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Failed emissions by 15 ppm of HC, PLEASE HELP!

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Old 04-05-2003, 03:44 AM
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Failed emissions by 15 ppm of HC, PLEASE HELP!

My car barely failed the Washington state emissions test. Washington tests for HC and CO at idle and cruise (25mph). It passed everything except HC at cruise. Here are the test results:

_____________HC (ppm)___CO (%)

cruise limit:______150_______1
cruise emissions:__165______.95
cruise result:_____fail______pass

idle limit:_________220______1.2
idle emissions:____185______.56
idle result:_______pass_____pass


I just need to reduce my HC by 15 ppm at cruise to pass. What should I do? My only mods are in my sig. The CAT is only about a year old. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

Last edited by RSFreak; 04-05-2003 at 03:48 AM.
Old 04-05-2003, 04:56 AM
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Back off your timing a bit, that's all I do for my emissions. I just dial it way back till I can barely drive it and bring it in, trying not to get seen along the way It's always worked so far!
Old 04-05-2003, 06:44 PM
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thats really close. if you dont wanna mess with the timing, which is probably what i WOULD do, just throw on a new pair on plugs and wires, get the car really hot and do an oil change. itll problably work. if not they have those pass emmissions in a bottle things. you can try one of those.
Old 04-05-2003, 06:44 PM
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Perhaps I'll give that a try, I got no problem messing with the timing. Any other suggestions?
Old 04-05-2003, 07:29 PM
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dont buy that garentted to pass emmissions crap in a bottle, just go to a gas station or any place that sells "DRY GAS" it will say it on the bottle, thorw like 3-4 bottles in and u should pass. i did last yr for NJ and i only used 2 bottles and i have no emmissions controls on my car besides the cat.
Old 04-05-2003, 09:42 PM
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GO buy the emissions in the bottle. it worked for me. I have no cats, no AIR pump, and evap canister and I am running 52psi of fuel pressure and Ipassed Mass emmisions testing. I put the bottle in my tank and added just 5 gallons to it. the bottle says to add it to a full tank, run the tank out and then refill the tank. Ya right whatever. It does work, I am proof. Like I said I have no cats and I passed in Mass
Old 04-05-2003, 10:39 PM
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well i think ur one of the lucky ones that it worked right for. my dad tried it on his car and it didnt pass
Old 04-06-2003, 03:12 AM
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you have to read the bottle. if your engine is in good condition but has a little carbon biuldup then it will blow it out and lower the emmissions. If your engine is abused and running crappy then it shouldnt pass emmission. i think they have a point with the sniffer test...but the visual is another story.
Old 04-06-2003, 04:01 AM
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Car: 1985 Camaro, 1986 Trans Am
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Transmission: TH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 and 3.27 posi
Originally posted by demonchild
...i think they have a point with the sniffer test...but the visual is another story.
Luckily, no visual here in WA!


I already put that 'guaranteed to pass' crap in, so we'll see if that along with a timing adjustment will do the trick.
Old 04-06-2003, 09:57 AM
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have fun. it costed me 300 dollars in new components for my smog.
Old 04-06-2003, 10:10 AM
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I have posted this before. Use 1 gallon of "racing alcohol"... not race gas, to 1/2 tank of gas.
Old 04-06-2003, 04:23 PM
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I did some back to back testing with Dry Gas one time (can get at walmart for under a dollar I think) when I was trying to pass a couple years ago. It didn't solve my problem since the cat was toasted and CO was triple the limit, but it did decrease HC by a solid 30-40 points from test to test. That should take care of your situation. I poured two bottles of Dry Gas into about a half full tank and it yielded that drop.
Old 04-06-2003, 11:48 PM
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what is dry gas?
Old 04-07-2003, 01:22 AM
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Basically alcohol gas additive. I believe it is used to try to eliminate water that may have gotten into your gas and such (not sure).
Old 04-07-2003, 02:23 AM
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Axle/Gears: 3.23 and 3.27 posi
Thanks everyone! I'm gonna retake the test tomorrow, I'll let ya know how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed!
Old 04-07-2003, 11:40 AM
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no prob
Old 04-07-2003, 08:59 PM
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Transmission: TH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 and 3.27 posi
Damnit! My car still failed! HC only dropped 7ppm! CO was down quite a bit though. I put that guarantee to pass crap into my tank on Friday used up that entire tank over the weekend as the directions stated. Then today, I added two bottles of dry gas to a half tank as suggested above. I didn't adjust the timing 'cause I was in a hurry and had to get right back to work. I already have the timing set at 0 degrees, should I retard it farther?

