8500lb is the EPA reg weight limit for "medium duty"...

hence why the 3/4 ton and heavier pick ups have diesels, the 1/2 tons don't - different set of regulations.

I'm not 100% on this - but as I recall - there is another reg difference at 14k, I think at that point the EPA certs are done on engine dyno's - as so many of those vehicles are sold as incompletes and end up with different "bodies" on the back - and therefore different aerodynamics - it would be nearly impossible to road coast down all the different body combinations which would be required for a chassis dyno cert.

Just more evidence to me that the "green states" are getting further out of touch with reality. I don't think any politician realizes the amount of cost involved in having multiple regulations - test equipment is expensive - takes months/years to design install and prove out, and is expensive to run and maintain once online.... not to mention all the engineering and technician time required to run all the calibrations and tests required to pass said regs.... there should be ONE SET of FEDERAL regs - the States should never have been allowed to impose thier own. Come to think of it - it sure would be nice if the European Union would sit down with the US EPA and figure out a "global standard" - now THAT would be efficient! and hopefully we'd see more of europes slick diesels over here!

sorry - off soap box.

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95 E300 Diesel 265k and counting