Cash For Clunkers: Trade-Ins Get Lethal Injection
Three days before launch, the Department of Transportation has finally released the rules [PDF] for car dealers participating in the federal Cash for Clunkers program. Dealers must disable the trade-in’s engine [official powerplant-killing technique after the jump] and then send the clunker to an approved salvage auction or an authorized disposal company, which will kill, crush and destroy (not to mention recycle) the remaining bits. The doc also contains a word to the wise: “The CARS Act specifies that while many parts of the trade-in vehicle are permitted to be removed and sold, in the end the residual vehicle, including the engine block, must be crushed or shredded. Therefore, the trade-in value of the vehicle is not likely to exceed its scrap value. Purchasers should not expect to receive the same trade-in value as they might if the vehicle were to remain on the road.” I wonder how many consumers will make that calculation, or how many dealers will help them in that regard.
Engine Disablement Procedures for the CARS Program
THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT TO BE USED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER
Perform the following procedure to disable the vehicle engine.
1. Obtain solution of 40% sodium silicate/60% water. (The Sodium Silicate (SiO2/Na2O) must have a weight ratio of 3.0 or greater.)
CAUTION: Wear goggles and gloves. Appropriate protective clothing should be worn to prevent silicate solution from coming into contact with the skin.
6. Replace the oil fill cap.
This engine is from a vehicle that is part of the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). It has significant internal damage caused by operating the engine with a sodium silicate solution (liquid glass) instead of oil.
More by Robert Farago
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This Is a disgrace its watefull I went by my local dealership and saw a perfectly good gmc z71 extended cab pickup with a new sticker being destroyed I assaulted the tech performing this I am a mechanic run a shop and see people driving unsafe vehicals everyday that will NEVER take a LEGAL sticker I wanted to purchase this truck for my mother in law I have one identical that gets 24 mpg the reason most people dont get good mileage with thier vehicals is not the vehicals fault but more so operator error excessive speed impudent driving waiting till your 10 feet from a red light to stop from 75 ect. I will never drive a compact or sub compact again I had a civic and corolla and got what my full size z71 gets not what everyone else gets what i get. i get customers come in my shop complaing shakes over 80 the speed limit is only 65.... I think they are making vehicals and laws more to accomodate bad and even less competent drivers and It makes me sick to see nice vehicales destroyed when there are many on welfare getting state aide to keep some toilet running that WILL NEVER PASS A STATE INSPECTION. Im really disgusted with whats being done with my tax dollars
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