More demanding MoTs faced by diesel cars

More demanding MoTs faced by diesel cars

In a couple of months time, drivers of diesel-powered vehicles will be facing more severe tests and conditions when sending their car for an MoT.

Due to come into force in February 2014, the new requirements for diesel cars mainly focus on the vehicles' emissions. Each new vehicle with a diesel engine comes fitted with a filter for their exhaust as standard. The new guidelines will now specify that these filters must remain in place. Should a vehicle be found to have had their filters taken out or damaged, they will fail their MoT, and will need a new filter installed to bring the car up to current emission guidelines.

The filters added to the exhausts of diesel-powered vehicles are to help reduce or stop the release of damaging particles into the atmosphere. Whilst they help to lessen the emissions of diesel engines, they can also have an adverse effect on the fuel economy of the vehicle. Therefore, in some cases, owners of diesel vehicles choose to remove their filters in order to try and save some money on fuel.

Diesel filters work best when they have been brought up to temperature, and this is mainly achieved by driving long distances. This helps to burn off any sooty build ups and maintain a clean fuel burn. The most emissions come from when diesel-powered vehicles are taken on short journeys, perhaps around town.

Robert Goodwill, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, and also the minister for roads, has stated that these changes to the MoT are due to the amount of diesel vehicles having their filters removed. The filters are fitted for a reason, he says, and removing them has a dangerous effect on the atmosphere and the health of those breathing in emissions. He has made it clear that the removal of any standard-fitted diesel filters is unacceptable.

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