Forum Discussion

Sothamericatrav's avatar
Sothamericatrav
Explorer
Jan 29, 2012

Mexico/Central and South America - Truck Camper is best!

I have recently finished one of a number of expeditions via the Pan American Highway. I again landed at the tip of South America, which is Ushuaia, Argentina. I have also traveled to Alaska which is...
Truck Campers
DiploStrat's avatar
DiploStrat
Explorer
Jan 15, 2015
Sothamericatraveler wrote:
you need nothing BEFORE leaving USA, but if there is suspicion upon RE ENTRY, you may have your vehicle checked and the specs. will have to conform to the regulations. The EPA does not give permission to alter the original spec. The only vehicles authorized different are direct from the manufacturer and labeled 'FOR EXPORT ONLY"...These cannot be registered in the USA.

By the way, when and where do you intend to travel, and what vehicle are you talking about?


Actually, that is not quite correct. You need EPA permission to disable the emission controls (if necessary) if you want to have the work done in the US. (Done this before for a gasoline engine.) EPA Link

Have not done this for:
-- Diesel engine, or,
-- Overland departure.

The permission is pretty straight forward if you have a booking on a ship. But I am looking for the experiences of anyone who may have done this for a diesel engine and for overland departure, as, for example, across the Mexican border. Also interested to know if the EPA has ever addressed the issue of low sulphur vehicles. The rules are quite clear for gasoline engined vehicles going to countries where unleaded gasoline is not available, but I am interested to know if anyone has ever applied for permission to disable the emission controls on a diesel engine.

You are correct, of course, that you do not need EPA permission if you plan to have all of the work done outside of the US. In my case, however, the various manufacturers of diesel reprogrammers refuse to sell in the US without EPA permission. Similarly, many garages/exhaust shops will refuse to remove the DPF and other devices without EPA permission.

Of course, you will need to reinstall all emission controls upon return to the US.

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