Volkswagen, microprocessor scams, and NOx

The great Volkswagen emissions scam is breaking big.  They canned the CEO of Volkswagen yesterday over the matter.  Apparently, the microprocessor in the diesel VW's was able to sense when the car was undergoing an EPA emissions test and adjust something to make the engine run cleaner.  Sensing when the car is being tested isn't all that hard, if the engine is revving up above idle but the car isn't moving, it's on a test stand getting tested.  The anti skid sensors on each wheel will let the microprocessor know if the wheel is turning.  Unless all four wheels are turning, the car isn't moving and it doesn't take great programming skill to make a few adjustments to engine operation. 
   Just what the microprocessor can do on a diesel is less clear to me.  Diesels don't have ignition systems (spark plugs) so there is no ignition timing to fiddle with.  There is the fuel air mixture, I suppose setting the mixture extra lean will spoil the combustion, lower combustion temperatures, which reduces the "NOx" emissions.  It also ruins fuel economy and power output.  In engines, running hotter give you more power and better fuel mileage. 
  It could be the problem is the US standards for nitrogen oxide ("NOx") emissions.  The air is 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen.  Heat air up enough and the nitrogen and oxygen go together in various combinations, NO2, N2O4, etc.  The temperature inside the cylinders of an engine as hot enough to form "NOx".  The is the basis of the famous Haber process for making "fixed nitrogen" for fertilizer and explosives.  Plants need fixed nitrogen, ("NOx") and cannot make it them selves.  Another fact from freshman chemistry, All nitrates are soluble.  Which means all the "NOx" in the air will come down in the rain and fertilize the fields.
   So why is "NOx" called a pollutant?  Partly because the EPA likes to call as much stuff pollutants as it can because it gives them more areas to throw their weight around.  In the case of "NOx" the source of LA smog was found to be a combination of "NOx" and oily hydrocarbon vapors, unburned gasoline.  Under the impulse of sunlight the two chemicals will combine and make smog.  The correct solution would have been to clamp down on unburned hydrocarbons, all sources of which represent poor engine performance or leaks and spills.  Without any unburned hydrocarbons, you can have all the NOx in the air you want and not get smog.  
   Well, the EPA didn't do that, they are off on a "NOx" kick, have been for 40 years.  And it hurts.  Diesel is more efficent that spark ignition engines.  In Europe half the automobile fleet is diesel. In the US nobody drives a diesel.  Reason?  US "NOx" standards are much tighter than they are in Europe.  Apparently the only way to get a diesel car to pass US emissions tests was to cheat, which is apparently Volkswagen's solution to the problem.
   It's time to have a public debate on "NOx" standards.  

Hillary comes out against Keystone XL

She offered no reasons for her newish stand.  She called the project a "distraction".  Which means nothing.  Since she offers no reasons for her new public stand, I gotta think it's politics.  She is appealing to the party's greenies, at the expense of the unions. Unions like Keystone XL 'cause it will employ a million of their members, which is important to unions.  Obviously she thinks there are more greenie votes out there than there are union votes. 
   I wonder who does Hillary's polling and did they get this right?   Somehow I think there are more union people (union members and their families) out there than card carrying Sierra Club greenies.  I might be wrong, but so might Hillary. 
   Maybe some union people will see the light and vote Republican. 

Redcoats take the White House

Putting on the dog for Pope Francis at the White House.  The marching unit, the only marching unit, was Redcoat, fifes, drums, tri cornered hats and all. 
God Save the Queen.
Long Live the Anglosphere.

Joint, the new magic word

At least in the armed services.  We have a Joint Strike Fighter, a joint combat pistol, joint this, joint that, all in the name of interservice cooperation.
   Now the TV is calling the traditional and long standing Andrews Air Force Base by the new name of Joint Base Andrews.  That's a new one on me.  Wonder when that started.  And who started it.
   Anyhow they put on a pretty good show for the Pope's arrival.  Obama and family and Biden were on the ramp to greet the pope.  There are few visitors so important that the president goes out to the airfield to greet them.  Anyhow, the Pope should have gotten the impression that the Americans are glad to see him. 

Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) Again

Aviation Week had another piece on this aircraft, so the topic is still alive.  Didn't say anything about the aircraft, or the mission, just some talk about where it is in the procurement process.  Interesting if you are a company guy thinking of bidding on part of it, but not much for us plane watchers.

Poor Ben Carson

The newsies have been talking up Ben's comment on Muslims.  Carson was asked if he would support  a Muslim for US president.  Carson said "no" which I agree with.  He went on to say that Islam  places the Koran, the Hadiths, and Sharia law above just about anything, especially above secular things like the US Constitution.  Which is quite true.  Personally I would not vote for a Muslim candidate, and I fully agree with Carson's position.  American presidents support and defend the Constitution, Federal statues and the Common Law, and place this duty far above any Islamic obligations. 

Downsizing, from boats to Buicks

I finally traded my trusty 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, the last of the traditional Detroit boats, six passenger four door V8 sedan.  The body rot had broken thru the fenders, my friendly local mechanic told me he might not be able to give it an inspection sticker next year due to serious rust underneath, and it had 110K miles. 
   I found a low mileage 2003 Buick Le Sabre.  It's not too bad.  It's smaller than the boats, it's just a four passenger car with the old Chevy V6 for power.  It's the top of the line as far as bling and interior trim goes.  The engine isn't anything like as strong as the 4.6 liter V8 in the Merc, even pulling a smaller lighter car.  It has a tachometer, I really need that for those fast power shifts drag racing off the stop lights.  Right.  It has an amazingly tall front axle gear, the engine is only doing 1000 RPM at 50 miles an hour.  At least the transmission lets the engine wind up to the red line if you put your foot into it.  Passing power is OK, but nothing like the Merc. 
  Fuel economy is decent, I got 30 mpg on a trip down to Lebanon and back.  That's better, the Merc only did 22 mpg.  
   The dashboard is confusing.  I had to dig into the owner's manual to figure out how to turn the headlights off, and work the radio.  The damn manual is 300 pages long, the index sucks, and it's missing things like factory recommended tire pressure.  It's full of platitudes about seat belt usage and DUI.  Most of the buttons on the dash have two or three difference meanings, tap once ,double tap, press and hold and they all do different things.  You wouldn't believe what you have to do just to set bass and treble on the radio.  There is a single little hard to read digital display that can show oil pressure, battery voltage, fuel economy, tire pressure, coolant temperature, and the phase of the moon, after you press all the right buttons.  For all this digital fanciness, it lacks an outside temp thermometer, a winter driving necessity. 
   Styling is undistinguished, standard industry all rounded over look.