Exhaust scandal: Illegal defeat device discovered in Audi with gasoline engine

Recently updated on September 22, 2023 at 12:59 am

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The diesel scandal is known throughout Germany - even worldwide. In the diesel engines of numerous manufacturers such as VW, Audi, Mercedes or Porsche there are illegal shutdown devices that manipulate the exhaust gas cleaning system. Now the next scandal looms: A defeat device has also been found in an Audi gasoline engine.

An expert examined an Audi Q5 TFSI 2.0 with the Euro 6 emissions standard from 2015 for a court case. He discovered that the petrol engine only carries out exhaust gas cleaning completely if the steering wheel is not moved or only moved slightly. Of course, this is extremely rare in normal driving practice.

Audi Q5 exceeded manufacturer specifications by 300 percent

When the appraiser drove the Audi Q5 as if on the road and made strong steering movements, the gasoline engine simply switched off the emission control. This means: The exhaust gases were emitted with a very high proportion of harmful nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. In the test, the Audi Q5 exceeded the legal limit for nitrogen oxides by 24 percent and the permitted emission value for carbon monoxide by 60 percent. Overall, the gasoline engine exceeded the manufacturer's specifications from Audi by 300 percent. With these values ​​the Audi should not have been approved at all.

The reason is a switch-off device called steering angle detection. Based on the steering movements, the Audi recognizes whether it is on the road or in the laboratory. It cleans the exhaust gases according to regulations for the registration authorities, but no longer on the road. This technology is partly responsible for driving bans that are threatened or are already being implemented in numerous cities and metropolitan areas.

Cycle detection in gasoline engines occupied

An internal VW document that is available to broadcaster SWR also shows that defeat devices are active not only in diesel vehicles, but also in gasoline vehicles. Lawyers from Audi's parent company - Volkswagen AG - write in an internal assessment that so-called "close-to-cycle data" is used in gasoline engines with the AL 551 automatic transmission. This is another word for cycle detection or shutdown device. The document states that the emissions control system is only activated when the steering angle is less than 15 degrees - as is usual in test situations - but "almost never" in normal traffic on the road.

Neither the Federal Ministry of Transport nor the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) was previously aware that shutdown devices were also installed in vehicles with gasoline engines. The VW lawyers also knew this, writing in their assessment that the “concrete steering angle detection” was “not known to the authorities”. When asked by SWR, Audi itself did not want to comment on the report and the internal papers.

Other gasoline engines can be affected

The TFSI 2.0 engine - also known as EA 888 - which is installed in the Audi Q5 examined and contains a shutdown device, was also used in numerous other Audi models. We have compiled a list of the possible affected vehicles here. There is also the suspicion that Audi is not the only car manufacturer that has cheated on gasoline engines. Cars from other manufacturers can also contain an illegal defeat device - millions of vehicles could be affected in Germany alone.

Do you drive a petrol Audi? Let us check now, free of charge, whether you are affected by the new petrol emissions scandal. The consumer law firm represents owners of vehicles with gasoline engines as well as diesel drivers. We have already represented more than 12.000 clients against German car manufacturers. Benefit from our experience! Take advantage of our non-binding and free initial consultation on the emissions scandal and call us on 030 – 200 590 770 or write an email to info@rueden.de.

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