OK i went to get emissions for california the other day and i failed, high NOX (over by about 300). everything else passed by about 100. i can post the numbers later if need be.
ive looked into it and people say its probably the EGR, i rechecked all the vacuum lines with a gauge and everything check out, i got a rising vaccum from 0-25 for rpms 1000-3900 on the egr/bpt line, at 4000 it seems like the valve shuts off and drops to 0.
So then i checked the plugs, maybe i was running hot or lean, all the plugs looked fine i think. the first 3 were the same, black soot around the base, spark gap was clean with a bit of ashy white residue. the 4th was the same except the ashy white residue was more of a rust color. I also did a compression check that came back 150,150,152,150. would a leak down test help?
Next i looked to the exhaust. the muffler tip has a black a soot on it and the exhaust is steamy (leaking head gasket?). its real bad on startup and if i idle for very long. I checked the oil and there is no coolant in it but i am going through about 2 quarts per oil change.
i also check the timing and its dead on at 15 deg btdc. I just got the car and so im trying to fix it up. when i changed the coolant it looked real bad, looked like alot of rust in it.
its a 1990 wirth the ka24e with 151k miles. a friend of mine who does domestic stuff said to retake it with race gas and that will pass me. any other ideas or suggestions??
I am planning on going turbo sometime this year so is 150 compression ok? Oh and please dont respond "Go SR!" thats not gonna help me, ive looked into it, but i wanna build the KA. Thanks for your help.
engine runs, but has issues...
Your EGR is your likely culprit. check the hose below the BPT see if it is collapsed or has a small pin hole in it. being your other readings came out ok it seams your NOX is the only problem but It would help to see the other readings including your O2%. When the car is idling reach under the EGR valve with your finger tips and push up on the diaphram inside it. this should cause the car to have a severe stummble or even die. If it doesnt then you have to consider cleaning your egr passages.
Here are the numbers:
15 mph: 1655 rpmco2 14.7 o2 0.2 hc 111 (max 121, ave 31) co 0.34 (max 0.76, ave 0.10) no 1063 (max 807, ave 237)
25 mph: 1830 rpmco2 14.8 o2 0.1 hc 87 (max 96, ave 20) co 0.31 (max 0.65, ave 0.09) no 858 (max 746, ave 199)
I checked the egr valve, when i pushed on it idles rough and dies if i push up enough. As for the bpt line i just replaced it befor the test.
Do you think i have a bad head gasket and if i do would that cause the bad readings?
15 mph: 1655 rpmco2 14.7 o2 0.2 hc 111 (max 121, ave 31) co 0.34 (max 0.76, ave 0.10) no 1063 (max 807, ave 237)
25 mph: 1830 rpmco2 14.8 o2 0.1 hc 87 (max 96, ave 20) co 0.31 (max 0.65, ave 0.09) no 858 (max 746, ave 199)
I checked the egr valve, when i pushed on it idles rough and dies if i push up enough. As for the bpt line i just replaced it befor the test.
Do you think i have a bad head gasket and if i do would that cause the bad readings?