At this point, even it is hard for us be clear about the problems faced by the Volkswagen Group. On this occasion we recover the thread of the fraud of the TDI, and specifically the suspicion that hangs over the engine 3.0 TDI V6, the same used by Audi, Volkswagen and even Porsche, in some of their models. The , EPA u.s. not slow in accusing the germans of having used a technique illegal. And unlike what happened with the diesel engines of four cylinders, Volkswagen was quick to ensure that there was no technical illegal, but yes a system that the engineers in charge of the investigation had not understood. Today in addition we knew that this system is also present in the european models. But the million dollar question is the following, what is illegal?
Volkswagen recognizes the existence of a system – the so-called AECD – justified by the technical requirements of the systems anti-pollution, but ruled out that it is illegal.
As has been known to Reuters, directly in the statements of the officials responsible for Volkswagen models equipped with engine 3.0 TDI V6 would have a system called AECD – or Auxiliary Emission Control Device. A priori is not a system designed to adulterate the approval of emissions, although as we will see below itself contributes to such a thing, but to ensure the proper functioning of the systems.
does And how it operates, this system AECD?
The system AECD ensures that the catalyst of the NOx reaches the operating temperature faster in a cold start.
According to Volkswagen, the system AECD ensures that the catalyst of the NOx reaches the operating temperature faster in a cold start. This translates into a reduction of the emissions increased at a critical moment, the of the boot. To achieve this, the ecu monitors the temperature, the vehicle speed, the regime of rotation of the motor, the gear engaged, the exhaust manifolds, and other parameters, to regulate the activity of the emission control systems, as are the traps of NOx, or systems AdBlue.
This system, according to Volkswagen, it would be necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the devices in charge of controlling emissions and ensure their durability. The argument is valid, because we must remember that these systems need to reach a certain operating temperature to function. According to Volkswagen, this operation does not depend in any case that the vehicle is performing a test approval, or not. That is to say, in the conditions of approval, and in real-world conditions, it would work exactly the same.
With the proliferation of systems, anti-pollution, ranging from particulate filters (which have already been quite a long time between us), to traps of NOx, and systems AdBlue, the manufacturers have been developing systems that were integrated at a position closer to the engine block, and to the exhaust manifolds, to ensure precisely that these to achieve more effectively the temperature of service.
Meanwhile, Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche have stopped the sales of its diesel in the united States.
Obviously, this technique contributes to the type-approval emissions is more favourable to the brand and to register numbers as those of the , EPA ensured that the NOx emissions were multiplied by nine in real-life conditions. But a priori does not seem to be within what we would consider illegal, either in Europe or in the united States. At least if the situation is exactly as has been put by Volkswagen. Will be the authorities that have the last word.
Meanwhile, Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche have stopped the sales of its diesel in the united States.
The models affected by this alleged case of fraud, that Volkswagen denies, are the following:
2014 Volkswagen Touareg
2015 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
2016 Audi A6 Quattro
2016 Audi Q5
2016 Audi A7 Quattro
2016 Audi A8/A8L
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