Failed NYS inspection today =(

[audiquattrot]

Passed on all, except emissions. I have to double check the sheet, but according to the guy who was working at the shop.....something like the NYS limit of emissions is 80? and i was at 92?

He mentioned that there could be carbon buildup in my system (prob from lack of driving it, since its been sitting for a while)....and to try and drive it a lot to burn off whatever buildup is in the system. He also recommended me to put some additive in my gas tank, which should help clean the system...and to come back for reinspection....but I hate using any additives in my cars.

Not really sure what to do at this point, but I'm trying to get a hookup in NY to pass me. Spark plugs & injectors were replaced last yr btw.

[archemedes]

use some seafoam in the gas, it will help, also if you can get some chevron gas it is a bit better from what I understand (GM and Ford both use it for emissions testing all their vehicles, and have to have it trucked in specifically for that as it is not sold in Michigan)

[EightiesBaby]

yeah seafoam that biaaatch!

[rodrigo]

I agree with the Seafoam treatment. I ran some through the motor and poured some in the gas tank...when it was all blown out of the engine, what a difference...very positive. Throttle response was much better, iddle was slightly smoother, but not by much.

I just had my car inspected a few weeks ago (before I did the Seafoam). When I bought my car in August of 07, the car had been sitting for about 1 to 1-1/2 years. Rough iddle but ran. I drove it occasionally (so the battery would not drain), but not much mileage at all from August of 07 (126,000) to when I got it inspected in September of 08 (127,897).

Here's the information on the stub:

Emissions test limmits:
HC: 0.80
CO: 15.0
NOx: 2.00

Emissions test resilts (My car's values):
HC: 0.21
CO: 2.8
NOx: 0.37

From what I understood, the NOx value is related to the catalytic converter, and the other 2 values are related to tune-up, fuel used, etc. Before the inspection I installed new plugs (gapped then to the Bentley spec.), new rotor, dizzy cap, ignition wires, a few new hoses that looked old and felt really hard and brittle. I also (obviously) did oil change, air filter change, valve adjustment, new VC gasket...not sure how that influences it...probably not at all unless there was an vaccuum leak from the VC gasket.

PM me if you need more information. Where in NY are you?

[jlevie]

To be able to suggest a course of action to bring the car into position to pass emissions testing we need to know what all three of the numbers are (HC, CO, and NOx). From the numbers sited, it sounds like the car failed on HC. That probably means that it is running rich, but it might also mean failed catalytic converters. The other numbers should help in the diagnosis.

The causes of a rich condition on an M20 engine include (in no particular order):

1) Bad O2 sensor
2) Bad plugs, wires, distributor rotor/cap
3) Mis-adjusted valves
4) Leaking fuel injectors
5) Bad engine temp sensor (the one for the DME)
6) Bad or futzed with AFM
7) Bad FPR that's causing excessive fuel pressure
8) Stuck open or missing thermostat

When running properly, an M20 should have no trouble passing emissions tests. But given the age of the car and the mileage, I'd bet on it needing a new O2 sensor, ignition wires, distributor rotor/cap, and probably plugs as those are wear items with a finite life. If not done within the last 10k, it needs the valves adjusted. The other items (except the AFM) are subject to test and only need attention if they've failed. Fixing this properly will cost a bit, but it will be well worth it as the engine will run a lot better.

[yberther]

do no use seafoam please. it is alcohol based and will eat away at your headgasket.

if you're going to use an additive don't use cheap shit in your car. Its only a temporary solution, don't make it a problem.

[jlevie]

Seafoam is okay to use and will do a pretty good job of cleaning carbon from the heads, but then so will driving the car like it is meant to be driven. Routinely getting into the 4-5k rpm band with an occasional trip to 5.8k will clean the heads out in no time (Italian Tune Up).

Using an additive to squeak by on an emissions test can work, but it is the wrong way to solve the problem. The correct solution, which pays long term dividends in the use of the car, is to fix the cause of an emissions test failure.

[Yakinho]

I ended up failing the NOx part of emissions... I also have to get it inspected before the 17th... Anyone know the main culprits? Sorry for not creating a new thread.

[jlevie]

High NOx could mean that the engine is running lean, or that the catalytic converters are bad. A peak at the plugs should establish whether the engine is running lean. The most common causes of a lean condition are intake leaks, dirty injectors, or low fuel pressure.

[SpecM]

do no use seafoam please. it is alcohol based and will eat away at your headgasket.

if you're going to use an additive don't use cheap shit in your car. Its only a temporary solution, don't make it a problem.

Any proof? How will alcohol do that?

How is cleaning the fuel system/valves/chambers a "temporary solution"?

Since when is seafoam "cheap"? It is the most expensive fuel additive on most shelves.

[archemedes]

do no use seafoam please. it is alcohol based and will eat away at your headgasket.

if you're going to use an additive don't use cheap shit in your car. Its only a temporary solution, don't make it a problem.

amazing that many auto manufacturers are now recommending it (even some of the dealers are using it) if alcohol ate tyhe head gasket (which I have never heard before) then how can people in the midwest drive as most of their gas has alcohol in it?

[2Big4a3Series]

Not only that but what about the antifreeze? That is FULL of alcohol. Methanol and ethylene specifically.

[Funkmasta]

Drive the car on a few 3/4 throttle - to - redline blips before taking it to the test...

[Yakinho]

do no use seafoam please. it is alcohol based and will eat away at your headgasket.

if you're going to use an additive don't use cheap shit in your car. Its only a temporary solution, don't make it a problem.

You're talking about acetone, not alcohol.

edit: I failed emissions about 9 months ago, went back yesterday and passed with flying colors... I changed the sparks, put seafoam in the gas tank, and thats it.

[SpecM]

Not only that but what about the antifreeze? That is FULL of alcohol. Methanol and ethylene specifically.

no, it isn't