MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Big lumps of metals and spanners.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

User avatar
The_blue
Registered user
Posts: 310
Joined: 22 Feb 2007, 16:01
80-90 Mem No: 3484
Location: Mansfield ish.

MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by The_blue »

Fast Idle

CO - 7.114 & 6.832 Should be max .3


HC 784 & 1214 Should be Max 200

Lambda .868 should be between .97 and 1.03

Natural idle

CO 4.091 Max should be .5




Basically my van is burning lots more fuel than it should be. The emissions have never been an issue before. What do i start with?

CU engine, standard carbs, new air filter, sooty plugs.

Got one of those colour tune plug jobs and the flame was orange on tick over, I screwed the smaller of the 2 tick over adjustment screw down until it went blue, it was way out (about 5 turns) so i assumed that was the problem until it failed the retest. :(
Joined club Talbot!

User avatar
The_blue
Registered user
Posts: 310
Joined: 22 Feb 2007, 16:01
80-90 Mem No: 3484
Location: Mansfield ish.

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by The_blue »

OK, the more i read the more i think he's testing with the wrong limits!

Has anyone got a link to some definitive answers?

E D I T

http://www.motuk.co.uk/images/7.3page6.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

4.5% CO

1200ppm HC

He's got it wrong!

Exhaust Emissions - Spark Ignition - non CAT Test Spark Ignition - Non CAT Test Flowchart
Information Method of Inspection Reason for rejection
When to do the test
It Is recommended that the engine is tested as soon as possible after driving on the road
.

B. Vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1975

1. Check that the analyser probe can be inserted into the tailpipe.

2. Use a suitable exhaust gas analyser to
determine the proportions of carbon monoxide {CO) and hydrocarbons (HC in the exhaust gas over a period of at least 5 seconds at idle.

Note: Any residual hydrocarbons (ie those indicated by the analyser when it is sampling only clean airj should be deducted from the HC reading obtained from the vehicle.

Note: If a vehicle meets the CO requirement at its normal idling speed but fails the HC check, re-check the HC level at a high idle speed of 2000rpm. If the HC reading is 1200 ppm or less, the vehicle will meet both the CO and HC requirements.
. the CO requirement must be met with the engine running at its normal (low) idling speed
. do not use a cold start/cold running mechanism to achieve a high idle speed. Instead, apply light pressure to the throttle pedal.
. HC not applicable to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuelled vehicles.
B. Vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1975

1. The emissions cannot be measured because a tailpipe accessory is fitted which prevents Insertion of the analyser
probe

2. The exhaust gas contains
a. a carbon monoxide content
exceeding the limit for a continuous period of 5 seconds

b. a hydrocarbon content exceeding the limit for a continuous period of 5 seconds.
Joined club Talbot!

fullsunian
Registered user
Posts: 1516
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 23:46
80-90 Mem No: 5092
Location: Grantham

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by fullsunian »

Ya I think your right....he has got it wrong, will have a good read up in morning at work BUT saying that there is still something wrong with it. HC's are to high and I would be looking for the usual/common problem...air leaks. Vac pipes, balance pipes, so many places to leak..
IAN
Mmm what's that strange smell from my exhaust...

User avatar
The_blue
Registered user
Posts: 310
Joined: 22 Feb 2007, 16:01
80-90 Mem No: 3484
Location: Mansfield ish.

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by The_blue »

Thats at fast tick over..

HC 784 & 1214

I'd guess I'd scape a pass
Joined club Talbot!

fullsunian
Registered user
Posts: 1516
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 23:46
80-90 Mem No: 5092
Location: Grantham

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by fullsunian »

At that age think its just checked at tickover, but will read up in morning mate...Can't remember :oops:
Mmm what's that strange smell from my exhaust...

User avatar
The_blue
Registered user
Posts: 310
Joined: 22 Feb 2007, 16:01
80-90 Mem No: 3484
Location: Mansfield ish.

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by The_blue »

Thanks :)
Joined club Talbot!

