MOT Failure - Emissions

PieMistress

Hi, so my diesel ford focus has failed twice on emissions. I still have 2 weeks left on the MOT. The guidance online is all a bit vague.  The garage have recommended taking it for a decent length drive with high revs after using some Redex (or similar).  Even though the MOT has failed is it still okay to do this? It will go back in next week for another test after it has been for a drive?  With lockdown the car just hasn't been on any long drives like usual and the annual mileage is about 1/3 what it would be.  Not sure what to do as I am sure it will just fail on emissions again if I don't do anything? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Car_54

Do as the garage advise. Your old MOT is still valid.

KimJongUn88

Why would you not do what your garage recommends and then come on here asking for advise form a load of unqualified strangers?

PieMistress

Thanks for replying, I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be in trouble if the police stopped me or anything after driving with a fail on my MOT.

AdrianC

Did they say how close it was to passing? What age Focus?

Yes, your old MOT is still valid until the expiry - you are just as legal driving now as you were on the way to the test.

Get it hot, give it some beans, and give it a good long run.

PieMistress

It's a 55 plate Focus, they said the levels had come down on the 2nd test but still quite not low enough.  Would 20 miles be long enough you think?  It will need to be dropped off the day before the re-test unfortunately, just with logistics. Hopefully they will do what they need to do to warm it back up again.KimJongUn88 said:

Why would you not do what your garage recommends and then come on here asking for advise form a load of unqualified strangers?

KimJongUn88 said:

Why would you not do what your garage recommends and then come on here asking for advise form a load of unqualified strangers?

Because I like to double check these things as I have anxiety issues. I hate that I worry about everything and anything.

happybagger

I have a Seat 1.6D and always had concerns about emissions with it being one involved in "dieselgate", especially with it having done 160k. Someone developed a mobile app that tells you what the DPF state is, and where it is in relation to a regen. Personally I always make sure it's just done a regen and almost "clean" of soot when I take it for an MOT, guided by this.

I only mention this in case there is a similar app for Fords, there may not be, but worth a search. The app for my car cost about £3, well worth the money.

@PieMistress for info, watching the app on my car, I get the highest burn-off temperature doing a run at 1800rpm, which is 70 in 5th or 50 in 4th, and it takes about 20-25 miles, more if I have to stop or revs drop for any time.

Stevepd

Giving it a run will do wonders for a diesel car. Local short trips where the car does not get up to temperature will be detrimental to the car especially close to MOT time, obviously no use will not affect the car as it’s not run. You could put expensive diesel in or OR as the garage said Redex but don’t do both as you’ll waist cash. As you’ve said if you have to leave it at the garage any decent garage will get it warm before presenting it for the emissions test. When you drop the car off let them know what you’ve done (drive/redex) etc. Let us know how you get on. PS running high revs doesn’t mean you have to speed, drop down a gear and build the revs up.

PieMistress

Really useful feedback - thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. Pre COVID we would go on relatively long journeys pretty frequently but have only driven 4,000 miles since the last MOT.  The garage said they could get one of their Mechanics to take it for a blast on Monday if I can't get there over the weekend to pick it up but I will cycle over, take it for a good drive, then cycle back home (as it's 10 miles from my house) at some point over the weekend as the weather is predicting minus 9 on Monday and I don't fancy cycling in that!.

Looked at the first emissions test figures it was 0.84 against a limit of 0.55 with an engine temp of 83C (would that sound right)? I don't know what the figures were for the second fail. I will see if there is any guidelines for distance/revs for a 55 Ford.

I know that these things aren't really worth worrying about in the grand scheme of things, it's just an extra thing on top of the mountain of current worries these days and I have become a right fretter. ARGH!  

Danydan

Drive on the motorway in 4th gear for an hour. That’ll do it. And you can drive on your current MOT certificate until it expires. 

As for fretting the small things: I think after so long in lockdown, that’s only natural. We’ve become consumed by our bubbles because - if we’re lucky - we don’t have bigger concerns. So that small stuff is good stuff in the grand scheme of things.

PieMistress

Thanks, I wasn't sure on the legalities if I was stopped by the police but my understanding from my fretting/googling/online advice is if it's to/from a MOT appointment it should be ok as wasn't classed as a dangerous fail . Fingers crossed 3rd time lucky.