New EPA Regulations for Lawn & Garden Equipment

[Throckmorton]

Forthcoming EPA Lawn and Garden (Small Gasoline) Equipment Regulations
The EPA has finalized a new emission control program to reduce hydrocarbon emissions from small spark-ignition engines by about 35 percent. The new exhaust emissions standards will take effect in 2011 or 2012, depending on the size of the engine. The final rule also includes new standards to reduce evaporative emissions from these fuel systems. These standards will reduce the harmful health effects of ozone and carbon monoxide from these engines.

This page provides consumer information, regulations, guidance, and compliance fee and certification data for ten categories of nonroad spark-ignition engines, ranging from lawn and garden equipment through airport service equipment. For the homeowner, there is information about maintaining a yard and lawn, while minimizing air pollution from spark-ignition engines.

Final Emission Standards for New Nonroad Spark-ignition Engines, Equipment, and Vessels

 

[andyd]

When I need a lawnmower , I go to the dump and pull a likely runner out of the scrap heap. So far, I havent gotten into OHV engines yet. EPA, I f@rt in your general direction

 

[Gary Allan]

I wouldn't invest in Kingsford charcoal. They're next.

 

[jcwit]

Yeh I read part of that new standard. I see small engines are a significant cause of air pollution YEH RIGHT probably as much as your F@rts. lol We are becoming a nation scared of its own shadow.

 

[eljefino]

This is great! How often do you go out to your lawnmower where you left it half full of gas and it's all evaporated? Except for the goo, of course, which sinks in the carb. All through that goofy hole in the gas cap and maybe a piece of cardboard like you'd find in a milk jug sealing it.

While we're at it I'm sure they can engineer a better filler neck so you can see the tank getting full in time to pull the can back, while the last "glug" of fuel from the can spout can find room without spilling all over the deck etc.

Personally I'll take it. Ever hear the saw about driving a Prius 400 miles is the same as mowing your lawn? Cars have gotten complex enough, this small engine thing is actually sensible if one is looking out for "the greater good".

 

[BuickGN]

I'm fairly sure the small lawnmower engines produce more pollutants than a ULEV car. I can leave my TL warming up in the garage for 5 minutes, eat breakfast, go in the garage and not smell a thing.

Fuel injection is a win-win for fuel economy, emissions, and power. But what's it going to add to the cost of a $300 lawnmower? Double? What about a convertor? They're not cheap.

Evaporative emissions I totally agree with, no reason to not have it. IMO existing tank vent designs look like they haven't changed in 40 years.

 

[ethangsmith]

.....meanwhile factories over in China and elsewhere belch smoke and pollutants 24 hours a day. I am all for clean air and emissions controls, but if WE have to do, EVERYONE should have to do it. Just saw an article about how China's insane amounts of pollution are actually affecting our air here. Sad.

 

[JustinH]

All the mowers in new york are now being sold with wording on the box that says that they meet California emissions.

I have no idea what they are doing to them.

I have a 4 year old briggs powered walmart special, I use about 2 gallons of gas per season with it, so I'm sure I'm not killing the ozone layer running it.

 

[Shannow]

Do you seriously think this has anything to do with the ozone layer ?

 

[jcwit]

I live in the middle of No.In. Amish country & with all the gas engines they have we should be a major HasMet site. I see the same mentally regarding lead and mercury. I'm a pistol shooter and have cast my own bullets for years, handled lead, melted lead ect. I have my blood tested every 6 months with no lead problem. BTW my mower sits with a half full tank over the winter and was still half full in the spring. Maybe we should all start using push mowers with no engine. Get rid of the snowmobiles and watercraft also to save the planet. Like I said we're scared of our own shadow.

 

[Merkava_4]

Are we going to be seeing 5HP small engines with electronic fuel injection and catalytic converters?

 

[oilyriser]

Toss another log on the fireplace, and sit back reading how little HC your mower is putting out...

 

[mrsilv04]

I'm a proud lifelong Lawn Boy 2 cycle engine user.


Live free or die.

 

[sprintman]

Well overdue. Will cut the incessant racket we have to put up with every weekend?

 

[Kernel Potter]

It's amazing how much the anti-EPA, pro-pollution people here have in common with China. I wonder what the draw is? Is the draw China's Communism or their Dictatorship? Perhaps both? Or just the plain freedom of polluting the U.S. of A. and being ignorantly proud of it?

 

[Gary Allan]

I don't quite get you here, KP

I would assume that it's unlikely that my 1 gallon of lawn mower usage and, maybe, 2 gallons of snow blower usage, can possibly be a contributing factor of any magnitude that would warrant an EPA mandate for correction. If I used 10X as much ..it's dwarfed by my NOX emissions out of my home heating oil stack ..where I burn 1000 gallons a year. How many homes need to be refitted with FGR (flue gas recirculation)?? Why isn't that an issue of far more importance? Give it time though. I think that electric will make home heating oil a thing of the past soon enough anyway.

This is something someone figured out that they could do while still collecting a paycheck. Sorta like the brain storming that Budget Rentacar commercials depicted (How can we get customers check out quicker with returns? How about using jetpacks?? Keep your gauge pressure at 800psi! "Whaaaaaaaaaa! crash)

 

[twentynine]

I just bought a emergency generator, 12 HP engine. It has a catalytic converter.

 

[Papa Bear]

I have an old lawnboy as well.

I mix my fuel at 40:1 now instead of 32:1......

My contribution to a greener world.

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: Kernel Potter
It's amazing how much the anti-EPA, pro-pollution people here have in common with China. I wonder what the draw is? Is the draw China's Communism or their Dictatorship? Perhaps both? Or just the plain freedom of polluting the U.S. of A. and being ignorantly proud of it?


Not by a long shot, Kernel. I look forward every Saturday morning to go out and pull the rope on my cast magnesium decked, 1966 Lawn Boy, that was proudly designed and made in Wisconsin, in the good old USA. It don't smoke and it don't smell, it just cuts grass as good as it did 42 years ago.

 

[andyd]

Gary, I'm in the same boat. I will prolly burn 2 cords of wood to keep the oil bill as low as possible. The answer lies in more electricity generation from wind, water and nuclear. There was a brief stumble in that direction that has diminished as oil prices fall.