EPA approved 2 strokes

[TWalker]

Ok, Im starting to see a few references to EPA approved 2 strokes including Grubees site. What exactly does this mean?


And does that mean they can be imported to the US?

 

[augidog]

i understand that attaining legitimate certification, especially for 2-strokes, is a lengthy & costly process...it takes more than adding a catalytic converter and slapping a green sticker on there...have you tried asking your supplier straight up about certification and how your particular engine got into the country?

my tanaka has this label, the real deal:

 

[JemmaUK]

What it means is they are fitted up with some system that reduces the pollution they cause to EPA standards...

This is done by various methods - the Zenoah engine used a highly efficient scavenging system - some of the others tend to use a catalytic converter in the standard exhaust fitting - which is why with tanaka tuned pipes there is an adapter on some of their tuned pipes to retrofit the standard exhaust at the end...

These engines also tend to be more reliable because in order to work with such anti-pollution methods they require development and good tolerances - and therefore are generally commercial engines from known brands..

Jemma xx

 

[stude13]

the 2strokes that gebe sells are carb compliant. it wont be many years that they will be the only legal 2stroke in the usa

 

[loquin]

Well, Tanaka and Mitsubishi, among others, are EPA and CARBII compliant, and have been for many years. Keep in mind though, CARBII standards get tighter over time. Proposed changes will make them even tighter.

Jenna mentioned that the Zenoah uses an efficient scavenging system to limit pollution; Mitsubishi uses a similar approach also, so that catalytic converters aren't needed. The Mitsubishi would meet the proposed (future) standards as well - I don't know about the others. And, if needed, the engines which have been designed to utilize a scavenging system can also have catalytic converters added in the future, when the limits get even tighter. If an engine is only able to meet standards by adding a cat converter right now, what happens when those standards get tighter?

As augi talked about, getting an engine certified IS a lengthy and costly process. (Independent testing labs test the engines under various load and environmental conditions, and report the results to the governments.) Also, the testing is NOT a one-time expense. The company is committing to an annual testing and recertification process. This is why those engines do cost more than the inexpensive clones. Not only must they be manufactured to tighter tolerances, there are additional annual testing and certification/recertification which must be borne as well. Those costs get passed on to the buyer.

The upside of all this, for us, is that an engine which is built to tighter tolerances, and which is tested to meet those tight pollution standards for a specified minimum lifetime, is a more reliable engine, overall, than one which is not manufactured to tight tolerances and results tested.

 

[HoughMade]

I've seen the engines on eBay and elsewhere with the ugly, angular exhaust pipe with a "catalytic converter" advertised as "EPA approved". I think those are what the OP is about.

I have sugnificant doubts...and by that I mean, I don't buy it.