Help me get my car through its MOT

[Christian]

My Rover 216 coupe has just failed its MOT for having 1.257% CO emissions when the limit is .30%. The lambda is 0.97 which is on the borderline and the HC is 47 PPM.

What does all this mean? Will a petrol additive help

My exhaust was blowing slightly - will this change the results?

Get back to me quick please as im carless now!


HELP...

Cheers

Christian

 

[Jay]

When was the last time your car was properly serviced. what's the health status of your engine.

Your best bet is to speak to Tom......he's the resident engineer!

 

[Christian]

Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

It was service over a year ago. I was going to change the oil/oil filter etc. when im back on the road. Did'nt think any of that would make any difference.

 

[Alan]

Re: Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

i had an uno which failed it's emissions test every time. the way i managed to get round it was to give it one hell of a good thrashing before i took it. when the engine was hot it passed the test! I don't know how much difference it made in percent but it worked for mine!

 

[Ozric-Al]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

You could try pulling the breather pipes just before it goes in for the retest. How many miles has it done?

Shabash!

 

[Tom]

It means your catalyst is toast, probably a causing some blockage too which will cause the high lambda reading.

As the HC is low it means the engine is working but the cat ain't.

http://www.cats-direct.com/

 

[christian]

Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

You must of misread tom as the lambda reading was low.

My car has done 72,000 miles.

Whats all this stuff about the car running too rich causes high CO readings? This could be related just too the lambda and or perhaps a clogged air filter (which it was clogged and ive removed it for the MOT - cleaned all the ducting first)

Some people say that very dirty or contaminated oil could contribute to a high CO also.

Anyone any ideas?

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

0.97 isn't that far off scale. As your HC count is not bad it indicates the engine is not running rich.

Where is the exhaust leak? I'd still put money on the cat.

 

[christian]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

Exhaust leek was on back box and joint between mid section and back box.

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

You might want to check for leaks before the lambda but that would result in a higher HC.

If the lambda was faulty the HC would be through the roof.

check out http://www.lambda-sensors.co.uk/ and goto the fuel school

 

[christian]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Help me get my car through its MOT

That document was quite interesting. It basically said to check the small things.

my air filter was clogged.


its passed now and emissions are well under

cheers

christian