Failed Emissions (Illinois), have a few questions

[Fattie92]

Well took it in today... and failed. Not to bad though, it should be a pretty easy fix, but just got a few questions... but first my results:

Standard Mine
HC- 220 436 Fail

CO- 1.2 0.6 Pass

Co2- NA 13.8 NA

NOx NA NA NA


The TEST:
Since i have an AWD car, they have to just rev it (im sure your all aware of this,) ... but there is a point in the test where the rpms, need to be held at 2500 for a certian amount of time. Well the guy that was testing it was a jackass and could NOT hold it at 2500. He kept going from 2000-3000. Not to sure if this fluctuating of the RPM would cause these readings or not.... but it was just a thought.


The FIX:
Well i havent touched the metering screw on my MAF, and wasnt to sure if backing it out would affect my HC's enough to drop 220ppm. I mean i can try it, and go back.. but id like to hear some info on that first. In theory i should be able to back it out (let in more unmetered air) and that should lean it out a little more. Sounds good right? THen there is just the basic tune up stuff to do, like PCV. Now i have never changed that thing, but ohh well. Spark plugs will be changed, and i can do oil again even though the oil in there only has like....500 miles on it.



so what do you all think? 220ppm over isnt all that much. Think backing out the screw will be enough?

PS.. mods are listed in profile

 

[hose101772]

Drop in some fuel cleaner-run the crap out of it.Change the oil,plugs,wires.

Oil-could have fuel in the oil.

Plugs and wires-well because they go bad.

Get it good and hot before you take it.

 

[Fattie92]

Originally posted by hose101772
Drop in some fuel cleaner-run the crap out of it.Change the oil,plugs,wires.

Oil-could have fuel in the oil.

Plugs and wires-well because they go bad.

Get it good and hot before you take it.

yeah thats all basic stuff that i already know. what i really need to know is if backing the MAF screw out will make a big differance in my HC's

 

[jrivard00]

I wouldn't touch the screw and your shouldn't have to since it is set a the factory. I see that you have a '92; have you replaced your O2 sensor at all? If the normal tune up doesn't solve it then I think that will.

 

[Fattie92]

Originally posted by jrivard00
I wouldn't touch the screw and your shouldn't have to since it is set a the factory. I see that you have a '92; have you replaced your O2 sensor at all? If the normal tune up doesn't solve it then I think that will.

brand new denso O2 was put in about a month ago

 

[4g64GST]

conditions that prevent a catalyst from oxidizing HC:
1 rich
2 air faults
3 low oxygen

conditions that prevent a catalyst from reducing NOx
1 misfire
2 deposits
3 lean
4 air injection
5 high oxygen
6 exhaust backpressure


how old is your converter it may be as simple as replacing that.
if you are running higher boost your will have to go to a heavier converter.

i have a booklet that discusses converters and emissions i can send a copy if it comes down to it

we hand them out at our seminars

(i work for an exhaust company)

 

[Fattie92]

Well i just installed a brand new 3inch Carsound cat about a month ago. Here in Illinois we don't have to worry about NOx, cause they don't test for it. And besides that only my HC's are up indicating there there is no misfire (if so then CO would be up as well as CO2). I know plenty about converters and emissions themselves and what can cause what, But thanks for the offer on the booklet.

 

[bald_eagle]

conditions that prevent a catalyst from oxidizing HC:
1 rich
2 air faults
3 low oxygen

conditions that prevent a catalyst from reducing NOx
1 misfire
2 deposits
3 lean
4 air injection
5 high oxygen
6 exhaust backpressure


how old is your converter it may be as simple as replacing that.
if you are running higher boost your will have to go to a heavier converter.

i have a booklet that discusses converters and emissions i can send a copy if it comes down to it

we hand them out at our seminars

(i work for an exhaust company)

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead (like 4 years dead! ) but I am having a similar prob. 4g64GST I was wondering what "air faults" means. Is that like boost / vac leaks?

 

[96mitsugsx]

If you failed the HC part, that means that something is wrong with your ignition system. Check your plugs, wires and your timing. Did you advance your timing? If you did, you might wanna retard it a bit and bring it back to factory settings.

 

[bald_eagle]

Ah ok thanks. I have done my plugs but I have not done the wires since I owned the car. I have not done anything with the timing but it would not suprise me if it were off. Thanks! I failed on HC and NOx

 

[viprez586]

Get it down to a 1/4 tank, fill up 1-3 gallons of E85.

Don't pour that "injector cleaner" S#!t in your gas tank. All it does is nicely clean your gas tank, all the lines and clogs your fuel filter.

 

[bald_eagle]

Ok! I don't know of any stations near me that sell pure E-85 but thats prob because Im not paying attention.

 

[viprez586]

Ok! I don't know of any stations near me that sell pure E-85 but thats prob because Im not paying attention.

