M.O.T. Emissions - FAIL

[t-tony]

This crops up quite often and I usually refer to the fuel system cleaner we use at work which is produced by FORTE. Yesterday a 1996 Honda Civic (you would normally expect to pass the BET test) failed the full cat test. Results as shown.

The owner went home with a bottle (400ml) of Forte fuel system cleaner in the tank. When he returned today he had only covered 20 miles. You can see for your self the difference it had on the emissions as the car passed today on the BET test with very low emissions.


This post was edited by a mod using 2 x ENTER (as it was a total balls up as was) and took seconds.
Please try harder.

 

[hard top]

Tony, FFS, get posting pics and text right. All you need to do is go to the bottom of your pic and press 'Enter'......Lesson of the day.

 

[t-tony]

That's what I did do mate?

 

[jonco]

Tony - does this work on all types of cat? I have a CO emissions problem (.5%) which hardly changes on fast idle and had convinced myself cat is knackered. I was going to try a cleaner but there was a comment in a thread the other day (can't find it at the moment) that cleaner only works on certain types of cat convertor.

 

[zedonist]

Tony,
The tests are not comparable, they have different parameters, It suggests its been fudged to get it through?

 

[t-tony]

We use it in all types of petrol cars, and mainly with very good results. If a cat is simply "dirty" it will clean it. Their diesel products are very good too. I have a bottle in my garage, I will try to photograph the label and see if I can post it for you tomorrow night?

Tony.

 

[zedonist]

Don't dodge my fudging question

 

[hard top]

That's what I did do mate?

Weird, Ok, let me have a go.

 

[t-tony]

Tony,
The tests are not comparable, they have different parameters, It suggests its been fudged to get it through?

Absolutely NOT Rich. Test starts with the BET test with CO fail @ 0.20% max. HC @ 200ppm and LAMBDA @ 0.97-1.03 and idle CO 0.30% If the vehicle passes this test, then its passed. However IF the vehicle fails the BET test, then the emission tester goes into full CAT test mode( this is how ALL cat cars were tested before the BET test was introduced as so many cars were run too hot and overheated and engines damaged all in the hope of getting through the emission test)
In full CAT test mode, as you correctly point out the parameters are opened, automatically by the test equipment. So now CO is 0.30% and idle CO is 0.50%, HC and LAMBDA remain the same. Which by the way, this car failed yesterday.This is to allow older cars the chance to still pass the emissions test. The reason behind this is that if a car will pass the BET test which only takes1.5 mins it will easily pass the full CAT test which can take up to 5 mins of fast idle, which drastically raises the chance of overheating an engine.

Hope this makes sense,
Tony.

 

[t-tony]

Weird, Ok, let me have a go.

Thanks Mike, as previously stated I'm NO expert on a computer.
Tony.

 

[t-tony]

Don't dodge my fudging question

NOT dodging anything Rich, I just don't type as fast as you computer typist pro's

 

[Nifty Fifty]

Would be nice to see an apology as I think tony answered the question!
Have no idea what he was talking about though.

 

[hard top]

Thanks Mike, as previously stated I'm NO expert on a computer.
Tony.

Take a look at your first post now.

 

[zedonist]

Not just a Sticker expert then Tony great information

 

[t-tony]

Thank you very much Sir. I will bring you an apple tomorrow.

ENTER......No, that just cost you a crate of beer...... @t-tony HT......

 

[t-tony]

Not just a Sticker expert then Tony great information

Cheers mate. It can get a bit confusing, there are many test stations who only use the BET test and don't test cars properly using the full CAT test and DVSA let them get away with failing cars which should mainly pass. It is one of my pet grumbles. Sorry, rant over.

Tony.

 

[Nifty Fifty]

So how often do you put this stuff in your tank? Or is it best only to do it prior the MOT so it has a better chance of passing?

 

[t-tony]

Well the FORTE rep. unsurprisingly suggests you use it fairly regularly (after all he is selling the product). I use it in mine twice a year, once soon after the car is back on the road if it has been stood over winter months and again later in the year. Also it needs to be at a low fuel level so as not to dilute it too much. We sell it at work for £12 + vat = £15.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

While I remember. BET stands for Basic Emission Test.. Designed to lessen the stress on engines when testing emissions. A similar thing was introduced for Diesel emission testing where you used to be able to have 10 accelerations on a smoke test, the limit is now (and has been for 10 or more years) only 6 accelerations to lessen the stress on the engines, timing belts etc.

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

Tony, FFS, get posting pics and text right. All you need to do is go to the bottom of your pic and press 'Enter'......Lesson of the day.

New Tony, FFS, get posting pics and............????????????
FFS......Find Frankie's Sheep?