emmisions inspection

[Kenny York]

Hello everyone,
I live near Houston, TX. I just got my emmisions inspection done. Well I FAILED! My 1991/ 80,000 mile runs super smooth and never has any problems. I even had the Acura dealer look over the whole car before I bought it. Well here is what I failed:
High Speed ( 25mph) HC (123 standard) mine was 133
Low speed (15 mph) HC (128 standard) mine was 389
NOx high speed ( standard 878) mine was 1010
NOx low speed ( standard 970) mine was1577

Well just wondering what I should look at getting fixed. Any of you that might have a thought would be great. It has DC sport headers, HKS intake and Comptech exhaust. Those are the only mods. It still has the Cats. on it.
Thanks,
Kenny

 

[JOPRIMO]

Try replacing your air cleaner/filter then adding one bottle of Boost 99 to a full tank of gas. Drive for 1/2 hour then retest immediately... should pass with flying colors.

Be sure to go to "pass or don't pay" check stations.

 

[nsxtasy]

Was the car fully warmed up to operating temperature when it was tested? If not, that could have been responsible.

My testing station is less than two miles from home, so I drive the whole way in first gear to make sure that the engine gets nice and hot.

 

[Kenny York]

yes the car was warmed up. I have 15 days to return the vehicle to get a free inspection. So I need to act fast
Thanks,
Kenny
So is this a normal issue with the earlier NSX cars?

 

[nkb]

Texas has toughened up on emissions in the past 2 years. I found that out the hard way last year with my 92 Mustang.

Failed pretty badly on HC, so I decided to do some emissions fixes. Changed out O2 sensors, spark plugs, spark plug cables, PCV valve. Brought the timing back to factory level (I'm sure that's not even an option on a more electronically advanced car like the NSX). And even put some gas additive in there that guarantees you will pass.
Still failed. Left it with the mechanic who worked on getting 11 years of deposits out of the airways. Finally passed.

This year, I just went with the newest additive (one which promises double your money back if you fail), ran 2 tanks of gas with it, then ran my engine in high revs (like Ken said) before dropping it off. Passed with flying colors!

It may be as easy as adding something to the gas, and revving it before testing, or you may have to find a mechanic who knows how to clean it out.

George

 

[Yellow Rose]

This year, I just went with the newest additive (one which promises double your money back if you fail), ran 2 tanks of gas with it, then ran my engine in high revs (like Ken said) before dropping it off. Passed with flying colors!

George - what is the product that you used and from where did you obtain it?

 

[nkb]

I knew someone was going to ask me that, but I can't remember the name.

I got it at Autozone. If I get a chance, I will stop there tonight, and find out the name, and post it here.

Disclaimer: I have no scientific evidence that the additive was what did it this time around. And, of course, I have absolutely no affiliation with this product, whatever the name is.

George

 

[nsxtasy]

So is this a normal issue with the earlier NSX cars?

Not usually.

Here are the readings from the emissions inspection on my '91 (with stock drivetrain, and no additives) earlier this month:

HC (grams)
Standard: 0.124
Reading: 0.091 PASS

CO (grams)
Standard: 0.693
Reading: 0.260 PASS

CO2 (grams)
Standard: N/A
Reading: 102.800

NOx (grams)
Standard: N/A
Reading: 0.467

Gas Cap Test: PASS

The HC and CO readings are labeled as a "Composite Fast Pass" and I believe they combine the results of a lower-speed and a higher-speed test together.

 

[Zishan]

I knew someone was going to ask me that, but I can't remember the name.

I got it at Autozone. If I get a chance, I will stop there tonight, and find out the name, and post it here.

Disclaimer: I have no scientific evidence that the additive was what did it this time around. And, of course, I have absolutely no affiliation with this product, whatever the name is.

George

Did you ever find out what product you used? I just found out my Integra failed emissions and the shop suggested having a major tune up and replacing the cat. But I just did a major tune up to the car about 5k miles ago.
Also, I don't think the car was warmed up properly b/c the car was sitting at the shop for a few days getting cv joints, motor mounts, etc. etc. done to it.

 

[Briank]

Did you check for a after market chip in the ECU?

My 91 failed it's first test after I got it, high on the HC like yours, I knew there was a problem check Engine light had been coming on but I tried to sneak it through anyway. I would expect that you have a bad o2 sensor, use the manual here in the FAQ reference section and run the test procedure for ,the o2's. To determine which one.

 

[nkb]

Sorry about the delay in getting the name of the fuel additive, I didn't have time that day, and spaced about it after that.

The product is called Emissions Pass Protection, made by Berryman. This is the company that also makes B12 (for those that are familiar with it), which was what the mechanic used to clean up my car the first time. I believe the EPP says that it contains B12 in it.

As stated above, I picked it up at Autozone. Some of the bottles have the double-price back guarantee, some don't.

Hope this helps.

George

P.S. The website for Berryman is www.berrymanproducts.com. You can find EPP by clicking on "PRODUCTS" on the left, then doing a search on Pour In, Fuel Additives. Should be the 2nd one that comes up.

 

[Zishan]

Thanks George for that information. I'll going to try this Saturday morning when I do another emissions run in the Integra. I'm gonna pour some of this stuff in and keep my fingers crossed!!
OFF TOPIC: should I/could I use octance booster and "Emissions Pass Protection" to help pass the Integra?
Thanks for the advice in advance, this will help me with my NSX which also needs an emissions test done soon.

Z

 

[nkb]

It doesn't work quite that quickly.
The instructions tell you to fill up the car, put in the EPP, and then drive it for a full tank. Then, if I remember correctly, you fill up again (without additive this time), and bring it in for testing.

And, as stated before by Ken, you want to heat up the engine right before bringing it in.

 

[Zishan]

Hmm, maybe I'll add it in the tank today and put off the emissions test til next week. Thanks for the info again, I'll make sure to stop by Autozone tonight!

 

[wfo_18]

In my other vehicles I have ran "Guaranteed To Pass" with great results. For my NSX I get and exemption slip written ever two years. I tell them the car sits too low for them to test it on their equipment (tread mill test). They always agree

I live in MD

 

[W]

I would run a bottle of one of those fuel additives/cleaners through a tank of gas to remove carbon deposits they raise NOx readings. Old spark plugs can be the source of higher HC readings, so replace them if they're old. Make sure the emissions tech warms your car up pretty good right before the test to ensure your cats are really hot. Check to ensure your O2 sensor is fine. Check your timing.

BTW, my '92 with 100,000 miles has no problems whatsoever passing emissions. My ritual is: run hard through a tank of gas with a fuel injector cleaner, add an octane booster at the next fill-up, change the oil, go to the test center and make sure the emissions tech warms the cats pretty good (ie. rev at 4000-6000rpm for a minute or so).

 

[nsx24]

Another suggestion is to add a couple bottles of gas line treatment, or they call it something like gas line water remover. It is pretty much is straight alcohol, which burns clean. This has helped me in a couple situations.

 

[nkb]

My ritual is: run hard through a tank of gas with a fuel injector cleaner, add an octane booster at the next fill-up, change the oil, go to the test center and make sure the emissions tech warms the cats pretty good (ie. rev at 4000-6000rpm for a minute or so).

I've been told by some emmissions techs that you should NOT change your oil right before an emmissions test, as it can cause you to fail.

Is that techs talking out of their butts, or is there some truth there?

 

[W]

I've been told by some emmissions techs that you should NOT change your oil right before an emmissions test, as it can cause you to fail.

Is that techs talking out of their butts, or is there some truth there?

I don't know what readings new oil would raise, but worn out oil can cause high CO readings.