EPA's Tampering and Fuel Switching Programs

Gao ID: CED-79-47 March 1, 1979

Efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were reviewed to determine the effectiveness of the program to decrease tampering with automobile emission control devices and fuel switching. The practice of using leaded gasoline in vehicles equipped with catalytic converters and designed for unleaded gasoline, if widespread, will substantially increase pollutant emissions.

The problems associated with tampering and fuel switching primarily occur after the vehicle is put into service rather than as the vehicle comes off the assembly line. An active enforcement program against tampering practices would require large personnel resources and would probably be impractical at the Federal level. An effective public awareness campaign is the key factor in an antitampering program.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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