Need help passing emissions

[Primaveria]

I have fails emissions 3 times now and I need to know what to do next. I am failing in hydrocarbons I need below a 2.5 and my last pass I got a 3.3. I have been able to get it as low as 2.8 but then it went back up to 3.3 last time. Last time I set my FPR to 33 psi with vacuum hose off thinking that should do it, but it was higher than the time before. My NOX is fine and CO are fine it is just HC.

The things I am thinking might be the problem. I think I have a leaky injector because the fuel pressure will drop when the car is not being driven and it takes a long time for it to start. Could this contribute to it? Also I have a cat on the car but do not know how old it is or if it is still working. Could a bad cat cause high HC but not everything else.

The engine was just rebuilt all stock. The EGR is removed as well.

Also what does everyone think of the additives you can buy to help pass emissions do they work and if so could they get me from a 3.3 to below a 2.5.

Thanks for any help

 

[LordDigi]

... I am failing in hydrocarbons I need below a 2.5 and my last pass I got a 3.3 ... The EGR is removed as well ...

Hydrocarbon emissions result when fuel molecules in the engine do not burn or burn only partially. By removing your EGR you will deliberately increase the hydrocarbon emission resulting in a failed emissions test

Not to worry, you can either reinstall your EGR or simply lean out your a/f ratio

... Also what does everyone think of the additives you can buy to help pass emissions ...

What are these additives that you speak of? The only thing that I can think of that would help you, and have anything to do with additives, would be if you have some carbon build up in the combustion chamber and the additive would rid of this ...

 

[Primaveria]

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/wayback/BradBauer/engine/egr.html
This says that removing the EGR will lower HC

This is the additive I was talking about
http://www.autobarn.net/ch05063.html

 

[LordDigi]

Damn ... my bad man I guess that's what I get from reading old shit ... Manuals use to claim that EGR valves re-circulate exhaust gasses allowing unused fuel to be reintroduced into the combustion. You can at me if you want

As far as the additive goes, the one you pointed out, cleans the fuel system allowing your engine to achieve a more productive/stoich combustion. This will help your emissions if your system is not working properly due to carbon build up or other types of scum in your engine. You say that the engine was rebuilt so I doubt that there with be any "gum and/or varnish deposits". The product does advertise that is has chemicals in it to produce cleaner emissions. I don't see any problems with you using it ... I don't have any personal experience with this type of product so I can't tell you that it will truly work. I only can tell you that it will only help

 

[TurboLaserDude]

You could try this if your feeling lucky... Disconnect your wastegate actuator arm & leave your wastegate open? Then you will run much leaner & hopefully the smog police overlook what you have done Or just take off your power brake hose and you will run leaner through the test trust me its not hard to fool these people (hahahaaaa)

 

[Primaveria]

OK so I have changed the oil and spark plugs as I read on another forum. The spark plugs all looked alright but I replaced them any ways with NGKs. Tomorrow morning I am going to try and do a boost leak test. My plan is to try again tomorrow afternoon. I am going to drop my Fuel pressure even more right before I take it in. Is there anything else that I should consider before I go.

 

[Dark_Horse]

Did you end up having any boost leaks?

More Advice:

You can run regular unleaded (it burns easier) to pass emissions. As long as you have your boost turned down as much as it will go, you should be ok at part throttle.

Or...You can do what I did. Put regular unleaded (85 octane) in your tank & run about 20 - 30% E85. I'd try about 3 to 4 gallons of E85 and the rest regular Unleaded.

The additional ethanol in your gas tank will decrease HC emissions.

10% ethanol decreases HC emissions by ~18%
20% ethanol decreases HC emissions by ~22%
40% ethanol decreases HC emissions by ~45%

Note - since you have stock injectors, DO NOT go above a 30% mixture of E85 to gasoline. Your stock ECU can compensate for the added ethanol so long as you don't go over 30%. You will definitely need your boost turned down for this as the increased ethanol concentration will make your injectors work harder. IE higher IDC.