Thousands of complaints from California's 10 million motorists have caused the State Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel the requirements for a signed affidavit that their car has been equipped with required smog-control devices. The complaints stemmed from the motorists' inability to understand the complex smog-control requirements mailed out with 1965 registration-renewal notices.
Tom M. Bright, State Motor Vehicles Director, said: "California car owners can simply forget the notices, except for owners of commercial-type vehicles. By 1966," Bright said, "we hope some more easily understood requirements can be sent out. Our current action does not change the smog-control law-we are simply dropping the general affidavit requirement."
A new law, requiring all cars that are 1950 models or later to have crankcase devices installed, has just taken effect. An affidavit to this effect will be required before motorists can obtain 1966 registrations.
Adding more confusion to the motorist is that one major manufacturer has a $10 adjustment that will do the trick. State, County and various anti-smog groups were quick to point out that they felt a simple solution of this kind must have been known for a long time to the manufacturers. There was severe criticism that this hadn't been done a long time ago when the problem first became acute.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, a bill has been introduced by Sen. Edmund S. Muskie, (D), Maine, with the backing of 19 other Senators. The Muskie proposal would require that all new gasoline-powered vehicles be equipped with blow-by systems with fumes from the crankcase limited to a prescribed standard. It would be illegal for any new gasoline powered vehicle to be sold that didn't meet this requirement.
In another vein, Dr. M. Patrick Sweeney, Supervising Engineer. California Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, has issued a warning to motorists against removing or altering their crankcase emission control devices.
"Such alteration, especially plugging of the device, can lead to serious consequences," Dr. Sweeney declared. "Blowby gases, regulated by the devices, must escape from the crankcase. Any attempt to plug the crankcase will only result in pushing the gases out through the dipstick opening, along with the engine oil. This loss of oil might ruin the engine", he said.
"Properly functioning crankcase devices do a most effective job of reducing blowby gases and contribute greatly to auto smog reduction in California. A properly installed crankcase device more than pays for itself in fuel savings and maintenance of a cleaner engine", Dr. Sweeney concluded.