User avatar
bigherb
Registered user
Posts: 2581
Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
80-90 Mem No: 5789
Location: West Kent

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by bigherb »

If it still has high HC, change the engine oil before the retest or a least disconect the engine breather pipe. Often it is caused by petrol contamination in the oil.
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow

Damien
Trader
Posts: 331
Joined: 02 May 2009, 16:21
80-90 Mem No: 6747
Location: Farnborough hampshire

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by Damien »

How often is it used? i'd clean the plugs, check timing, change oil and filter if its dark coloured drop some redex in, take it for a good run on way to test centre and if you can get it put straight on emissions test, never fails unless something is wrong.

User avatar
hammy44
Registered user
Posts: 104
Joined: 04 Apr 2006, 19:25
80-90 Mem No: 3462
Location: 3462

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by hammy44 »

was wondering if a fill of high octain fuel a few days before mot would bring down emmisions any boffins out there have any answers
jim
member 3462
1988 autohomes karisma 2.1dj

User avatar
The_blue
Registered user
Posts: 310
Joined: 22 Feb 2007, 16:01
80-90 Mem No: 3484
Location: Mansfield ish.

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by The_blue »

Thanks all!

I'll do the oil and clean the plugs.

Timing is fine.

Van used nearly every weekend (winter camping rocks! ;)).
Joined club Talbot!

fullsunian
Registered user
Posts: 1516
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 23:46
80-90 Mem No: 5092
Location: Grantham

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by fullsunian »

fullsunian wrote:At that age think its just checked at tickover, but will read up in morning mate...Can't remember :oops:
As I said yesterday, at that age the gas test is just at tick over max CO 4.5%, max HC 1200ppm..
IAN
Mmm what's that strange smell from my exhaust...

Red Westie
Registered user
Posts: 706
Joined: 06 May 2007, 19:41
80-90 Mem No: 4712
Location: Nottingham UK

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by Red Westie »

Hi Chris....as Ian has already said, your MOT tester has been using the wrong test data so you are never going to pass with a pre-cat air cooled CU.
The test is at idle with engine oil temp of 80C plus, CO of 4.5% max. Don't worry too much about your 7.1% , your mixture just needs a 1/4 to 1/2 turn in to take it down under the limit. CO tweaks can normally be done by ear....slowly turning the CO screw in until you begin to hear a random miss, then an eigth of a turn out from this point (you are only adjusting the idle mixture as once off idle the carb/carbs use a different jet)
Thats why talk of damageing engines because of a weak idle mixture don't make sense.

Martin
Last edited by Red Westie on 21 Mar 2010, 20:51, edited 1 time in total.
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar now sleep xxHayleyxx

User avatar
Ian Hulley
Registered user
Posts: 12661
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 08:08
80-90 Mem No: 1323
Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire ... or at t'mill

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by Ian Hulley »

The_blue wrote: CU engine, standard carbs,

It's not a WBX Martin.
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure

User avatar
The_blue
Registered user
Posts: 310
Joined: 22 Feb 2007, 16:01
80-90 Mem No: 3484
Location: Mansfield ish.

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by The_blue »

Quick update..

Got hold of a gas tester, adjusted the tickover and running mix. Not sure how good the tester is (old thing with a dial) but it was well into the red/rich at first and is now just into the top half of Green/OK.

If only the MOT test had just green and red ;)
Joined club Talbot!

User avatar
Rozzo
Registered user
Posts: 3028
Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 20:43
80-90 Mem No: 3339
Location: doncaster

Re: MOT fail! - emissions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Post by Rozzo »

The_blue wrote:Quick update..

Got hold of a gas tester, adjusted the tickover and running mix. Not sure how good the tester is (old thing with a dial) but it was well into the red/rich at first and is now just into the top half of Green/OK.

If only the MOT test had just green and red ;)
just tell him he's tested it wrong. he should lift it away from idle or it'll never pass.
LT owner and positively rattling around with the new found space
member 3339

Locked