontario’s Drive Clean
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orvisit 7 A Mandatory Vehicle
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(unless otherwise indicated), which is held by the Queen's Printer for Ontario. It
may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes if credit is given and Crown
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It may not be reproduced, in all or in part, for any commercial purpose except
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For information on reproducing Government of Ontario works, please contact
ServiceOntario Publications at
Smogisaserioushealth-relatedprobleminOntario
andmotorvehiclesare the single largestdomestic
source ofsmogandasource ofseveralothertoxic
contaminants.
Smogisbadnewsformanypeople,particularly
children,the elderlyandthose withrespiratoryand
cardiovascularillnesses.The OntarioMedical
Associationestimatesthatsmogisresponsible for
more than5,900premature deaths,about17,000
hospitaladmissionsandmore than60,000emergency
departmentvisitseachyear.
ThroughDrive Clean,vehicle ownershave an Light-duty vehicles
opportunitytomake apositive contributiontothe
qualityofourairthroughgoodvehicle maintenance TheLightDutyDriveCleanprogramrequiresmost
andbyidentifyingemissionsproblemssothatthey passengercars,vans,lighttrucks(under4500
canbe corrected. kilograms)andsportutilityvehiclesregisteredin
The advancedemissionscontroltechnologyin theDriveCleanprogramareatobetestedinorder
today’svehiclesandthe developmentofhybridsand torenewthestickersontheirlicenceplates.Light-
alternate fuelvehicles,alongwithcleanerfuels,are dutyvehiclesthatare1988modelyearandnewer
sharplyreducingharmfulemissions.However,there requiretestingeverytwoyearsbeginninginthefifth
willbe vehiclesonthe roadwithoutthatadvanced calendaryearaftertheirmodelyear.
technologyformanyyearsandeventhe more
Ifyourvehiclerequiresanemissionstest,youwill
advancedvehiclesrequire regularmaintenance to
receiveareminderaspartofyourvehiclelicence
keepthemoperatingcleanly.
renewalapplicationfromtheMinistryof
Awell-maintainedvehicle thatisusinglessfuel
Transportation.
savesusmoneyatthe gaspumpsaswellasemitting
Note:Ifyourplateexpiresandyoudelayrenewaluntilthe
fewerpollutants.Earlyidentificationofemissions
nextcalendaryear,anemissionstestwillstillberequired.
problemscanalsohelpavoidmajorrepairbillsand
give usvehiclesthatare more reliable,runmore Anemissionstestisrequiredforaresalevehicle
smoothlyandwilllikelylastlongeronthe road.See beinglicensedfortheroadforvehicleswithamodel
the brochure “10 Tips for Driving Clean”for yearolderthanthecurrentcalendaryear.Thisisan
more informationonhowtosave money,helpreduce importantconsumerprotectionmeasuretohelp
pollutionandprotectthe qualityofourair. ensurethatconsumersdonotunwittinglypurchase
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ausedvehiclewithemissionsproblems.More Light-duty vehicle1 model years
informationisavailableontestingforresale requiring tests:
vehiclesintheDriveCleaninformationcard,
ModelYearofVehicle ModelYearofVehicle
“BuyingorSellingaUsedVehicle.”
1989 1988
Motorhomesregisteredtoaddressesinthelight- N N N N
I I I I
1991 1990
dutyvehicleprogramareaalsorequireemissions
G G G G
N N N N
tests.Theyareclassedwithlight-dutyvehiclesand I 1993 I I 1992 I
T T T T
thereforerequiretestingeverytwoyears.However, S S S S
E 1995 E E 1994 E
thesizeandweightofthesevehiclesmeansthat T T T T
theyrequiretestingatDriveCleanFacilities RE 1997 RE RE 1996 RE
I I I I
accreditedtoperformheavy-dutyvehicletests. QU 1999 QU QU 1998 QU
E E E E
R R R R
(cid:2) 2001 (cid:2) (cid:2) 2000 (cid:2)
2003 2002
2005 2004
1Alight-dutyvehicleisonethatweighs4,500 2006
kilogramsorless,whileaheavy-dutyvehicle
weighsmorethan4,500kilograms.
How is the Drive Clean test done?
The Ontario Drive Clean emissions test can only
be performed at an accredited Drive Clean facility
by a certified emissions inspector.
Light-duty vehicle exemptions:
Most light-duty vehicles are tested on a
• Allhybridvehicles(thosepoweredbya dynamometer, a treadmill-like device. The vehicle
combinationofinternalcombustionenginesand is warmed up to normal operating temperature. A
electricmotors) gas analyzer, connected to the vehicle through a
• Vehiclesofthe1987modelyearandolder probe in the tailpipe, then measures the
• Allvehiclescurrentlydesignatedas“historic” concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx),
undertheHighwayTrafficAct hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO)
• Light-dutycommercialfarmvehicles while the vehicle is being “driven” on the
• Kitcars dynamometer and again when the vehicle is idling
• Motorcycle at the end of the test.
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An Emissions Warning
Ifthe“CheckEngine”lightonyourdashboard
comesonandstayson,yourvehicle’sonboard
computersystemhasdetectedanemissions
relatedproblem.Makesurethegascapisnot
looseormissingasthiswilltriggerthe“Check
Engine”lighttoilluminate.Ifthelightremains
onhaveyourvehicleservicedsooninorderto
preventexcessiveemissionsandavoiddamaging
theengineoremissionssystem.Ifthe“Check
The test results are compared by a computer to Engine”lightisflashing,theproblemiscritical
emissions standards for the vehicle and its model andyoushouldhaveyourvehiclelookedat
year, with an allowance for vehicle age and wear immediatelybyaqualifiedrepairtechnician.
and tear.