Also, what grade of gasoline should I use for the test. I have been using supreme, but in theory, wouldn't lower octane gas burn faster and thus burn more completely? Everything else passed easily, but I just can't get the HC at cruise to drop below 150!

Last edited by RSFreak; 04-07-2003 at 09:02 PM.
Old 04-08-2003, 12:37 AM
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I didnt say 2 bottles of dry gas, I said one gallon of "racing alcohol". Big difference. I get mine from Duncon oil supply, not a parts store.
Old 04-08-2003, 02:55 AM
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Car: 1985 Camaro, 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0L carbed and 5.0L TPI
Transmission: TH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 and 3.27 posi
Originally posted by Ray87Z
...I poured two bottles of Dry Gas into about a half full tank and it yielded that drop.
He said it. If I knew where to get racing alcohol around here I would try it.

Anybody have any idea about the grade of gasoline and if that makes a difference?

I think I'm gonna put new plugs in before I test again.
Old 04-08-2003, 04:43 PM
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run the car to about 1/4 tank of gas, put 2-4 bottles of drygas in and go to pepboys and pick up a bottle of Outlaw fuel treatment not fuel injection treatment, the fuel treatment. and pour all of that in the night be fore the test, also if its carbed get a can of carb cleaner and clean the carb out and give some good revs on the motor. that helped me to pass and also make sure ur cat. is good.
Old 04-08-2003, 06:06 PM
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How about replacing the pcv valve or egr. And DRIVE THE HELL OUT OF THE CAR before having it smogged. Rev it like crazy. I wouldn't mess with the timing.

Akshay
Old 04-09-2003, 09:16 AM
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well if you didnt pass this time and still havent put new plugs in i would do that
Old 04-09-2003, 11:01 AM
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yea change ur plugs, and do and oil change also, it will help alittle.
Old 04-09-2003, 11:22 AM
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definetly drive the car hard and get it nice and warmed up. then take it right in and get it tested. dont let it sit around. definetly change the plugs and oil. put a new pcv valve in and, hell, might as well throw a brand new paper air filter in just for the test.
Old 04-09-2003, 12:42 PM
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Everyone failed to mention the obvious.....check you air filter, slightly clogged air filters cause rich conditions at cruise.....get a hotter spark plug and some new wires and you will be pretty close.

Kyle ASE Master Tech
Old 04-09-2003, 11:27 PM
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Once again, thanks for the suggestions. I got a new K&N filter in it so that probably isn't the problem. Goin' in again Saturday. Wish me luck!
Old 04-10-2003, 04:30 AM
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I always use STP fuel cleaner. And it really works great.

..Those of you say you have passed emissions without a Catyltic(sp) converter. How was this achieved?
Old 04-10-2003, 11:15 AM
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why does getting it warm help?
Old 04-10-2003, 01:18 PM
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burns the fuel more efficiently
Old 04-10-2003, 01:25 PM
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air filter
plugs/wires/etc
fresh oil
Old 04-10-2003, 03:34 PM
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Originally posted by demonchild
burns the fuel more efficiently
gotcha
Old 04-10-2003, 05:28 PM
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guaranteed to pass ......is a scam ....that is the name of the product ....not what it does .............read the disclaimer on the back ....basically it's a weezle out . All kinds of companies do that ... big marketing idea . Any how ................I flogged mine down the highway for like a min at WOT ........don't have to do that....but make sure its DAM hot .................the lady sold me my car because it wouldn't pass ....I did the above ...and it passed with flying colours. Next ....... the Cat needs to hit a certain temperature ...before it works ........also 30% of your emisions are in your oil pan ......make sure you got clean oil



let us know how you make out
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