Government Moves to Fix Diesel Problem That Has Cost Owners Billions

Diesel’s Place in Today’s MarketWhile diesel-powered passenger vehicles are increasingly limited in the U.S., they remain vital, especially for those in the agriculture industry, thanks to their superior low-end torque, which improves payload and towing capacities. One long-standing issue, however, is the mandated Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system, which helps reduce emissions but has cost owners in repairs and, for workhorse applications, lost productivity.Now, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is addressing that concern by removing the DEF sensor requirement. The reason is that this component, particularly urea quality sensors, can derate diesel engines when they detect an abnormality, even if the reading is false. That can lead to sudden speed losses – something especially problematic for fleet vehicles on tight schedules – and, in some case …