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IRL (In Real Life) => Current Events => Topic started by: endfire79 on September 21, 2015, 05:06:57 PM

Title: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: endfire79 on September 21, 2015, 05:06:57 PM
Das Scandal...

http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-shares-tumble-as-emissions-test-scandal-spreads-to-europe-1442844206 (http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-shares-tumble-as-emissions-test-scandal-spreads-to-europe-1442844206)

BERLIN— Volkswagen AG's crisis over alleged manipulation of U.S. emissions tests threatened to engulf its global business as European regulators put the German auto maker in their cross hairs and the U.S. launched a criminal probe into the matter.

Shares plunged as much as 20% on Monday in the wake of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's disclosure last week that the company could face fines of as much as $18 billion for allegedly manipulating exhaust-emissions tests. Volkswagen acknowledged that it installed software in some diesel-powered cars to make it appear that the cars met tough U.S. anti-smog rules, the EPA said.

Volkswagen hasn't contested the EPA's statement. The company issued a sweeping apology for breaching consumer trust over the weekend, but hasn't publicly admitted to manipulating test results.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: LongBlade on September 21, 2015, 05:31:21 PM
Crazy. Why would they do that?
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Staggerwing on September 21, 2015, 06:22:16 PM
To sell more sporty diesels-  A Jedi in the Emissions Lane and a Sith in the Passing Lane.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Grimnirsson on September 23, 2015, 12:30:06 PM
Whoever is responsible for this has done tremendous harm not only to VW but to the German automobile industry in general. A bad day for the brand Made in Germany.  :-\

We are driving Mercedes and Smart though  ;)
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: GDS_Starfury on September 23, 2015, 12:57:22 PM
if you have the money Id be buying VW stock pretty soon.  its not like the company wont bounce back and its stock is at a bargain right now. 
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Barthheart on September 23, 2015, 01:11:20 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on September 23, 2015, 12:57:22 PM
if you have the money Id be buying VW stock pretty soon.  its not like the company wont bounce back and its stock is at a bargain right now.

This....
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Grimnirsson on September 23, 2015, 01:35:45 PM
QuoteDas Scandal...

Btw it's "der"  O:-)
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Boggit on September 24, 2015, 08:39:34 AM
I noticed how the CEO was saying how sorry he was. I make the educated guess that he was sorry about being caught, and not because VW was cheating the system. Given how endemic it was, and was a conscious management decision, I find it hard to believe the CEO had no idea of what was happening. I don't suppose he will be making any contribution from his fat cat package towards offsetting the company's losses while he was in charge.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: BanzaiCat on September 24, 2015, 08:47:09 AM
I'll never buy a Volkswagen - too many horror stories from people I've known, that have dealt with them.

Though if VW creates a new Kubelwagen, I'd be all over that!
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Gusington on September 24, 2015, 09:06:24 AM
I owned two and have been made fun of by LB. Two Passat 4WD station wagons, a 2000 and a 2004. Both were great until their catalytic converters died and were too expensive to be worth it to replace. So we went to the land of Volvo and Subaru and never turned back. Neither were diesels. The dealership we bought both from went from being great to being a Mos Eisley den of iniquity, however.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: mirth on September 24, 2015, 09:08:51 AM
Quote from: Gusington on September 24, 2015, 09:06:24 AM
The dealership we bought both from went from being great to being a Mos Eisley den of iniquity, however.

So, where is this place?
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: LongBlade on September 24, 2015, 09:12:40 AM
Quote from: Gusington on September 24, 2015, 09:06:24 AM
I owned two and have been made fun of by LB.

Who me?

Must have been a different LB on another site.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Barthheart on September 24, 2015, 09:52:42 AM
Quote from: Gusington on September 24, 2015, 09:06:24 AM
.... a Mos Eisley den of iniquity...

