Conn. emissions. Any tips?

[cwiert]

Hey...
So I need to go get my emissions tested. It's been a while... about 4 years for the car, my first with the car.
Anyway, not sure what to expect, so I want to take precautions to help get a passing grade. Here's some of the things I've heard... not sure if it's myth or fact... any insight would be appreciated.

- Use a fuel injector cleaner additive with premium gas.
- make sure the car is nice and warmed up when getting tested.
- don't get tested on rainy days (something about the air being heavier/more humid)

Here's some tips on wikipedia...
#1 Warm up the engine.

* Do you have a short drive to the testing station? A cold engine will still be running rich, to the detriment of its emissions.
* Take the car out for a long ride -- 15 miles or 15 minutes. While waiting for the test, keep the engine running at a fast idle.

#2 Use lower octane gas.

* Lower octane fuel burns cleaner because of its lower volatility. Run your tank low and refill with the lowest grade you can find. Some say use premium gasoline to help reduce nitrogen oxide (Nox) emissions.
* Don't overfill your gas tank, as gasoline can be drawn into the engine through the vehicle's evaporative control system.
* If in doubt, add a few or more cans of "dry gas" (isopropl alcohol) to the tank. The alcohol also burns more cleanly.

#3 Charge the battery.

* A weak or low battery may cause your vehicle to run rich. It can also cause a greater load on the charging system, which can alter the exhaust readings.

#4 Clean your fuel injectors.

* Add some Redline or similar fuel injection cleaner to your tank.

#5 Change your oil.

* Dirty oil also contributes to emissions (sneaking past worn rings and seals). Add a bit of Marvel Mystery Oil in the crankcase, drive for 100 miles or so, then change the oil and filter

#6 Change the spark plugs and wires.

* Old spark plugs, wires (and cap and rotor for cars so equiped) also have a harder time lighting off the fuel, increasing your emissions.

Any thoughts on all this???

[splinterAMG]

Looks from your other thread that it passed, yes?

[962porsche]

in 4 years ??????how did you get away with that ? we have to do it every 2 . ok as for the octane in your fuel . the higher the octane the SLOWER and COOLER the fuel burns for a more compleat burn .if you use to low of an octane then you will get detonation from the fuel burning way to hot and not burning all the fuel leaving hot deposits on the top of the pistons . use the octane that your car calls for . if your car calls for 91 than run 91 octane . what happens when you use to high a grade of gas when your car does not need all the extra octane is . slower throttle response , gummed up cats , plugs fouled , valves not seating right , and so on and on and on . drive the car up to full temp. keep the car running to keep the cat hot when your in the test line . put one can of fuel cleaner and one can of dry gas in a full tank . drive the car for a day or two untill it gets to a half tank . then go get your CT. emissions done . all the other things are myths . if its your 1988 944 then they will do a sniff test only . if your oil is that old then change it ! if your plugs , cap and rotor is that old then change that as well . if the car is running off the batterys power then you need a new altenator . never put more than 2 cans of dry gas in your car at a time . and only if you have a full tank of fuel .

[cwiert]

Originally Posted by 962porsche

in 4 years ??????how did you get away with that ? we have to do it every 2 . ok as for the octane in your fuel . the higher the octane the SLOWER and COOLER the fuel burns for a more compleat burn ........

cool. thanks for all the tips. i'll try it. i didn't get away with anything. i just bought the car in Dec and just registered it today. DMV told me emissions was due and i have a 30 day window to get it done. The PO never registered it, so he never went to emissions. that's why it's been 4 years.
I'll do what you mentioned and hopefully it won't be an issue. I'll reply back in a few days/weeks with how it turned out.

one thing i'm a little nervous about is that the Cat Conv isn't orig. It was just replaced back in Dec by the PO, so it's brand new, but it's MUCH MUCH smaller than the stock one that was originally on the car. Hopefully that won't foul things up too much.

[962porsche]

then they will make you go do it every year then untill its up to date . the cat on one of my 944's is from verocious motorsports .com part #vibcatm-250 its a high flow with 300 cells per inch the hole thing is only 10 inches long and 4 inches round . the car passed ez ! if the car is running as it should then it will go right throw .

[cwiert]

Originally Posted by 962porsche

then they will make you go do it every year then untill its up to date . the cat on one of my 944's is from verocious motorsports .com part #vibcatm-250 its a high flow with 300 cells per inch the hole thing is only 10 inches long and 4 inches round . the car passed ez ! if the car is running as it should then it will go right throw .

mine cat's about that size as well.
on another note... is your shop in branford? where abouts? i grew up in branford and my parents still live there.

[Mankato944]

Originally Posted by 962porsche

then they will make you go do it every year then untill its up to date . the cat on one of my 944's is from verocious motorsports .com part #vibcatm-250 its a high flow with 300 cells per inch the hole thing is only 10 inches long and 4 inches round . the car passed ez ! if the car is running as it should then it will go right throw .

Is the outlet diameter on that cat really 4"? or did I read that wrong. Im looking to do the exhaust with Bursch header and dont wanna use their test pipe so I will need a good cat.

[962porsche]

mankato , no its a 2.5 in an out and 4 inches in the center of the cat . check out verocious on line i get most of the exhaust things i need to build exhaust systoms from them . they have good prices and fast shipping . when i dinoed the car with a test pipe and then with out one it was the same wheel HP using that cat at 151 HP all stock NA 2.5 motor . CWIERT i have 3 shops the paint shop is in hamden ,the frame and fab. shop is in east haven , and the repair shop is in milford . but i may be moving every thing nextdoor to the paint shop very soon ? i also grew up in BRD. class of 81 . i live up off of milplain rd near twin lakes in north BFD.

[splinterAMG]

Did it pass?

[cwiert]

Originally Posted by splinterAMG

Did it pass?

well, i did the tips that was suggested to me... filled it up with high grade gas, added a can of dry gas, and fuel system cleaner to the tank last week. I've been driving it whenever i can, but i still haven't gotten down to 1/2 tank yet. Once I get to 1/2 tank, I'll go get tested. I'm thinking this week sometime. I guess these cars just get too good of gas milage! I've already driven over a hundred miles on this tank and the needle as barely moved off full.
It's a far cry from my Toyota Tacoma Double Cab, I can tell you that!

I'll keep you posted.

[mb924S]

If your emission control equipment is intact and the car is running well you should be fine. During the ten years or so I had my '87 924S I had no problems after putting the cat back on, even with an aftermarket chip, except the time I went in with the O2 sensor unplugged.

If you have trouble finding a station that has equipment that can take your car (mine was too low for most of them) there is one in Higganum that can do it, as well as a Corvette performance shop in Manchester that does a lot of performance car emission testing.

[962porsche]

dougan's auto on state street in hamden can also do cars with low ground clearances .

[cwiert]

It PASSED!
Everything was well below the limits too, so that's good i guess.
And the place in my town of East Hampton (Belltown Motors) was able to do it (no problems as far as the clearance).

[962porsche]

thats GRATE !!! I knew it would pass . unless the car is just not running right they will pass . did you ask if you will have to go next year also ? becouse it has not been doen in the past 4 years ?

[cwiert]

i didn't ask about next year. i should have though. i guess i'll have to wait and see.