United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA420-F-98-025
August 1998
Office of Mobile Sources
&EPA Answers to
Commonly
Asked Questions
from Dealers
and Distributors
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This brochure provides
information about the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) new emission
standards for small spark-
ignition engines of 25
horsepower or less and
answers some commonly
asked questions about the
new regulation.
Why Is EPA Regulating These Engines?
In many ways, the U.S. has been successful in cleaning
the air, but we still have serious air pollution problems in
many parts of the country—especially in large urban
areas. Most people think of air pollution control programs
in the U.S. as strict emission standards for cars, trucks,
and large industrial facilities. In 1990, Congress asked
EPA to look at other sources of air pollution such as
nonroad mobile sources, including recreational vehicles,
farm and construction equipment, boats, locomotives, and
lawn and garden power equipment. Subsequently, EPA
has been developing emission standards for virtually all
types of nonroad equipment.
As part of that effort, EPA is implementing a regulation
that establishes emission standards for small spark-
ignition engines of 25 HP (19 kW) or less. These small
spark-ignition engines are predominantly in lawn and
garden power equipment and in some farm, construction
and utility equipment.
Until recently, small engines of this type were not regu-
lated at all except in California. According to EPA
estimates, in many large urban areas, pre-1997 lawn and
garden equipment accounts for as much as 5 percent of
the total man-made hydrocarbons that contribute to ozone
formation. EPA expects that reducing emissions from
small engines will help to alleviate the formation of
ground-level ozone—resulting in a decrease of air
pollution-related health problems for urban residents.
Why Are Emissions from Small Engines
Harmful?
Small engines used in power equipment emit a variety of
pollutants. These include hydrocarbons and oxides of
nitrogen (NOx), which lead to the production of ground-
level ozone, the principal component of smog. Ozone can
impair human lung functions and inhibit plant growth. In
addition, NOx contributes to the production of acid rain.
These engines also produce carbon monoxide, a colorless,
odorless and poisonous gas which results from incom-
plete fuel combustion. Infants and people with heart
disease or respiratory problems are especially sensitive to
carbon monoxide poisoning.
How Much Cleaner Are the New Engines?
Compared to their unregulated counterparts, EPA esti-
mates that engines complying with the new emission
standards will emit on average more than one third less
hydrocarbons.
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How Does the Small Engine Rule Work?
The regulation
(commonly called
Phase 1) sets allow-
able exhaust levels
for hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide,
and NOx from small
engines of 25 HP or
less. The rule applies
to all small engines
produced after
September 1,1997—with some earlier and a few later.
Allowable emission levels vary depending on engine size
and use.
EPA works directly with the engine manufacturers to
assure they comply with the regulations. Before an engine
manufacturer can sell a regulated engine model in the
U.S., it must obtain a certificate of conformity from EPA.
To obtain a certificate of conformity, the engine manufac-
turer must provide test data along with other information
demonstrating that the engine model meets the applicable
emission standards.
The Agency requires that the engine manufacturer label
each certified engine to indicate compliance with the
small spark-ignition engine rule. The language may read
"this engine conforms to Phase 1 U.S. EPA regulations
for small nonroad engines." Some engine labels, however,
will feature language indicating compliance with both
EPA and California regulations. Emission labels will be
found on the engine, or if the engine label is obscured, on
the piece of equipment itself.
Responsibilities for Dealers Performing
Maintenance
What are my liabilities as a dealer? Tampering with a
certified small engine is against the law. Having knowl-
edge of the rules regarding tampering is important. You
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may be tampering (and consequently subject to civil
penalties) if you knowingly disable an emission control
system component or element of design of a certified
engine. This could include adjusting the engine's fuel or
exhaust system or changing the engine's performance so
it no longer meets the manufacturer's specifications. It
could also include the improper venting of crankcase
emissions. You may also be tampering by installing a part
that is not the same in design and function as the part
originally installed, or adding a new part not originally
certified with the engine.
Will I be required to use manufacturers' parts when
servicing? No. You can also use new or rebuilt parts made
by an independent parts manufacturer as long as they
conform with the original parts in design and function.
