CO2 testing?

**gtr1000** · 9th November 2008, 17:50

This got me thinking http://forum.vectra-c.com/showthread.php?t=61762.

Is there a place out there that will test for CO2 emissions?

The MOT does CO (carbon monoxide) but not CO2 (carbon dioxide)

The MOT tester said at my MOT last Friday that it would take several weeks of breathing my exhaust gases (0.00% CO) to do any harm - too late I feel

**robster23** · 9th November 2008, 17:57

Carbon Dioxide is what humans breathe out when the oxygen in the air is used by your body. Breathing it on it's own would get very bad very quick, however, we breathe it everyday with every breath, I can't see how much trouble the exhaust emitting it would do - except perhaps to cause your front garden to grow more quickly?

**gtr1000** · 9th November 2008, 18:02

So, just intrigued, who decided (and how did they test for CO2) that my GSi thows out 100 million trillion grams of CO2 per kilometre?

**robster23** · 9th November 2008, 18:11

Down to the manufacturers and engine design. As a car gets older it's CO2 emissions get worse. Obviously CO2 being the fashionably blameable gas at the moment environmentally speaking.

However, if they measured it at MOT time I expect that my 53 3.0 Signum would by now be in the 6 trillion pound road tax bracket by now. Joy!

**Ste** · 10th November 2008, 09:16

CO2 is what bands the car for tax, run over a very prescribed cycle and has such things as weight, resistance, aero etc all included in the calculation as it is done on a rolling road.

As there is direct relationship of CO2 output to fuel economy, bigger cars (and bigger engines) will generally emit more per km.

I am sure there are plenty of places capable of measuring CO2, BUT what will it mean to you? Probably not a lot, as what will be a low, normal or high reading? At idle it is pretty meaningless for you.

**gtr1000** · 10th November 2008, 10:13

Originally Posted by Ste

CO2 is what bands the car for tax, run over a very prescribed cycle and has such things as weight, resistance, aero etc all included in the calculation as it is done on a rolling road.

As there is direct relationship of CO2 output to fuel economy, bigger cars (and bigger engines) will generally emit more per km.

I am sure there are plenty of places capable of measuring CO2, BUT what will it mean to you? Probably not a lot, as what will be a low, normal or high reading? At idle it is pretty meaningless for you.

Thanks Ste, good explanation. Will sleep better at night now knowing I have a lovely carbon footprint on the drive.