Focused Maintenance Evaluation Project Report

Author

Paul Coninx

Organization

Automobile Consumer Coalition (ACC)

Published

2003

Summary

This report is based on the Focused Maintenance Evaluation Project (FMEP). The FMEP was intended to examine whether an alternative to Inspection and Maintenance programs (I/M) could reduce on-road emissions of motor vehicles more effectively and at less cost and inconvenience than conventional I/M programs. The term "inspection and maintenance", or "I/M", applies to a wide variety of programs which require all eligible cars and light trucks registered within a set territory to have their emissions tested periodically. The FMEP thoroughly tested the emissions of 26 vehicles, aged 10 to 17 years old and representative of Toronto's on-road vehicle fleet, to determine whether the scheduled replacement of one or both of a vehicle's two most important emission control system (ECS) devices, the oxygen sensor and the catalytic converter would reduce emissions. The FMEP data strongly suggest that periodic replacement of catalytic converters does not show any promise of significantly reducing vehicle emissions at an acceptable cost. The data gathered also do not support the periodic replacement of oxygen sensors but neither do the data eliminate the potential of such a program as a moderately effective means of reducing vehicle emissions at a reasonable cost. Another study using a different test protocol would be required to determine the potential value of such a program.

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OCA Funded Research
This research received funding support through the Office of Consumer Affairs' Contributions Program.

Contact information

Source: Consumer Policy Research Database