smog check tomrrow. tips?

[digitaldrifter91]

i have never really taken my car in for smog. usually my father takes it in. since it is now my car (1991 honda accord) then i have to take it in.

now i have done auto-rx...fixed my air box leak, cleaned my throttle body and sensors as well. is there anything im missing? about 10k ago i changed the distribitor and spark plugs so thouse are good...the only thing i havent done is timming, which i wont do.

is there any tips that you guys can give me to ensure i pass smog...i have a small doubt i wont pass but i have a strong feeling i will pass. am i supposed to drive it on the freeway...how about idling at the smog station, doesnt that build up emmisions?

oil change today as well.

hehe i didnt pay the high car tax that said to tripple the registratoin...only 89 bucks this time around whoHOO..

thanks fellas...putting everything to the test =)

 

[digitaldrifter91]

gerr..should i put auto rx in my oil or not...maintanence dose?

 

[Stealth26]

Make sure the engine is warmed up really well...

Good luck!

 

[digitaldrifter91]

thanks man. im smelling a little more gasoline from my exaust...i think im going to fill up with chevron tomrrow and take it for a long drive. i dont want to put some fuel additives cause i dont want to dillute the oil...

 

[digitaldrifter91]

welp i passed with amazing results.

15mph test:
co2%- 15.20
O2- 0

its hard for me to fix this so here is the format (maximum--average--measured)

HC(ppm)-(118--31--20)
CO(%)-(.75--.10--.07)

NO (ppm)-(799--237--373

25mph test***
co2-15.10
o2-0

(maximum--average--measured)
HC(ppm)-(93--20--9)
CO(%)-(.63--.09--.01)
NO(ppm)-(738--199-436)

i am surprised of this test. i mean i am wayy below averages and max values....the only thing im converned about and actually have no clue what it is is the 'NO'.

all my other visual things passed. the dude said where is my aftermarket intake system. and i said, if u look u wont see any.

what an idiot. well what you think....surprising or typical....i think auto rx helped me 10 fold!!

humm my tested timming was 13BTDC. on my car it says +-15..can this be a reason why my emissions are soo low?

bear with me on the format..i tried my best

[ August 01, 2003, 12:55 AM: Message edited by: digitaldrifter91 ]

 

[dkcase]

NO is Oxides of Nitrogen.

Nitrogen is a pretty inert material.. it's about 79% of the atmosphere.. but in the cylinders under high heat and pressure some combines with Oxygen.

I just had to have mine tested in Illinois. They refused to test it because of oil leaks. It was smoking off the manifold and exhaust when I pulled in from a hard run on the highway.
I replaced my valve cover gaskets, and discovered the bigger problem is the oil pan gasket. I drained my oil down to the add line on the dipstick and stuffed some rags all around it to catch it.
When they finally tested it, it passed easily on Quick Pass. I don't remember the numbers, but they were higher than it tested 2 years ago.
I'll have to replace the pan gasket, probably in October. Meanwhile I am keeping it topped off at the fill line with a 20w50. My smoking is almost not a concern. I'm now adding 4 or 6 ounces of oil every 3 days.
89 Ford 5.0 liter

 

[digitaldrifter91]

i found out why he measured 13 BTDC for my timming. there was something u have to trip inside...so basically he measured wrong.

so about that NO, would i have to be concerned about that...

 

[tom slick]

NOx is caused by high combustion temps. a failed EGR valve can cause that problem. a lean condition can also cause high combustion temps. that can be caused by a bad O2 sensor, improper timing,vacuum leaks....
your CO is low which is good because that is carbon monoxide which is caused by incomplete combustion. if it were high it would indicate a rich condition
your O or oxygen is low which is also good becuase that indicates that you are getting good combustion and it is using it all up. if it was high it would indicate a lean condition.
your CO2 is high which is good, CO2 is a disireable byproduct of combustion and the higher the number the more complete the combustion process was.

i would say that your engine is running good. maybe double check that timing and make sure it is right on. your NOx was not high, and it iwll not harm your engine if it is not low.

HC is the main indicator of engine condition, and your is real low.

 

[digitaldrifter91]

i looked over the steps in checking my egr valve, and i dont have the tools for it, vacumn tester i need. probably a few months before my next smog check ill check it again. at least i know my car is in pretty top shape condition.

ill double check my timming though. i really dont know how. hehe all i see is a flashing light, i wonder if running at my current timming setting would damage anything..mabye just gas milage.


funnie, i still have the OEM fuel filter from when i bought this car 14 years ago haha!

 

[MNgopher]

As noted, NOx stands for Nitrogen Oxides, a component of smog. It is produced by high combustion temps caused by a bad EGR valve/system or a lean condition in the engine.

In your case, your NOx numbers are around half of the allowed limits. There is no problem to deal with based on that. What gets interesting is watching how this performance does degrade with time, and if its much worse, then its time to investigate.

As a side note, if you did have a problem, it would appear in an oil analysis as excessive nitration. That happened on my Jeep when the EGR solenoid failed. My nitration numbers were out of wack on the next analysis, and I had only driven the jeep with the bad EGR for about 70 miles in a 3500 mile interval.

Rest easy. Your car's emissions are in fine shape.

 

[digitaldrifter91]

hehe that egr check will come 7 months before my next smog check. im happy i found this site, without it i probably would be at the smog station trying to figure out why my car failed smog.

 

[JohnBrowning]

MOst times cleaning the carbon out of the egr port and the egr is just as effective as replaceing it if the only problem is that it is carboned up. You can buy a gasket for it and remove it from the car or truck. Add a solvent like compound like Lube Control, B-12 Chemtool..... and let it soak over night. I use a nylon bristled bore brush and fuel system cleaners the next day to flush everything. I then reassemble. I have not had a POV(privately owned vechile) yet that this has not worked on! If you EGR solinoid or EGR postion sensor goes south then you are out of luck! Try to run at leat on tank of fuel system cleaner through it before the test! Clean oil and general tune-up items like plugs, wires cap, rotor, PCV .... can make all the diference in the world between a pass or fail.

 

[digitaldrifter91]

thanks bro. ill use that advice in the future. i was gonig to run some fuel system cleaner since its been 7500 miles. usually i do it every 3k. but i didnt want to becuase i just changed my oil =).

but ill be cleaning out my egr ports some time in the near future and just to check and see how its doing. of course with everything else hehe.

 

[Mark in NY]

I usually suggest a fill up and a bottle of Techron 2 weeks before the test.