failed MOT emissions test

[anthal1845]

To be specific exhaust emissions lamda test.

Any advice on how to tackle this? What to do first/ Most likely cause etc?

2001 cruiser, 2 litre auto model.

Tony

[quicksilverdon]

Not familiar with Lambda test, but what is often done for emissions is to run tank low, and add a lot of methanol - main component of "dry gas". The methanol burns cleaner.

[NitroPT]

Dirty engine oil will cause a high CO reading. Methods of cheating using higher concentration of fuel additives like methanol will not cure all failed emissions. And depending on which state you are in they will fail you. In California if you are in a smog enhanced county this you would fail if you used the additive method to pass. It is also a bad idea if you have a lot of years and miles on a vehicle for other problems it may cause. You need to have you CAT, H02 sensors checked among a few other emission related part for function? Also if all these seem to be in order try to pre- heat your CAT by a good drive before you get tested. the hotter the engine and exhaust the lower all your emissions will be as long as everything is working. Also change you engine oil prior your test. this will have the biggest single effect you can do.
As a post licensed technician for smog testing if i smelled you having methanol I would tell to don't waste a pre-test its my "arse" if I test and sign off on it!

quicksilver the use of your method mentioned may increase water vapor in the exhaust system which could show a high carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions and a few other components of exhaust emissions while having a cleaning effect on the combustion chambers and crankcase and fail the vehicle? S

[CREWZIN]

Lambda refers to the air fuel ratio, it is a reading which is calculated from the other emission readings (lambda (l) comes from the Greek word for balance). When faced with a car that has failed the emission test on lambda reading the most common response is to condemn the lambda sensor. This guesswork will sometimes pay dividends but more often than not you will have made an expensive mistake. The lambda reading on a gas tester is, to repeat, an indication of the air to fuel ratio, too high a lambda reading relates to too much oxygen. Too low a reading relates to too much fuel. Check the other readings before condemning the lambda sensor.

[cruserdad1976]

what about changing the plugs would that help at all????

Id say he is in europe some ware

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by cruserdad1976

Id say he is in europe some ware

That's why I moved his post to the "Europe PT Forums" since we don't have the 2ltr engine over here.

[NitroPT]

CREWZIN good post info about the meaning Lambda. Its all guess work because unless the OP posts his test results we do not know what the readings were for failure and therefore a better course to follow for correction?

[NitroPT]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

That's why I moved his post to the "Europe PT Forums" since we don't have the 2ltr engine over here.

I also guessed as much and went right to his info and saw as usual no information so I posted a broad response that could be used for many failing an emission test.

[quicksilverdon]

Found this with a simple search on "Lambda Emissions test"

"My car recently failed its MOT on the emissions test, but all mechanics I've been to have been vague as to what the problem could be. Some say oil change/filter change, others say catalytic converter or Lambda (o2/ oxygen) sensor (and if so front or rear as I have 2). I don't know who to believe and I haven't got enough money to try all of them "

The top-rated answer was :
"Cheapest thing to try first is to change your air filter, put a large shot of redex type fuel additive and th take the car for a good long run to get the engine hot then find a decent open road and drive for a short time (a couple of minutes) with engine revs high (ie do 50/60 mph but in a lower gear than seems right for your car). This will clear the system of any carbon deposits and will often bring an older car back within the required limits."

[NitroPT]