Ontario Drive Clean tweaked
 

Update to Drive Clean

Ontario’s vehicle emissions control program, Drive Clean, is getting a tuneup.

Amendments to Ontario Regulation 361/98 (Motor Vehicles) under the Environmental Protection Act will modernize the Drive Clean program. By December 12, 2012, the Acceleration Simulation Mode (dynamometer) tailpipe test will be replaced with:

1. On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) emissions test standards and equipment for cars built since 1998 and;

2. Two-speed idle (TSI) tailpipe test standards and equipment for 1988 to 1997 model vehicles. (Pre-1988 vehicles are not subject to Drive Clean.)

The new tests will be phased in between November 2011 and December 2012. The Ministry expects them to provide higher test accuracy, more details and quicker results, and to flag emissions system faults before they cause serious problems. In addition, the ministry expects the new tests to cut smog causing pollutants from newer vehicles by an extra 20%. Older vehicles should see a 7% improvement by 2013.

Drive Clean has helped to offset the steady increase in vehicle kilometers driven by reducing the pollution emitted per kilometer, especially of nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HCs), and greenhouse gases – the biggest contributors to smog and climate change.

The amendments will also require improved repair technician training and effectiveness, beginning November 1, 2011. A request for proposals was posted on MERX Canadian Public Tenders service by the ministry.


Question: Will this make it easier or more difficult for old cars to pass ?

It's a bit ridiculous when the technician tells me my STOCK engine is a swap... I quote; "...of course it failed, it's a swapped motor!" *facepalm*


Honestly though, if you maintain your car properly and keep it relatively stock, you shouldn't have too many problems getting it to pass.

Yes I know... But.. Thoe government emission testing machines are cash grabbers !
I doubt they are accurate at all !!! That's why I dont trust emission testing !

Cant wait to get my Historic Ontario Plates when my car reaches 30 years old....LoL
No more emissions test after that !!

Vehicles must be 30 years old for historic plate designation | Wheels.ca

Cash grab.

^ for sure!

And what about the all the trucks out there or the buses? Or all the other trucks that run straight pipes and what not. I have to do emissions cause mine is "modified". puh-leaze. There are way more cars out there that shouldn't even be on the road with the amount of pollution they cause....

my car passed on its last try when i went to get mine during the summer. and ill i have is a diff ecu and a tune. luckly i found a shop for a fake one once im boosted..

Believe it or not, Diesels don't have nearly as bad emissions as gasoline burning engines...

^ tru dat. Diesels are actually better than 87 when comparing to pollution. Although the smoke is darker, doesn't necessarily mean it's worse.

Well, the black you see is just soot. Doesn't really hurt anything. The emissions that are harmful is what you can't see... CO2, HC, NOX etc...

oh man...my car is due for testing feb...im sure mines gonna fail, i have to get my o2 sensors fixed and along with- God knows what else....argh

I think the government needs to reduce their freaking bus fares and ppl will stop relying on cars. its crazy how the prices have gone up for everything.

and i agree, E-test is just bull, its a cash grabber for sure, thats why a lot of places give you a second try to pass your car with a cheaper cost than the first test.

Diesel is less polluting but higher carcinogens. But yeah a good running one at WOT should make dark black smoke. If it's anything but black that means it's not running right.

I live on an Island that doesn't have emission testing. I also have a car that in Ontario is old enough that it's exempt. Which is good because by the time I move back to Ontario the car will be swapped and might not get the same numbers as before, but tghen again I'll be going from carb to EFI so It'll possibly be better.

so what happens to those of us with 98 or newer cars that have chipped obd1 ecus? Can I ask for the sniffer test even though I'm supposed to just get hooked up to the obd2 scanner?

At least with the two speed idle test....the older honda's (pre-98) dont have to worry about NOx readings anymore :)

That's a good question...

My car will be running megasquirt stand alone and they won't be able to hook up to that either...lol

^^ East answer. The shops wont be able to perform the test, meaning you wont be able to renew your sticker.

Boo-urns. Do they still have the "hot-rod" classification?

I spent 300 to fix my car so that it can pass. New cat converted was needed, it also didnt help my car was lowered because a lot of place could place my car on the tester ( or whatever is called)... What I pain in the butt!!

It's called a Catalytic Converter.

Also, try and use an OEM catalytic because they last much longer 10+ years because they have more platinum inside of them, compared to a free flow cat.

Alot of people with aftermarket headers fail emission test because 02 sensosr are not hooked up properly or in the wrong location on header and causes a rich mixture.

All HD diesel and gas trucks must be tested if they travel in Ontario. They're actually stricter on trucks because they never go exempt from testing. I've e-tested gas trucks that were 25-35 years old on numerous occasions.

As far as the program being a cash grab, I'd have to agree with you. It's also a good way to force drivers to stop modifying their vehicles for performance, and to make sure people keep on buying new cars. However, I don't think the testing is quite as biased as you may imagine. The machines are pretty accurate, as the test results before and after repairs tell the story.

The viability of the test methods themselves legitimizes the whole program, which in my opinion is unfair to owners of vehicles produced in the 90's, (or any vehicles around 10 years old or more).

i desperately need your help if you found a shop to hook you up with an etest, ive failed 5 times and spent ridiculous amounts of money to get it to pass. i need a pass!