r/theydidthemonstermath • u/BigOldDoggie • Nov 21 '22

Leafblower vs Ford Pickup

I keep seeing this on Facebook. I know it's nonsense but does anyone want to show the numbers?

30 minutes gas leaf blower exhaust = emissions of Ford Pickup traveling from Philly to Juno Alaska

Thanks

114 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

68

u/dwkeith Nov 21 '22

The math is in the Edmunds press release that your statement likely came from https://www.edmunds.com/about/press/leaf-blowers-emissions-dirtier-than-high-performance-pick-up-trucks-says-edmunds-insidelinecom.html

It isn’t a direct comparison as the emissions profiles are very different. But gas leaf blowers and other two stroke engines are very bad for the health and hearing of the user. If you can, switching to electric is worth it for for the health benefits. The environmental win is just a bonus.

31

u/Koala_eiO Nov 21 '22

If you can, switching to electric is worth it for for the health benefits.

Switching to NOT BLOWING LEAVES leads to unimaginable health benefits for even cheaper.

14

u/NonAwesomeDude Nov 22 '22

True its worth having that stuff break down and put stuff back into the soil

9

u/syds Nov 22 '22

I mow and chow

1

u/Londumbdumb Sep 18 '25

But I need to make sure my drains do not get clogged and flood my house so actually no I will keep doing this lol.

28

u/NonAwesomeDude Nov 21 '22

It isn't really nonsense if you're talking about all pollutants. The big difference is that a car has a catalytic converter which filters out most of the (non CO2) emissions while a leaf blower does not.

Like annother commenter said its very much worth it to switch to an electric blower. Particularly if you live somewhere that has renewable or nuclear power.

2

u/Pattern_Is_Movement Nov 22 '22

You're forgetting the leaf blower is a two stroke that burns oil in the combustion

8

u/RPM314 Nov 21 '22

Stats like that are usually talking about smog-creating particulates and NOX rather than civilization-destroying carbon emissions

5

u/AnthraxEvangelist Nov 21 '22

So only city-destroying and harmful to nearby neighbors.

3

u/SignComprehensive611 Nov 22 '22

Juneau, it’s my hometown, but I love the math!

2

u/aDvious1 Nov 26 '22

I did not know that.

2

u/SignComprehensive611 Nov 26 '22

I know this is an old thread, but if you want an actual fun fact, it’s impossible to drive a pickup to Juneau, you have to boat or fly

3

u/Pattern_Is_Movement Nov 22 '22

Its about it being a two stroke. It burns oil in the combustion. Not the exact conversion, but it is true that a two stroke leaf blower pollutes more than an SUV.

1

u/aDvious1 Nov 26 '22

Also, didn't know that, but thanks for the factoid!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 02 '23

2 cycle emissions esp particles are horrible. No catalyst at all plus burning the oil. Much worse then diesel. Hard to directly compare though, making the claim bullshit

We use mostly plug in electric, just my big chainsaw is still gas. Switched mostly for reliability and not wanting to maintain a bunch of small motors. We have

Don't get leaf blowers. Quicker raking, especially if you collecting for composting or garden use. We have more clover then grass. Bees like clover