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Also with a lot of short journeys petrol gets into the oil;either get the engine well hot(Essex or Italian tune-up) or change the oil.
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My suggestion would be to change the oil and filter, use quality oil, something with a 'name', fit a new air filter and take the car for a 'brisk' run of 10-15 miles and get the test done immediately. INSIST the oil temp is measured (most mot stations seem to bypass this) to be doubly sure the engine is hot enough and with luck she will squeeze through. As the car is used predominantly for short journeys I'd recommend using a fuel such as Texaco which has a very high detergent element to keep the engine clean.
Let us know how you get on!
Andrew
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
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Thanks for the advice Andrew
will report back after the retest
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rustbucket (the original)
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My suggestion would be to change the oil and filter, use quality oil,
Just out of interest, how does changing the oil and filter affect the emissions?
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The filter doesn't have any effect on emissions, its the oil.
During short journeys, where your engine (and more so) your oil doesn't reach operating temperature, you'll suffer from oil dilution by petrol (amongst other things). When the engine is running, the vapors from this will be drawn into the induction system by the crankcase ventilation system (breather pipes) and be burned off. The more dilution there is, the more vapors there are to be burned off.
If you haven?t got time to change the oil before your test, a long drive on fast roads will usually burn the petrol off.
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Andrew, I noticed when my wife's car had its first MOT recently the print out said oil temperature test bypassed. How should they measure the oil temperature - with some probe presumably?
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I have seen the oil probe heated up with a cigarette lighter to allow the test to proceed without warming up the car!!!!
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pmh (was peter)
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Yes, normally measured with a probe. As I understand it, these days they do a 'quick' emissions test first, without checking oil temp. If the car passes without checking the oil temp then thats fine. if it doesn't they go further.
JS
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My suggestion would be to change the oil and filter, use quality oil, something with a 'name', fit a new air filter and take the car for a 'brisk' run of 10-15 miles and get the test done immediately. INSIST the oil temp is measured (most mot stations seem to bypass this) to be doubly sure the engine is hot enough and with luck she will squeeze through. As the car is used predominantly for short journeys I'd recommend using a fuel such as Texaco which has a very high detergent element to keep the engine clean. Let us know how you get on! Andrew -- Simplicate and add lightness!!
Update to polo mot fail. changed oil +filter ,air filter, replaced spark plugs and lambda probe as when inspected was sooty and partly obstructed in the vent slots and had done 71000 miles gave it a good run, passed ok.
the emission figures are :
co .o3
hc 32
lambda 1.01
idle co .02
figures before and failed:
co .54
hc216
lambda 1.03
idle co .33
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rustbucket (the original)
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Thanks for the feedback, pleased it passed. Shows how much the old fumy oil pushes up the hydrocarbon levels!
Andrew
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
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