This exactly describes our Hyundai dealership.... well more like den of scum and villainy... 
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: LongBlade on September 24, 2015, 10:28:10 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on September 24, 2015, 09:52:42 AM
Quote from: Gusington on September 24, 2015, 09:06:24 AM
.... a Mos Eisley den of iniquity...

This exactly describes our Hyundai dealership.... well more like den of scum and villainy...

I worked at such a dealership for three days. It was surreal.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Labbug on September 24, 2015, 10:42:59 AM
I have a VW diesel Golf Sports Wagon.  It does use the urea additive which the previous VW diesels did not do.  The additive goes into a separate tank and is suppose to last 6000 or more miles.  I do like the car a lot, but I have only had it for about 5 months and have not had to deal with the dealership much yet.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Gusington on September 24, 2015, 11:02:29 AM
Denial is not just a river in Egypt LB. Even though it was probably 10 plus years ago, you roundly rejected my dual VW ownership heartily. Volvo and Subaru you appear more accepting of.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: LongBlade on September 24, 2015, 12:24:14 PM
Quote from: Gusington on September 24, 2015, 11:02:29 AM
Denial is not just a river in Egypt LB. Even though it was probably 10 plus years ago, you roundly rejected my dual VW ownership heartily. Volvo and Subaru you appear more accepting of.

Heheheheh.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Mr. Bigglesworth on September 24, 2015, 01:06:33 PM
Quote from: Grimnirsson on September 23, 2015, 01:35:45 PM
QuoteDas Scandal...

Btw it's "der"  O:-)

Ze schnitzel vas vell breaded. Vatt? Not like breading?
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: bayonetbrant on September 24, 2015, 05:09:35 PM
I had a 1997 Cabrio for a decade and it was awesome.  Unloaded it when we had a 2d kid and it's practicality expired.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Barthheart on September 24, 2015, 05:58:30 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 24, 2015, 05:09:35 PM
I had a 1997 Cabrio for a decade and it was awesome.  Unloaded it when we had a 2d kid and it's practicality expired.

A 2D kid.....? Couldn't afford the third dimension?  ;D
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Bison on September 24, 2015, 06:54:54 PM
All this really makes me want to do is by a VW diesel.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: endfire79 on September 24, 2015, 08:00:35 PM

Volkswagen Scandal: Why Is It So Hard to Make Clean Diesel Cars?

http://www.livescience.com/52284-volkswagen-scandal-clean-diesel-challenges.html (http://www.livescience.com/52284-volkswagen-scandal-clean-diesel-challenges.html)


Cleaning NOx from diesel fuel is also a challenging process. Because of the fuel's more varied composition and the engine's use of spontaneous combustion, it's not clear exactly when and exactly which compounds have formed, making it trickier to clean up, Hillebrand said.

About a decade ago, before emissions standards were lowered, car companies pursued different strategies for solving this problem.

"Different manufacturers made bets on different technology," Herner said.

Cars built by Mercedes-Benz, for instance, inject an extra fluid called urea to convert NOx into less harmful substances. This approach (called Bluetec) doesn't compromise on fuel economy or power, but it requires a separate tank for the urea, which must be periodically refilled, Herner said.

Volkswagen invested millions to develop a NOx trap instead. The trap soaks up nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide like a sponge. Once the trap is full, the system can inject a dose of fuel before releasing exhaust substances. The fuel reacts with the NOx to form benign substances, Herner said. Typically, the filter only runs for about 10 seconds, once every 10 minutes, Herner said. (They may also run their combustion differently at certain points to lower emissions.)

In light of recent revelations, however, it looks like Volkswagen made the wrong bet.

Volkswagen may have resorted to cheating because the NOx trap eats up fuel or reduces the car's pep, Herner said. It's a relatively simple fix to reactivate NOx traps on the recalled cars, he said.

"These vehicles can operate within our regulations," Herner said. "Our priority now is to get them fixed so that they do so."