Some vehicles cannot be tested on a dynamo-
meter. In these cases the vehicle will be given a
two-speed idle test, again with a probe inserted in
the tailpipe – to measure HC and CO only.
Somecommonexamplesofenginewarninglights
Ifyourvehiclehasatest-relatedsafetyproblem,
amissingcatalyticconverter,orreleasesvisible What happens after
smokefromthetailpipe,itcannotbetesteduntilit my Drive Clean test?
hasbeenrepaired.SuchproblemscouldharmDrive
Youwillreceiveacomputer-generatedreportthat
CleanFacilitystaffandresultindamagetothe
willtellyoutheconcentrationsofpollutantscoming
vehicleormalfunctioningofthetestequipment.
fromthetailpipe.Ifyourvehicledoesnotmeet
If the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL), also
emissionsstandards,youwillalsoreceiveafact
known as the “Check Engine’’ light, on the
sheetdescribingthemostcommonreasonsfor
dashboard remains illuminated in 1998 and newer
vehiclesfailingthetestandinformationonwhatto
model year vehicles, the owners will be advised
donext.
that it may indicate a malfunction of the vehicle
Vehicleswithemissionsfaultsshouldbefully
emissions system.
repairedandpassaretesttoensurethatharmful
pollutantsarenotbeingemittedintotheair.Drive
Cleanrecognizes,however,thatthisisnotalways
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possibleandhasestablishedaconditionalpassfor
Vehicle emissions history
light-dutyvehicles.
Toobtainaconditionalpass,avehiclemustcomply Usethe“VehicleEmissionsHistory”searchonthe
withtherequirementsoftheRepairCostLimit DriveCleanwebsitetofindouttheresultsofyour
(RCL),whichputsacapontheamountthatmustbe vehicles’previousemissionstest(s).Simplyenter
spentonemissions-relatedrepairsbeforeavehicle theVehicleIdentificationNumber(VIN)andclick
canberetested.Aconditionalpasscannotbeused the“WhenwasmyVehicleTested”button.
totransferownershipofavehicle.
ForcompletedetailsonConditionalPassesandthe
What if I disagree with the test
RepairCostLimit,consultthebrochure“Whatisthe
results or repairs?
RepairCostLimit?”
Ifyoudisagreewiththeresultsofthetestorthe
TheDriveCleanpassreportforyourvehiclemaybe
repairsperformedataDriveCleanfacility,youcan
usedforregistrationrenewalsandownership
contacttheDriveCleanCallCentreat1-888-758-2999
transfersforupto12monthsfromthedateofthe
forassistance.Ifadisputecannotbesettled,you
test.Thepassmustbevalidontheexpirydateof
andtheotherpartymaybereferredtoan
thelicenceplates,oronthedateofthelicence
independentdisputeresolutionprocess.This
transactioninthecaseofalaterenewalor
disputeresolutionprocessisonlyavailableifyou
ownershiptransfer.
dealwithaccreditedDriveCleanfacilities.
Whiletestresultsareautomaticallyrecordedinthe
province’svehicleregistrationdatabase,vehicle
ownersareadvisedtohaveacopyoftheirpass
reportavailablewhenrenewingvehicleregistrations
ortransferringownership.
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Drive Clean’s Heavy-Duty
Vehicle Program
Heavy-dutydieseltrucksandbusesmustpassan
emissionstestthatmeasurestheopacityofthe
exhaust:theamountoflightthatisblockedbythe
particulatematterintheexhaust.Thisappliesto
heavy-dutyvehiclesregisteredanywhereinOntario.
Thisparticulatematterisasourceofconcern
becausethemicroscopicparticlesresultingfrom
incompletefuelcombustionareeasilyabsorbedinto
ourlungs.TheemissionsstandardsinOntarioare
amongthemoststringentinNorthAmericaand
The Environmental Protection Act
includespecialrequirementsforheavy-dutydiesel
schoolbusestohelpprotectthehealthofchildren. AllvehiclesonOntario’shighways–whether
registeredinOntarioorfromout-of-province–are
Non-dieselheavy-dutyvehiclesthatareregisteredin
subjecttotheprovincialEnvironmentalProtection
thelight-dutyvehicleprogramareaaresubjecttoa
Act(EPA).Theactprohibitsexcessivevisible
two-speedidletesttomeasurecarbonmonoxide
exhaustemissionsandthealterationorremovalof
andhydrocarbons.Thesevehiclesrequireannual
emissionscontrolequipment.Thisappliesto
testsandcannotqualifyforapassexemption.
vehicleseveniftheyhavepassedaDriveCleantest.
MoreinformationonDriveClean’sheavy-duty
Inaddition,theEPAmakesitanoffencetobeinvolved
vehicleprogram,includingavoluntaryincentive
intheproductionofafalseDriveCleanpassortotry
programtoencourageevenbetteremissions
touseoneforavehicleregistrationtransaction.
performancefromdieselvehicles,isavailable
inthebrochure,“Drive Clean’sHeavy-Duty
Vehicle Program”.
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