National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition

 

[rodent]

Running zero boost is key to passing the test. Disconnect the wastegate rod or put a small hose clamp around the rod while at the same time open it all the way. You want the clamp to block the rod from going back in. I used a large wrench on the arm to open it while I tightened the clamp. After the 3rd try this did the trick for me.

 

[viprez586]

Running zero boost is key to passing the test. Disconnect the wastegate rod or put a small hose clamp around the rod while at the same time open it all the way. You want the clamp to block the rod from going back in. I used a large wrench on the arm to open it while I tightened the clamp. After the 3rd try this did the trick for me.

Usually emission testing centers don't run 4x4s or AWDs on the "treadmill" because of the risk of breaking they're equipment or your car. In either case if you didn't run your car on the tread mill leaning it out a little bit will help you with HCs. Reason i say run E85 is because ethanol burns CLEAN...well cleaner then traditional gasoline anyway. Hence disconnecting the wastegate and wiring it open won't have any benefit while free revving.

You know that "Guaranteed To Pass Emissions" in a bottle $h!t they sell at the auto parts store. Well there is a disclaimer on the bottle that says that your guaranteed to pass emissions IF "all emissions components are in place and in proper working order with the vehicle in a correct state of tune."
Anyway the main ingredient in that stuff is toluene which is pretty much race fuel.

WTF OKAY! Then why did you even need the bottle in the first place or failed the emissions test anyway!
I tell you... the stuff in a bottle they try and sell to people.

 

[rodent]

Usually emission testing centers don't run 4x4s or AWDs on the "treadmill" because of the risk of breaking they're equipment or your car. In either case if you didn't run your car on the tread mill leaning it out a little bit will help you with HCs. Reason i say run E85 is because ethanol burns CLEAN...well cleaner then traditional gasoline anyway. Hence disconnecting the wastegate and wiring it open won't have any benefit while free revving.

Uh, here in Denver and the Colorado front range, they do run AWD cars on rollers. And yes it helped my car pass. They put a certain load on the car so the car will go into boost. I even did a thread when I was having problems on the rmdsm site. Also tried Xylene with no luck.
Failed emissions, should I try Xylene? - Rocky Mountain DSM
The E85 will help but you can still fail as one guy just had this issue running E85. Another trick you can do is to lossen the exhaust so there's an exhaust leak. Bottom line is you really need to make sure your car is tuned and running correctly with a cat.

 

[bald_eagle]

Wow thanks again for all the advice! Yes they run AWDs on rollers here. I stood outside the car and was watching my boost guage and if they went into boost at all they never even got as high as 5psi. My car is a real "fixer upper" and the guy that had it before me did not have it for long or know a lot about it. Thanks for that E-85 list! Turns out there are a few near me. Is there any real way to test the cat?

 

[Geier]

RUN 87 OCTANE AND TURN UP THE TIMING!!!

This is tried and true. One of the members of the Galant board just did this over the past week.

87 octane with increased timing will burn all of the fuel, which is what HC count is for. Just turn the CAS clockwise slightly and put in about a 1/4 tank of 87. You will be fine. Do not boost hard or beat on the car, this is only for emissions. As soon as you can, fill it back up with 93.

 

[rodent]

RUN 87 OCTANE AND TURN UP THE TIMING!!!

This is tried and true. One of the members of the Galant board just did this over the past week.

87 octane with increased timing will burn all of the fuel, which is what HC count is for. Just turn the CAS clockwise slightly and put in about a 1/4 tank of 87. You will be fine. Do not boost hard or beat on the car, this is only for emissions. As soon as you can, fill it back up with 93.

The guys at the e-test place are driving YOUR car on the rollers, not you. It will put a load on the car like its going up a hill. Would you really trust them to not boost hard and take it easy on the hill load??? Advancing the ignition timing and having lower octane is detonation waiting to happen. I always thought you want to retard the timing if anything to help pass.

 

[3tcpower]

If you have a boost controller (manual or other) couldn't you just set the boost low?

 

[viprez586]

RUN 87 OCTANE AND TURN UP THE TIMING!!!

This is tried and true. One of the members of the Galant board just did this over the past week.

87 octane with increased timing will burn all of the fuel, which is what HC count is for. Just turn the CAS clockwise slightly and put in about a 1/4 tank of 87. You will be fine. Do not boost hard or beat on the car, this is only for emissions. As soon as you can, fill it back up with 93.

?

Uh no, please don't flood the forum with false information. Obviously he doesn't understand why our cars need 91+ octane.
Like previously stated the lower the octane the more the probability of detonation. When comparing 87 octane to 93 octane: 87 octane burns faster. 93 octane: burns slower(pushing down on the piston longer). The higher the octane rating the higher the resistance to engine knock.

Changing the octane from 87 to 93 DOESN'T greatly change how much Hydrocarbons(HCs) content is in the exhaust, nor does it change fuel trims. However when dealing with E85- which burns much cleaner and can decrease the HC content

For the OP: wire open the WG and run a mixture of E85(octane rating of 105).

HCs could be oil or fuel, so if your burning oil you can also fail emissions.