DETROIT, Mich. — The first in-use emissions test on the Detroit Diesel Series 60 heavy-duty engine have indicated the engine is in good standing with the standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA mandates emissions standards must be demonstrated over the useful life of the engine, which is 435,000 miles for heavy-duty diesel engines.

“Our testing really demonstrates that Detroit Diesel is ahead of the curve when it comes to complying with the regulations and our working relationship with the EPA and the California Air Resources Board,” said Glenn Lysinger, Detroit Diesels Chief Compliance Officer.

Detroit Diesel recently worked with an in-service truck and driver to evaluate the in-use emissions coming from a 2004 Series 60 engine. Using a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) installed onboard the vehicle; the test demonstrates diesel emission standards are met under real-world driving conditions. During the testing, a Detroit Diesel engineer measured gaseous exhaust emissions while the customer driver drove his normally scheduled delivery route.

The EPA mandated in-use emissions testing requirements include a pilot phase of testing followed by a compliance phase beginning in 2007 for on-highway engines.

According to Lysinger, test results showed that the engine, which had accumulated more than 360,000 miles before the testing was conducted, was still well within the Federal regulations, and required no preparation prior to testing outside of its regularly scheduled maintenance.

“Under the voluntary phase of this testing, we report these test results to the EPA to demonstrate our compliance,” concluded Lysinger. “We continue to work with the Engine Manufacturers Association, the EPA and the California Air Resources Board in developing in-use emissions test methods.”