What is the National Emission Standard for Cars in 2008?
3 Answers
Most cars from 2008 comply with the National IV emission standard. The simplest and most direct way to check a car's emission standard is to look at the environmental label on the vehicle, which clearly indicates the standard on the back. More details are as follows: 1. National IV is a vehicle emission standard, referring to the fourth stage of China's national standards for pollutant emissions from motor vehicles. The main pollutants emitted by cars include HC (hydrocarbons), NOx (nitrogen oxides), CO (carbon monoxide), and PM (particulate matter). 2. Technologies such as improved catalytic converter active layers, secondary air injection, and exhaust gas recirculation systems with cooling devices can be applied to control and reduce vehicle emissions to below specified levels. Methods to check a car's emission standard are as follows: 1. The simplest and most direct method is to check the environmental label on the vehicle, which has a clear mark on the back. 2. Visit the website of the Motor Vehicle Exhaust Pollution Supervision and Management Center for inquiries. 3. Bring the vehicle registration certificate (original or copy) to the vehicle management office for inquiries. 4. Check the vehicle's factory certificate, but since this is usually kept by the vehicle management office, it's advisable to make a copy when purchasing the car for future reference. 5. Make a rough estimate based on the year the car was registered. For example: 1. Most cars registered after 2008 are National IV. 2. Cars registered in 2007 could be either National III or National IV. 3. Cars registered before 2007 are mostly below National IV, i.e., National II or National III. 4. Cars registered before 2005 are mostly National II.
I remember when I first bought my car in 2008, the dealer told me that the China III emission standard had been implemented since July 2007, so my Honda basically met the China III standard. Most new cars produced that year were China III compliant, but occasionally some older models were still China II because manufacturers had a transition period. I checked the environmental label on my car myself—there was a small green label marked 'China III,' which was better than the emission controls of older cars but outdated by today's standards. If you're buying such a car now, I suggest opening the hood to check the nameplate information or directly entering the VIN online to query the emission status. If it's labeled China II, you might face restrictions in certain cities. Looking back, China III cars were easier to maintain, but over time, you'd notice they were noisier and had higher fuel consumption. Regular maintenance of the catalytic converter can extend its lifespan.
As an experienced auto repair technician, I've told many car owners: 90% of 2008 vehicles meet China III emission standards, which were implemented nationwide from mid-2007. The identification method is to check the serial number on the vehicle certificate or engine parameters - China III vehicles place greater emphasis on reducing exhaust pollution. However, I've encountered numerous cases where some small-brand manufacturers continued producing China II vehicles as late as 2008, with poorer emissions. These require extra inspection of wiring and fuel systems during maintenance. I recommend owners use scanning tools or obtain verification reports from DMV. The stricter China III standards necessitate cleaning fuel injectors and oxygen sensors during maintenance to prevent emission test failures. With accelerated phase-out of older vehicles, while China III cars are durable, their environmental performance can't match newer models - upgrading is becoming the trend.
