Daihatsu Skywing (1986) - Dirty Daihatsu Tuning - edlithgow

Like a G10 Charade

By chance I got a look at the analyser screen when I was in for my half year vehicle inspection here in Taiwan. 4.7 % CO, 7.2% CO2, IIRC. Didn't see the HC but presumably high (They don't give you a printout, probably the thinking is "no numbers, no pack drill" ).

The posted limits for a 1990 car (mines 1986 which wasn't posted) are 4.5% and >9%, so that should probably have been a fail, but the private centres tend to cut you some slack for the repeat bizniz.

They also probably don't want the additional hassle of communicating a fail to a foreigner. Dumbness brings dividends.

Their meters are allegedly "tuned" to read low anyway, so it may be running dirtier than that.

The plugs look OK though.

Couldn't remember the UK MOT emission limits, never having failed a UK test on emissions (surprisingly enough) , so I checked them online. (Havn't found the Taiwan ones.I'd expect them to be similar but perhaps introduced later. It appears from a quick look that, in most US states, a car of this age woul be exempt)

The UK CO limit shifted from 4.5% to 3.9% during 1986, but there is no mention of a minimum CO2 value. Having one would perhaps prevent faking through a test by bleeding some air into the exhaust, which I've heard of, but never tried.

It'd be quite hard to hide the plumbing for that in a UK MOT inspection, but easy enough in a Taiwanese one.

I suppose I'd better try and tune it leaner, a bit daunting since the last time I tried to understand all the ancilliary plumbing hanging off the carb, I got a headache, and my choke stopped working.

Would a vacuum guage help with tuning the carb? (assuming I could find one here, by no means certain).

Daihatsu Skywing (1986) - Dirty Daihatsu Tuning - bathtub tom

My first thoughts would be air filter - make sure it's getting an ample supply of air and thermostat. If it's not running hot enough it could be telling the carb to richen the mixture.

Daihatsu Skywing (1986) - Dirty Daihatsu Tuning - gordonbennet

And i'd strip the carb down to ensure all is well, jets in securely, float level correct but mainly that enriching devices are operating correctly and not sticking.

Check timing too and that igniton advance is working, and chuck a new set of spark plugs in unless they're recent.

Edited by gordonbennet on 21/04/2014 at 11:26

Daihatsu Skywing (1986) - Dirty Daihatsu Tuning - edlithgow

Stripping THIS carb would be a bit brave for me, and something of a last resort.

I've done motorcycle ones a few times (they tend to sludge up here, probably due to the temperatures and exposed carb position) but this is more complex, and rebuild kits may not be obtainable.

I'll give it a good blast with carb cleaner, though.

Timing/plugs makes sense.

Daihatsu Skywing (1986) - Dirty Daihatsu Tuning - edlithgow

My first thoughts would be air filter - make sure it's getting an ample supply of air and thermostat. If it's not running hot enough it could be telling the carb to richen the mixture.

Air filter LOOKS ok, but I suppose that could be deceptive.

I've been meaning to check the thermostat for a while since the engine seems to take rather a long time to get to temperature, but I hadn't mentally made that connection (duh!) so thanks for the hint.

(It should have been warm enough during this inspection test, though.)

The problem with other changes is that, short of making myself a gas analyser, I've got no real measure of success, since the visual cues (exhaust smoke and plug appearance) look OK to me.

I have read of people making crude exhaust gas analysers using a scrap (heated) oxygen electrode and a sensitive voltmeter, which'd be interesting, but I don't really have time for that at the moment. Perhaps in the summer break.

Daihatsu Skywing (1986) - Dirty Daihatsu Tuning - edlithgow

How about the vacuum gauge idea?