High Fuel Emissions - which fuel additive?

Iceweasel

colino wrote: »

The point Iceweasel, is that your car (unless you drive an 80's Lada) can tell the difference and adjusts the engine settings to suit, so drivers who claim to notice an improvement, get me their addresses, I have a Monorail to sell.

Don't take offence colino - my tongue was firmly in my cheek - only having a bit of a laugh, as really it is the same thing - many supermarket own-brands are indistinguishable from branded stuff.

But as a Scot I smile at folks who buy 12 year old Glenfiddoch and then put fizzy lemonade in it. :rotfl:

You're right about the 80s Ladas - and the Yugos of the same era - they could almost run on parafin.

colino

As a fellow Scot Iceweasel, I better prepare you, go on, sit down, for the exotic drink that the rich young things are drinking as a trendy cocktail in Tokyo.
Malt and Red wine!
I'm pretty sure someone misunderstood an 80's song for that gut wrenching mixture.

scorpionxedos

Emission Report: Basically passed on everything but CO, but will post all for completeness.

Engine oil temp: Min 80deg C Mine: 106C PASS

Fast Idle Test:
Engine speed 2350-2650 Mine:2422rpm PASS
CO Max: 0.30% Mine: 0.74% FAIL
HC Max 200ppm Mine: 72ppm PASS
Lambda 0.97-1.03 Mine: 0.98 PASS

2nd Fast Idle test:
Engine speed 2560 PASS
CO Max 0.30% Mine: 0.71% FAIL
HC Max 200ppm Mine: 55ppm PASS
Lambda 0.97-1.03 Mine: 0.98 PASS

Natural Idle test:
Engine Speed 570-770rpm 636rpm PASS
CO Max 0.50% Mine: 1.63%

Limey

Ok I'd deal with it in this order:
1. Service - change oil, oil filter, plugs and air filter
2. Diagnostics check on the lambda sensor & replace if required

If none of those solve it you may be looking at a replacement catalytic convertor.

There are other things that can cause high CO (MAF failure, vacuum leaks) but these often come with associated high HC readings and the car doesn't run well.

Ranger8

scorpionxedos wrote: »

What fuel do you guys use/recommend?

Use nothing but Shell V-Power nitro+

colino

In general, with a high CO across the range, it's running rich (but not to the point of throwing out extra HCs out of the exhaust).

Netwizard

You should be able to get spark plugs / air filter / oil & filter and a set of HT leads for around £50. A good full service will do it good.

My car is the same age as yours, does 5k a year. gets a good service every year, and my emissions are next to nothing.

worried_jim

colino wrote: »

The point Iceweasel, is that your car (unless you drive an 80's Lada) can tell the difference and adjusts the engine settings to suit, so drivers who claim to notice an improvement, get me their addresses, I have a Monorail to sell.

scorpionxedos

Netwizard wrote: »

You should be able to get spark plugs / air filter / oil & filter and a set of HT leads for around £50. A good full service will do it good.

My car is the same age as yours, does 5k a year. gets a good service every year, and my emissions are next to nothing.

I'm going to ensure it has new oil/filter. air filter, fuel filter and plugs before the retest.

mrmechanic

scorpionxedos wrote: »

Emission Report: Basically passed on everything but CO, but will post all for completeness.

Engine oil temp: Min 80deg C Mine: 106C PASS

Fast Idle Test:
Engine speed 2350-2650 Mine:2422rpm PASS
CO Max: 0.30% Mine: 0.74% FAIL
HC Max 200ppm Mine: 72ppm PASS
Lambda 0.97-1.03 Mine: 0.98 PASS

2nd Fast Idle test:
Engine speed 2560 PASS
CO Max 0.30% Mine: 0.71% FAIL
HC Max 200ppm Mine: 55ppm PASS
Lambda 0.97-1.03 Mine: 0.98 PASS

Natural Idle test:
Engine Speed 570-770rpm 636rpm PASS
CO Max 0.50% Mine: 1.63%

Your engine management system is all working fine.
The catalytic converter is not efficient enough /faulty and needs to be replaced.

Once the cat gets up to temperature it will light.
This will bring the readings on CO down from 0.5/0.7 ish to around 0.01 /0.02ish.
If the cat isn't working/dead, then the readings you are getting is the best you are going to see and no changing of oil, plugs and filters will help.

Save your cash and replace the cat, it will make the limits then.,