Writing a novel where a character commits suicide - though I would have them gas themselves in a garage with the motor running. Obviously wanted to make the "villain"an Rx8 but talking in the pub tonight someone said that modern emission controls means that a 2005 Rx8 would not produce enough CO to kill a hamster....

Is this true?

If so presumable a non CAT straight through pipe would work (do not have that in the draft so far - not a problem but at the moment the character is not that much of a petrol head!}

Grateful for any thoughts,

 

Whoever you talked to doesn't know much about 8s.
One of the main reasons they quit making them is because the emissions couldn't meet new European emissions standards.
I'm pretty sure no emissions controls from any internal combustion engine could make exhaust fumes safe enough to survive in a closed garage.

You could always have them drive off the Hana Highway or Haleakala.

 

Most of the drops from the Highway are pretty small I think but the road around the top of the island has some reasonable cliffs. But if you want to kill yourself by driving on a cliff - Molokai is the place to do that = highest sea cliff in the world.

But back to the topic - I like my fiction to be 100% fact here it intersects with the real world so I looked this up on several suicide advice sites (was surprised there are lots) and this came up several times. I know Rx8s struggle to be emission unfriendly but anyone else care to wade in?

 

(For some reason won't let me edit. Just checked Molokai cliffs 3,900 feet!!!!)

 

A faulty exhaust gasket at the front of the midpipe on a few hour drive was enough to put one of our MD members in the hospital from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The RX-8 certainly CAN do it.

Another way to look at it:

What is coming out of the tailpipe isn't oxygen. We need oxygen to breath. It doesn't matter how "clean" the emissions are, it could be emitting febreeze air freshener and it would still be enough to kill.

 

Well, this is one of the stranger threads I have opened.

Think about it. In a closed garage, the engine in removing oxygen from the finite volume of air and replacing it with gases that are not oxygen. Once enough oxygen is replaced... Zzzzzz...

.

 

surprised no one has called dibs on the OP's RX-8 in case this isn't actually for a fictional novel.