Can National 5 be upgraded to National 6?
2 Answers
National 5 cannot be upgraded to National 6 because National 5 requires that the carbon monoxide emissions of gasoline vehicles should not exceed 1 gram per kilometer, while National 6 requires that the carbon monoxide emissions of gasoline vehicles should not exceed 0.5 grams per kilometer. National 5 refers to the fifth stage of national motor vehicle pollutant emission standards, with a control level equivalent to the fifth stage emission standard currently implemented in Europe. National 6 refers to the sixth stage of national motor vehicle pollutant emission standards, including emission limits and measurement methods for light-duty vehicle pollutants and heavy-duty diesel vehicle pollutants. Automobile emission standards refer to the limit regulations on harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and soot emitted from automobile exhaust.
I've been driving for many years and have also been concerned about whether China 5 vehicles can be upgraded to China 6 standards. To be honest, it's basically not feasible. The emission standard is fixed when the car leaves the factory. Hardware components like the engine and catalytic converter are designed for China 5 standards, and no amount of software upgrades can change these core parts. I've seen many people try modifications, such as installing additional after-treatment devices or flashing the ECU program, but what's the result? Either they fail the vehicle inspection or end up with more problems, wasting a lot of money and effort. Even worse, illegal modifications can lead to hefty fines and compromise safety. In my opinion, you'd be better off directly switching to a new China 6-compliant car—it's more environmentally friendly and hassle-free, and the money saved on repairs could cover your fuel costs. Of course, the China 6 standard is indeed cleaner and better for air quality, but don't expect an old car to magically transform.
