Cars and pollution

Cars and pollution

Since the authorities think vocational training is relevant
(Companies should train workers, The Jakarta Post, Jan. 23, 1996)
I have a suggestion. The majority of diesel trucks and buses here
run with their fuel injection pumps open. Drivers and untrained
mechanics fiddle with the engines. You can see even fairly new
vehicles puffing smoke. The engines do not burn fuel efficiently.
Consequently, smoke clouds follow vehicles. An open injection
pump provides 6 percent additional power but increases fuel
consumption by 30 percent. This borders on economic sabotage!

The Brazilian government cracked down hard on wasteful fuel
consumption during the oil crisis. Bosch, Cummings, Perkins and
Mercedes-Benz trained mechanics. Shell, Petrobras and Exxon
distributed leaflets to educate truck drivers. The highway patrol
fined offending drivers.

Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Hino could start training
mechanics to stop the waste of fuel and the creation of
pollution. It is easy to spot smoke produced by trucks and buses.
Which carmakers these days want to be labeled polluters?
(Environmentalists, please note).

Everybody would win. Mechanics would get training, we'd get
cleaner air, and truck dealers and parts suppliers would get
trained mechanics who would buy genuine parts from them. And
vehicle owners would save on operational costs.

OSVALDO COELHO

Bandung, West Java