Some part manufacturers provide a list of engine models
that the part can be used on—you will most likely see this
list somewhere on the part's packaging. If the manufac-
turer does not provide this list, you can still use the part as
long as a
person
familiar with
the design
and function
of small
engines
would
reasonably
believe that
the part is
designed to
perform the
same functions as the original part. However, using an
aftermarket part that does not conform with the original
part in design and function may void a customer's emis-
sions warranty.
Do the regulations affect older equipment? No. The
regulations only affect new engines produced for the 1997
model year and later. For example, if an owner brings in a
piece of equipment containing an engine manufactured in
1994 for servicing, EPA does not require that the repair
technician alter the engine so that it meets Phase 1
standards since the engine was produced before the rule
took effect.
What should I do if a unit comes in for repair that has
evidence of tampering?
EPA encourages repair technicians to restore a tampered
engine to its original certified configuration. However,
repair technicians are not required to restore tampered
products to their originally certified and functioning
configuration, unless the repair is to the tampered system.
In such a case, the repair technician should restore the
system to a certified and properly functioning condition.
Basically, if a repair facility completes, assists, or partici-
pates in any way to tampering begun by someone else,
they may be subject to civil penalties. In order to protect
yourself and your repair facility, you should always
document pre-existing tampering in writing on the service
order. You are not required to notify EPA about the
noncompliance, but you can help raise customer aware-
ness by informing your customers that tampering is illegal
and that it may reduce the life span and performance of
the engine.
Customers Questions
Will emissions regulations result in a higher cost for
equipment? According to EPA analysis, the small engine
regulation will increase the cost of equipment by an
average of $5-7 per unit, but durability will improve and
fuel efficiency will increase for most small engines. These
improvements in engine technology may offset the
increase in cost.
Can I make adjustments to the new engines at home?
Consumers should perform routine use and care mainte-
nance as recommended in the operator's manual. How-
ever, owners should contact a qualified engine technician
for adjustments not listed in the operator's manual.
Owners should also be aware that it is against the law to
tamper with an EPA-certified small engine. Tampering
with a certified engine may involve adjusting the fuel or
exhaust system, or changing the engine's performance so
that it no longer meets the manufacturer's specifications.
Tampering may increase an engine's exhaust emissions,
contributing to our air pollution problems. To stop cus-
tomers and repair facilities from tampering, manufacturers
have equipped many engines with special caps or plugs
that limit or prevent adjusting the fuel mixture or engine
timing. Removal of these special caps or plugs and
adjustments beyond the manufacturers specified limits are
considered tampering and may subject the violator to a
fine.
What is an emission warranty? Manufacturers are
required by Federal law to provide emission warranty
coverage for small spark-ignition engines. Basically, this
warranty covers repair of emission control related parts
that are determined to be defective during the first two
years of engine use. Emission control related parts
include 1) any part whose primary purpose is to control
emissions, such as a catalytic converter, and 2) any part
that has an effect on emissions, such as a carburetor.
Owners will find that small engine manufacturers have
established procedures to provide owners with this
warranty coverage. If an owner or repair technician
suspects that an emission control related part is defective,
they should contact the person identified by the manufac-
turer in the owner's manual or warranty book. Owners of
small spark-ignition engines are responsible for the
proper maintenance of their engine. They can either
perform scheduled maintenance themselves or have a
repair technician perform it for them. Written instructions
that describe an engine's proper maintenance, will be
found in the owner's manual. If a part failure is a direct
result of the engine not being maintained or used accord-
ing to the manufacturer's recommendations, the manufac-
turer may not be required to cover the repair or replace-
ment of the failed part.
What else can I do to reduce emissions?
One of the most simple and effective ways to reduce
emissions is to avoid spilling gasoline when refilling gas
cans and equipment tanks. When gasoline is spilled,
hydrocarbons are released into the air, contributing to our
air pollution problem. Owners can also help cut emissions
while improving their engine performance by regularly
maintaining their engines. When owners fail to do this,
fuel efficiency drops while pollution rises.
For More Information
For more information about EPA efforts to reduce emis-
sions from small spark-ignition engines, you can contact
the U.S. EPA Engine Compliance Group, 401 M St. SW,
(6403J) Washington, DC 20460—(202) 564-9261—or
check the website at www.epa.gov/oms.
For additional copies of this brochure, please call the
National Center for Environmental Publications and
Information (NCEPI) at (800) 490-9198.
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