But Volkswagen owners may end up being disappointed with the more sluggish, gas-guzzling cars they get back, Herner said.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Boggit on September 26, 2015, 03:27:43 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 24, 2015, 05:09:35 PM
I had a 1997 Cabrio for a decade and it was awesome.  Unloaded it when we had a 2d kid and it's practicality expired.
You should have used a 3d printer instead! ;)
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: bbmike on September 26, 2015, 05:18:36 PM
Why, instead of relying on computers, can't the tests be directly on the actual exhaust? The answer? Laziness.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: endfire79 on September 26, 2015, 05:47:06 PM
Quote from: bbmike on September 26, 2015, 05:18:36 PM
Why, instead of relying on computers, can't the tests be directly on the actual exhaust? The answer? Laziness.

I think they did test the actual exhaust, but those are the standard laboratory tests, and VW's system was designed to 'pass' the emissions test in the lab, but switch off when put through 'real world condition' driving.  I think in Europe by 2017 it will be mandatory for automakers to pass emissions testing on the road as well as in the lab.  I remember reading somewhere Caterpillar and Volvo got caught with this type of cheating several years ago.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: GDS_Starfury on September 26, 2015, 07:37:45 PM
VW stock is at $107, buy now.
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Staggerwing on September 26, 2015, 07:39:56 PM
What was it at the end of august?
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: endfire79 on September 26, 2015, 07:57:21 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi236.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fff182%2Fendfire79%2Fvw.png&hash=4ff902182e6e164ded41f93ec082c8455de5bf10)
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: bbmike on September 26, 2015, 07:59:54 PM
Dude, I wish I had some money right now.  :(
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: MikeGER on September 27, 2015, 02:24:02 AM
brand 'Made in Germany' hurt...

Gents,  what wussy would actually base his purchase decision to buy a "Königstieger" based of its NOx emission or a little higher fuel consumption numbers ;-)   



its all about the quality in the field  O0


and by the way:
did you know this magic abBlue is nothing else then a technical cleaned version of 10 times concentrat urine.
(its just water with 35% pure urea, while your urine has 3-4 % urea, well and some 'additives')
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: undercovergeek on September 27, 2015, 03:47:06 AM
It's been on the news all week here - sometimes I zone out - am I right in thinking in the U.S. There's no independent testing body - you guys just say to VW 'send the emission reports and we'll go over the results' - I'm sure I heard it this morning
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Staggerwing on September 27, 2015, 06:55:50 AM
My question is how does the modded emissions control software know that the car is at an emissions test site as opposed to racing down Rt66? Does it read date from the accelerometer chip inside the airbag so it knows when the car is in actual motion as opposed to being on the giant roller treadmill that lets the drive wheels spin in place?
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Gusington on September 27, 2015, 09:33:37 AM
It knows...IT KNOWS!!! It's Skynet!
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: GDS_Starfury on September 27, 2015, 09:39:19 AM
Quote from: Staggerwing on September 26, 2015, 07:39:56 PM
What was it at the end of august?

$168.00
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: W8taminute on September 27, 2015, 09:57:50 AM
I own a 2011 Jetta Diesel and never had any problems with it.  She's got 168000 miles on her and still driving strong.  At a 140HP she's got a lot of pep both off the line and at highway speeds at gets 42MPG.  If I have to mod it to meet emissions standards and the mod kills my fuel efficiency and/or power I will have a broken heart.  At that point I might as well go back to driving a gasser. 
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Gusington on September 27, 2015, 01:13:50 PM
Just don't mod it! Or install a coal-fired engine :)
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: bayonetbrant on September 29, 2015, 05:34:36 AM
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12042828_761546287285234_1891489791566147675_n.jpg?oh=255c11f9314bab1727431ed9081d2470&oe=569A0EF9)
Title: Re: Volkswagen Emission Tests Scandal
Post by: Gusington on September 29, 2015, 07:38:13 AM
Hahaha exactly