What are Euro Standards?

At Motor Guide, we decided to discuss "Euro Standards." In today's world, knowing about this is mandatory when buying a vehicle. Simply put, this is a globally accepted benchmark that measures how harmful the smoke emitted from a vehicle's silencer (exhaust) is to the environment. Come, let us explain the inside story to you.

What exactly is the Euro Standard?

The European Union (EU) was the first to introduce this set of regulations. When fuel burns inside a vehicle engine, toxic gases like Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), and unburnt fuel particles (PM) are released.

As we move forward from Euro 1, 2, to 3, what happens is that the amount of toxic gas allowed to be emitted by a vehicle is restricted according to that number. Now, many countries in the world have reached the Euro 6 level. So, as the number increases, that vehicle becomes more environmentally friendly.

How Does This Affect Engine Technology?

When the Euro number goes up, manufacturers are forced to upgrade engine technology. For example, Euro 1 had simple engines. However, when coming to Euro 4, 5, and 6, complex components like EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection), Turbochargers, and Catalytic Converters had to be added to the engine. Because of this, fuel burns very cleanly, providing maximum energy while minimizing the amount of toxic gases released. Therefore, vehicles with higher Euro Standards also have higher engine efficiency.

Impact on Vehicles in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka too, there are now regulations that imported vehicles must be of Euro 4 or a higher standard. If you are using a Euro 4 or Euro 6 vehicle, you must use the best type of fuel suitable for it (e.g., Euro 4 Super Diesel or 95 Octane).

This is because these engines are built with great precision. If low-quality fuel or fuel with high Sulphur content is used, the sensors in the vehicle and the "Catalytic Converter" can get damaged very quickly.

Things to Consider During Maintenance

We need to be very careful when maintaining a vehicle with a high Euro value. These vehicles have filters like "DPF" (Diesel Particulate Filter) to clean the exhaust smoke. If the vehicle is not serviced on time or if the correct "Engine Oil" grade is not used, these systems get clogged. Then, the Engine Check light on the Dashboard starts to turn on.

Therefore, we must specifically remind you to use the highest quality oil and filters suitable for the vehicle when using one with a higher Euro Standard.