Help! My "new" 94 FAILED CA smog test!

[tkd_q45]

As some of you know, I'm the new owner of Bgilly's Q45a - I just went in for a smog check today and failed.

The failure was @25MPH - NO=0698 and maximum allowable is 0683.

No doing futher research I see that Bgilly was nearing failure when he last smogged this car.

Here's the thread:

http://nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=19626

Does anyone have ANY suggestions?

[elwesso]

NOx is almost always from clogged EGR.....

Take that valve off, and clean it out good.. Clean the port out really good between the valve and the plenum, that whole passage...

[DAEDALUS]

That's a fairly big jump since the last time. Was the car fully warmed up when you tested it? Cats and O2s don't work at all when cold, and need to be hot to work well. The O2 has its own heater, but the cats don't. See if the car still stalls when you lift up the EGR. I can't believe it would clog up in only a few years. I don't think a well-tuned car would need the EGR to pass anyway.

[Q45tech]

New plugs [oem] clean TB and plenum runners, valves, piston crowns [BG44k] and a 100% clean EGR to pass NOX..........especially 94 and later with tougher base standards than 90-93.

[tkd_q45]

Thanks for the input.

The car may have not been warmed up enough. I drove from home to the test center - approx 4 maybe 5 miles. The temp indicator was where it should be when fully warmed up.

I'll take a look at the EGR but from reading previous posts by bgilly it sounds like he had similar problems with a clean EGR. Maybe I need to do something like Motorvac?

[Q45tech]

Nitric oxide is created when the heat of combustion is too high, thus the cooling effect [no oxygen but 98% Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide from exhaust] added up to 10-15% of air intake volume during test via EGR [at cruise rpm] while AF ratio maintained at 14.7:1.

94 and later cats add a bit of catalyst material which can partially convert some NOX.

Piston valve deposits can effectively raise the compression ratio increasing the heat.

[elwesso]

I think youd really go a long way with some BG44k and cleaning the EGR/TB

[tkd_q45]

Q45 Tech - would higher octane fuel help to lower the internal combustion temps?

[elwesso]

Definiitely!!!!!!

Are you telling me you werent using premium!!!!!!!

[DAEDALUS]

Crapgas 91 is the best we get in socal. The timing is likely already retarded--my guess is KS are bad based on sluggishness. A little bit of toluene in the tank might be enough to get that 2% drop. So in the noise--had the day been a few degrees cooler you probably would have passed.

[tkd_q45]

Of course I use Premium!!!!!!!! Previous owner may not have (Bgilly's dad) super nice guy but not a fan of the car.

Robert - what is toluene? Sounds like some kind of Mediteranian cusine?

[DAEDALUS]

Paint thinner main ingredient. It's 114 octane. Make a 10% mix in your tank to get 93 octane. May or may not help--it doesn't address whatever the root problem is, but I understand you just need to get the car past smog right now. Higher octane means the charge will burn for a longer period, so it's effect on combusiton temp depends on spark timing I think.There are "pass kits" sold at Pep Boys for $30. You might want to consider it for now.

[JedCoop]

<toluene> It's 114 octane.

Neat info. I've always known toluene was nasty stuff, so it ifigures it has a high octane. I'll assume it burns clean too?

[atlanta_shooter]

I'm not usually a believer in "magic in a bottle", but this is the best fuel additive I have ever used....don't let the size of the bottle fool you. I have seen amazing transformations in some real beaters with this stuff. Make sure before emissions test, you read the instructions at the website. Good luck!

http://www.rxp.com/master.htm

You might also start using one of these gasolines if you are not already doing so.

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

[DAEDALUS]

Pure toluene should burn clean--depends on the purity of the batch. I've only played with it a little for the "whee" factor, even if it may have been all in my head. The engine was not designed for 91 after all. 5 gallons total in 50k miles is nothing. I'd worry if I used it often. I've read it's safe to use in mixes up to 30%, but of course, not everything on the internet is true.

The rxp stuff says it'll help HC and CO, which usually form together in localized rich pockets. It might do wonders for some things, but I doubt it'll help NOx readings.