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AUTO REVIEW
2015 BMW 740d
By Steve Schutz, MD
I love Diesel engines. Regular readers tical.) But even if they're not the future, more of than gasoline engines, enables
know this, but it’s worth repeating because Diesel-powered vehicles are really good Diesels to conform with current emissions
the recent Volkswagen TDI controversy right now and are worth a look in any rules. If your Diesel vehicle has a urea
has, to put it mildly, blunted the momen- German luxury vehicle, which is just trap, you probably don’t have to worry
tum of Diesel power plants in the U.S. about the only non-pickup truck place that it’s polluting too much. None of the
you can get them. Volkswagen engines implicated in what’s
For the record, I get it. Diesels are not being called Diesel-gate had urea traps.
the future. If the experts are to be be- So, why is a Diesel VW Golf an emis-
lieved, the future of mobility will in- sions scofflaw while a BMW, Mercedes, Having said all that, it is doubtful that
evitably involve self-driving electric drone or Audi with a Diesel isn’t? Because of any Diesel engines, including those with
pods that we won't even own. (Put me urea traps. Using urea traps to catch NOx urea traps, will be able to meet ever-tight-
down as unenthusiastic and deeply skep- pollutants, which Diesel engines produce ening emissions regulations after five
44 San Antonio Medicine • December 2015
