EPA Issues Directive Waiving Emission Requirements for Diesel Engine Ambulances

blackpup · May 31, 2013

Still hammering the private sector though.

"In May of last year, after many complaints from other fire departments, the EPA issued a directive waiving the diesel emissions rules for fire engines and ambulances."

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A little more information
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/highway-diesel/regs/420f12025.pdf

jimmy

Murraycroexp · May 31, 2013

There is a tornado emergency in st louis at this time and oklahoma city has flash flooding with wind gusts of 87 mph please watch over your trucks!!!

blackpup · May 31, 2013

Can you imagine being stuck on the side of the road trying to do a regen, and realizing a storm is on the horizon ?

jimmy

cheri1122 · May 31, 2013

Murraycroexp said:
There is a tornado emergency in st louis at this time and oklahoma city has flash flooding with wind gusts of 87 mph please watch over your trucks!!!

Murray: posting the same msg in multiple threads is a nono. If it's that important, [and this qualifies], start a new thread.

Murraycroexp · May 31, 2013

I'm sorry. I saw it on TV and just wanted to make sure there wasn't even one driver oblivious to how serious it was out there. Again, I apologize.

skyraider · Jun 1, 2013

Ugh,,,there are weather radios on most CB's ........................

OntarioVanMan · Jun 1, 2013

skyraider said:
Ugh,,,there are weather radios on most CB's ........................

IF one had a CB....

zorry · Jun 1, 2013

CBs are for dock assignments and get turned off when leaving the customer.

zorry · Jun 1, 2013

Back to the topic.
That's pretty interesting.
Is the issue a problematic vehicle or improper training and maintenance ?

Curious how other people are doing with 2010 and newer vehicles.

My 2012 Volvo D13
4 hours downtime for a scheduled recall.( EDIT. NOT emission related.)
One parked re-gen. Just under an hour.
175,000 miles
Since regen have started paying attention to, and avoiding, biodiesel.

blackpup · Jun 2, 2013

zorry said:
Back to the topic.
That's pretty interesting.
Is the issue a problematic vehicle or improper training and maintenance ?

Curious how other people are doing with 2010 and newer vehicles.

My 2012 Volvo D13
4 hours downtime for a scheduled recall.
One parked re-gen. Just under an hour.
175,000 miles
Since regen have started paying attention to, and avoiding, biodiesel.

I would tend to blame the problems on design . There are quite a few recalls .

jimmy

zorry · Jun 2, 2013

Any new design, particularly one so complex and forced onto us in such a short time frame, could be problematic.

I still see these newer trucks doing a lot of idling. My guess is that idling is bad for them and should be avoided at all costs. I'm afraid by running short trips, and long trips with payloads often under 100 lbs, I may not be working my engine hard enough.

Add into that poorly trained techs. I feel good about what I have now. Once I go in for my first maintenance, if done wrong, I'm afraid it may open myself to one poor repair after poor repair.

I'll try to pick my OEM dealers wisely. The irregular nature of our work denies one the chance to find and routinely use a trusted dealer.

To the OP. If the driver's are ignoring the lights, or don't understand what to do when, can you blame the system ? It shouldn't take much warning to get an ambulance in for maintenance with the short nature of their trips /routes.
Unfortunately, they idle a lot. Why no APUs ?

There are many newer trucks out here. I'd like to hear how other's are doing with 2010 and newer engines.

I don't see them on the shoulders, or see them being towed in en masse. Maybe if I were around dealerships I'd see more.

Biodiesel will void my warranty if it's used over 5% and causes problems. I've started watching and planning my fuel purchases.

zorry · Jun 2, 2013

The present technology has been used in other countries for years. I wonder if it works well there.
If so, the design may not be as flawed as we think.

blackpup · Jun 2, 2013

All I can say in reply is that the EPA did issue a waiver. You are quite right about the chances of driver in the article, not knowing what the DPF warning light meant. How ever the vehicle in the article , had already been in the shop one time, for emission related issues, and according to the local union rep had been reported for emission issues three times .

jimmy

zorry · Jun 2, 2013

If it'd been reported three times does that mean a warning light came in three times, was written up, and ignored ?
The tech drives it around the parking lot cold, no light present, and reports " couldn't recreate problem " ?

BobWolf · Jun 2, 2013

Ive talked to meddics who have had thier ambulances unable to respond due to engine derating and having to park during regens taking place. Worse yet one I spoke with had a patient on board. Add to the fact you often need to idle the ambulande to maintain a steady temp when cold or you can destroy expensive lifesaving medications when they get cold.
You wont have any change unless a politician, celeberty, or thier family member is affected.
Bob Wolf

zorry · Jun 2, 2013

My Brother's very old diesel service truck was replaced this year with a new Ford 450.
V-10. Gas.
He love's it. He has no ownership interest in the truck.

zorry · Jun 2, 2013

Why no APU on Ambulance to eliminate idling ?
The Onan's are large enough, and dependable enough, to handle the load.

blackpup · Jun 2, 2013

zorry said:
If it'd been reported three times does that mean a warning light came in three times, was written up, and ignored ?
The tech drives it around the parking lot cold, no light present, and reports " couldn't recreate problem " ?

Good question.

BobWolf said:
Ive talked to meddics who have had thier ambulances unable to respond due to engine derating and having to park during regens taking place. Worse yet one I spoke with had a patient on board. Add to the fact you often need to idle the ambulande to maintain a steady temp when cold or you can destroy expensive lifesaving medications when they get cold.
You wont have any change unless a politician, celeberty, or thier family member is affected.
Bob Wolf

BobWolf. The waiver for ambulances and some classes of fire department equipment , has already been granted by the EPA. Exactly what would result from the waiver might be a good question.

My origianal question/point was that private industry, still has to live or suffer, with the EPA mandate.

jimmy