The Air Qualilty Program will conduct free, voluntary vehicle emissions testing on several dates during the spring, summer and fall. This testing is part of an Air Quality Awareness Program designed to educate citizens on how they can help Wichita keep its "air plain." This testing will specifically check a vehicle’s exhaust emissions and gas cap for fuel leaks.

The goal of the emissions testing project is to reduce the number of vehicles with excess emissions while educating the public about the benefits to vehicle performance, fuel economy, and healthier air quality. Poorly maintained vehicles cost their owners more to operate and cause a significant amount of air pollution. Motorists that are behind "smoking" vehicles are exposed to pollution levels up to 10 times higher than outside air.

In addition to evaluating tailpipe emissions, gas caps will also be tested. A gas cap goes "bad" when the rubber seal loses its flexibility, allowing fumes to continually escape from the fuel tank, regardless of whether the car is being driven or parked. The vapors released can cost the vehicle owner additional money at the pump and also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, the primary pollutant responsible for air quality problems in Wichita. Replacing a missing or leaky gas cap prevents harmful vapors from entering the air, thereby improving a car’s fuel economy while helping reduce air pollution. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a leaking gas cap can allow as much as 30 gallons of gas to be lost from the tank per year.

This will be the sixth year for the project. Over the past two years, more than 400 cars and trucks were tested. Nearly 15% of the vehicles were found to have excessive exhaust emissions. Staff recommended that those vehicles be repaired and provided the vehicle drivers with a copy of the test report.  In addition, approximately 10% of the vehicles tested were found to have leaking gas caps that needed to be replaced.

Fuel savings will often pay for the cost of a vehicle tune up within the first year, and replacing a leaking gas cap can be cost effective within a few months.