Failed NCT on emissions

JohnnyCurran

HI,

I failed my NCT today on a Ford Focus 99....i had a feeling it would as my tyres were quite worn, was gutted tho that also failed on emissions...i noticed it had been burning alit lately!

the guy there told me to put some 'Lucas oil' in it before next test, can anyone recommend this and if its ok, where can i buy it???

thanks

zilog_jones

What was the oil temperature recorded on the NCT, and what were the figures for emissions?

Darragh29

Can you post up your NCT fail data for the emissions OP? Thowing oil in is unlikely to change much, depending of course on what gas is failing...

biko

FWIW

I have a near factory stock original ‘78 Jeep CJ7 with a factory 304/3 speed. It has approximately 90,000 miles on it, and I have had nothing but problems over the years with emissions testing. Not anymore. I had some blow by and every year I had a ritual that I would have to go through to get it to pass. This year I did my regular tune-up, Oil/Filter change but added Lucas Oil (stabilizer). I could not believe it when the tester came over to me with my paperwork and said man this Jeep runs clean. I looked at the readings and could hardly believe my eyes. HC loaded 38 at idle 2. CO loaded .07 at idle .00. Last year’s testing without Lucas Oil was approximately: HC loaded 223 at idle 185, CO loaded 1.3 and at idle 1.48.

http://www.lucasoil.com/articles1-1899/MoeAramiUsesStabilizertoHelpPassEmissionsTesting

Darragh29

Magnus wrote: »

FWIW


http://www.lucasoil.com/articles1-1899/MoeAramiUsesStabilizertoHelpPassEmissionsTesting

First, I note your source above, which speaks for itself.

I can tell you as someone who has put hundreds of cars through the NCT process, that whatever about fuel additives making a difference when results are marginally over the limit to get you through the test, engine oils or additives rarely make a difference at all...

If you have a hole in your exhaust causing an excess oxygen issue, or if you have a vacuum problem upstream of a lambda sensor, no oils or additives will make the slightest bit of a difference, hence why the OP needs to post up fail data for the most suitable advice...

biko

Darragh29 wrote: »

First, I note your source above, which speaks for itself.

Hence the FWIW.

If there really was a magic formula you could buy OP it'd be all over the forums
Some earlier threads about failed emissions, with suggestions
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=62983925
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055564963
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63202094

Get new plugs and air filter and keep the temp high until the very last moment before the test (like leaving car running while you wait for the test).
Change the engine oil before testing. For older or high mileage car using thicker oil may help (I think this is were the Lucas stuff comes in, still not saying it's magic).

MASTIE

A bit more info would be helpful to give advice.
What engine, size, mileage?
Has a recent full service been carried out?
You usually get much better emission results from a warm engine, so it is beneficial to give car a real good blast immediately before test is due.

As Darragh29 mentioned using any additives will be of little benefit to you in the short term and negligible results over a extended period of use.

JohnnyCurran

my report states emissions:

low idle = CO 0.30 vol
HC 0 ppm

high idle = CO 1.01 vol
HC 652 ppm

The guy there said get the Lucas oil jus tto get it through the NCt in January (next date for re test)

engine is 1.4 petrol zetec (piece of crap i know but its my first car!) 100k on the clock 99 Ford Focus

mondeo

JohnnyCurran wrote: »

my report states emissions:

low idle = CO 0.30 vol
HC 0 ppm

high idle = CO 1.01 vol
HC 652 ppm

The guy there said get the Lucas oil jus tto get it through the NCt in January (next date for re test)

engine is 1.4 petrol zetec (piece of crap i know but its my first car!) 100k on the clock 99 Ford Focus

It is still a good car mate...I'd certainly give her a good service and stick it through again.

kona

Jesus your HC are huge on fast idle. Sounds like you are burning oil. That would explain the 1% co aswell, Its not burning the fuel at high idle.

pablosd

next time you are goin for nct, throw 10e of e85 biofuel on top of the full tank of petrol, and give it good hard drive before nct, she will pass on emissions no bother :pac:

Seth Brundle

how will sticking in E85 help it stop burning oil?

pablosd

i said it will reduce emissions and help him go through the test, never said anything bout fixing burning oil issue, which we are not 100% sure if it is
20% e85 biofuel mixed with 80% petrol helps to reduce emissions alot, i know few people that used this trick to pass nct without a cat, and it did work,

kona

pablosd wrote: »

next time you are goin for nct, throw 10e of e85 biofuel on top of the full tank of petrol, and give it good hard drive before nct, she will pass on emissions no bother :pac:

You do realise that its harder for a engine to burn e85 than petrol? How will this keep HC down?

High HC means either its burning oil or petrol is going into the cylinder and then straight out the exhaust.

So its either burning oil, or the op has a issue with his Valves or cams. The petrol going in and out would show up on idle too. The buning oil wouldnt be as pronounced at low revs than at high.

OP there are 100s of things to do, the best is to look at the engine, old wives tales about driving the **** out of the car with fancy mixes wont help you enough to pass. In fact it will probably do more damage than good to the car.

Is the 1.4 zetec a DOHC , SOHC or does its have rockers and tappets?

zilog_jones

Zetec-SE is 16 valve DOHC

dougie ward

had my retest for NCT today, it had failed on emmissions first time around.
its a 96 pajero junior/petrol. high rev CO was 2.52 previous and during the week i put some bardahl fuel injector cleaner in the tank, give her a good drive this morn and emmissions went down to 0.01 on high idle.
it costs 11 euro and certainly worth a try to reduce emmissions,you can get it in a decent motor factors.