Chances of passing MASS emmisions

[jlorda]

What are the chances of passing massachusetts emmisions if my car has black smoke upon start up? The smoke does clear up after 5 minutes. I know for a fact that the cat convertor needs to be replaced. But what if the worst case scenario...lets say a valve sleeve is leaking and the oil dosnt burn up until the car warms up, how much will this effect my chances of passing emmisions?

[Razorback1980]

If the smoke is black, then it's not oil burning it's gas which means your chances of passing is less than if it were oil. You should always take your car to the emissions place at operating temperature and hope they can get it in right away. If it's gas smoke then it may just be running rich during the warm up period. No way to tell without taking it in whether it will pass or not.

[r_towle]

Hi,
In MASS, we have the same emmission test and requirements as CA. It has been this way since 2003.

Black smoke at start up means you are running rich.
To pass emmissions, do the following simple things.

Change your plugs, wires, cap and rotor.
Change your oil.
Change your air filter.

Now, fill the gas tank with premium gas.
Get TWO bottles of the $14.00 per bottle FI cleaner. (I cant remember the name, but its the black bottle with gold letters)
Trust me, get two bottles.
Put both in the tank.
Drive the car throught the whole tank of gas. Do not be nice, be aggressive when entering the highway, wind up the motor and blow all the crud out.

Then, a new tank of gas, premium again.
Three bottles of DRY GAS for this tank.
Run the car for a day. Let it all mix up.
Then go for the inspection.

The oil over time collects fuel, just based upon age, and this raises the HC levels to high. It will fail unless you change the oil and filter.

The FI cleaner cleans out the whole FI system, and helps get the injectors to perform the same way. It may contribute to the black smoke, a clogged injector would do that.

The plugs, cap, wires, and rotor will get the car running as good as it can get.
Its really cheap and important to do this.

When you go for the sticker, the car should have run for one hour at least, several runs up entrance ramps onto the highway to really blow all the crap out of it.

If it fails, send me an email with the actual results from the test.
Read the print out, read the exception. Based upon year of car, if you can prove that you need to spend over $XX.XX on the car to get it to pass, you can get a one year waiver.
This will be on the form, and is based upon your car.

If you are close on one of the numbers, I can probably get it to pass by tuning it a little bit better for you.
Old cars no longer run properly at factory specs based upon worn out things.

Rich

[JonA]

You may already know this but emissions are checked every other year, safety stuff every year. With a new registration I believe they do the emissions regardless. Are you sure you are due for emissions this year?

Jon

[phoenix_iii]

If o2 has never been done, it's due...

[jlorda]

The car has had a recent engine change. The spark plug wires are fairly new condition, New distributor O2 sensor was changed when my Dad attempted to pass emmisions with the other engine so I think it is pointing more towards the cat converter. The used engine I received runs like crap for a few minutes but once its warmed up it idles and runs fine. I did a compression check and the 4th piston had low compression, about 60. Why does the car run better after 5 minutes or so? If it was the ring that was gone it wouldnt run right at all ever. Maybe because the engine has been in storage for almost 20 years and the ring is just beginning to reseal itself? The engine no longer smokes either.....weird.

About the registration..its getting reregistered. Its been off the road for about 4 years since my dad cooked the engine. This porsche 924s is my first car. The way I look at it my dad was going to junk it anyways. If I can get any use out of it that would be more than it would be in a junkyard. If I can get the horn working Ill go get it inspected.(funny what old wiring will do after time)

[Marius208]

I'm in Massachusetts, too. I'll be doing the inspection probably this week for a car that's been sitting for about a year. How about Techron with some premium gas as a crud-cleaner - is that good stuff?

I'm going to keep my finger crossed that it'll pass.

[JonA]

TheL-Jetronic fuel injection has a temp sensor which allows the engine to run rich (and smoothly) until it warms up. Try http://bama.ua.edu/bosch... or search L-Jetronic. There is a lot of stuff available.
My 924S has the original cat and it passed.
I know from experience that an engine that has sat for years needs a while to run in and get the friction down to where it should be. Can you get some miles on the car before you go for the inspection? An oil change might help too.

Dad cooked the engine, I love it. My son has done all the cookin in this family and I'm always doing the fixing.
Good luck,

Jon