Quote:
Originally Posted by byootox
The value is essentially light absorption by the smoke the higher the value the thicker the smoke.
The M-1 part I believe is a molar value which is normally a value of a chemical or substance.
In this case smoke.
There's a bit more to the emissions testing than the little basic testers that are widely used at the mot stations I'm afraid.
That's why your ved/tax doesnt quite add up with what you pay.
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The m-1 figure is actually a calculation of the opacity per metre (1/m), which is derived from the original methodology of homologation of a engine's free acceleration smoke when it is mounted on a testbed (it is done at the same time as the power and torque curves are homologated).
There were a couple of options for the smoke measurement, but most manufacturers used the Hartridge equipment, which is effectively a long tube with a light source and a light receiver at one end, a mirror at the other end. The opacity of the smoke affects how much light is lost between it being sent and received through the tube, and it dependent on a very finely balanced fresh air mixer flow-rate running through the apparatus, as well as precise exhaust feed pressure and temperature through the sample tubing. In short, it was a miracle that anything was derived from the measurements. The effective length of the measure tube was calculated for the light-path return journey, and the opacity expressed as a measure "per metre". The bigger the number, the "smokier" the engine. Decent manufacturers declared figures that were realistic, but within the boundaries of reasonableness, in order to account for future MoT's and the needs of their respective customers.