I have a 91 with 7500 miles on it and it recently failed emmissions. A few possible causes that an Acura mechanic suggested. Gas was about 3 months old, the car gets used mainly on short ie 10 minute runs albeit very hard runs!!, oil has a little gas mixed in it. He suggested that I change the oil (it only has about 1000 miles on it and it's mobil 1, He then suggested running the car for about 50 miles at 70 miles an hour. I have to get the car back for a re-test soon and would like to know if anybody may have any possible solutions to this problem.
Failed Emissions inspection ??
- Thread starter Ken YZ-F1
- Start date
I think his advice is valid. The long run will help burn the carbon build up. Also the NSX cats need to get really warm to pas inspection.
Anyone have any emissions test horror stories? Here in CT it's every two years and I'm due this August. Not looking forward to it. First time I went was not fun-I would not let the grease-covered filthy techs in my car and an argument ensued. The ramps to the rollers were way too high and I feared damage to my car's bottom and wheels. I stayed in the car myself, and kept the engine at proper rpm, per instruction, and had no trouble passing. Then the lady came out with a huge razor-blade thing to remove the old sticker. She started going wild on the glass and I freaked out again, grabbed the tool from her and finished it myself. I later called a supervisor to complain, and he seemed to care less, though he did say they have a lower ramp for smaller/lower vehicles, but I would need to make an appointment for that one.Just venting, thanks.
The advice you received is correct but if you have a long history of short trips one blast down the highway at higher speeds is not going to be enough to clean it out.
If you are only driving the car 10 minutes at a time you are never heating the system up enough to ensure clean running. This is about the most harmful type of driving there is for the longevity of the car.
Don't go directly from your house to the inspection unless that trip involves a good half hour of highway driving - the car needs to be hot.
I have had good luck with a product called "Guaranteed to Pass" although forget the guarantee part. Available from most auto parts stores for about 8 bucks from memory. You pour this stuff in to a full tank of gas. You drive through that entire tank, fill up again with premium and then go for inspection. Has worked several times with my daily driver and those of a couple of friends. Will not work if there is something major wrong with the emissions system like a non-functional EGR, etc.
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Andrew Henderson
The NSX Model List Page
"We have long acknowledged that enthusiasm for things automotive is a sure
sign of emotional instability if not outright dementia" - Brock Yates
If you are only driving the car 10 minutes at a time you are never heating the system up enough to ensure clean running. This is about the most harmful type of driving there is for the longevity of the car.
Don't go directly from your house to the inspection unless that trip involves a good half hour of highway driving - the car needs to be hot.
I have had good luck with a product called "Guaranteed to Pass" although forget the guarantee part. Available from most auto parts stores for about 8 bucks from memory. You pour this stuff in to a full tank of gas. You drive through that entire tank, fill up again with premium and then go for inspection. Has worked several times with my daily driver and those of a couple of friends. Will not work if there is something major wrong with the emissions system like a non-functional EGR, etc.
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Andrew Henderson
The NSX Model List Page
"We have long acknowledged that enthusiasm for things automotive is a sure
sign of emotional instability if not outright dementia" - Brock Yates
PS: Why would the oil have "a little gas mixed in it"??? Is he referring to the combustion gasses getting in to the oil or is he saying that there is gasoline in the oil? One is normal, the other is a critical problem!
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Andrew Henderson
The NSX Model List Page
"We have long acknowledged that enthusiasm for things automotive is a sure
sign of emotional instability if not outright dementia" - Brock Yates
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Andrew Henderson
The NSX Model List Page
"We have long acknowledged that enthusiasm for things automotive is a sure
sign of emotional instability if not outright dementia" - Brock Yates
Here in Texas we have emmission testing too, but I always get my dealerships to do the inspections -- never have failed, keeps the car away from the grease monkeys.
Have used Infiniti, Mercedes and Acura dealers to do my inspections for me.
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[This message has been edited by aaronb (edited 18 April 2002).]
Have used Infiniti, Mercedes and Acura dealers to do my inspections for me.
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[This message has been edited by aaronb (edited 18 April 2002).]
Thanks for the input. I'll look for the guaranteed to pass additive and give it a try if I have a problem with the next test. First I'll just go for a 50 mile drive before the re-test, come in HOT and hopefully that should work.
Depending on the specific emission that is failing there may be other techniques that will help. I have heard, but not tried, a 3% blend of methanol in the tank for high NOx. There are octane boosters that contain enough methanol to produce the right mix.
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Andrew Henderson
The NSX Model List Page
"We have long acknowledged that enthusiasm for things automotive is a sure
sign of emotional instability if not outright dementia" - Brock Yates
In CA, some areas (all large population counties), we have Smog II tests. These require a dyno to run the car a simulated 15 & 25 mph. Some have the ramp styles, but there is one in Folsom that I use that has in the floor dynos, so no matter how low the car sits, if it can drive on flat ground, he can test it. The owner also runs a very clean shop, I'm lucky to live only 4 miles away (across town).
But I would call around and see if you can find shops that don't require driving up a ramp to test.
Fritz
But I would call around and see if you can find shops that don't require driving up a ramp to test.
Fritz
Here in CT, the testing stations are run by the state , so there aren't really any choices as to where to go. Hopefully it will privatize soon, as there have been many reports of scandals.
An update; Took the car out for 40 minutes, running about 70- 75 mph in 4th gear, revs at 4000 +, brought it to the emissions station and it passed EASILY. So the wisdom that the NSX should be brought to the emissions test HOT is correct. I had a feeling that the oil did not have to be changed and I'm glad I discarded that advice. Hope this will help other non daily driver cars.
I usually run very short trips (unfortunately
) in my NSX as well, but when I did my emissions inspection this year, the car passed with flying colors - It was nowhere near the limit for any of the emissions. However, I had run the car for about 20 minutes before the inspection, so that may have been enough of a warmup. BTW, I have a '92 with Comptech IHE if that matters.
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'91 Black/Black
