Failed Emissions

Hi there everyone,

My 90 TD just failed the MOT on emissions, anyone got any ideas?? It was fine last year!

cheers in advance.

Lots of possibilities but not much info given.

First always is to check the easy things, such as ensuring your air filter is not plugged and there are no leaks in the induction system.

Did they tell you anything more than simply that it failed?

Ok heres the plan, I am guessing you have a 2.5NA/TD or 2/300TDI, take the accelerator cable, and alter it slightly, so that the engine cannot be revved to the same extent, also, make sure your filters etc... are clean, then run the tank low, and put in some veg oil (olive, sunflower anything as long as its oil) so the mix is around 60derv and 40veg.

I would be supprised if it failed at that, also have the engine HOT for the test, most garages leave them standing for a day, take them round to the MOT centre and they are still cold, thus the engine is running a little inefficiently.

I saw an article recently about failed emissions and it suggested filling up with BP Ultimate Diesel a couple of days before the MOT. I would only do a one off as it is expensive.

Take it somewhere where they dont check the emissions.

Thanks for the info, the filters are clear, just serviced. No they didn't give me anymore info than that it failed, they don't have to anymore with the computer system. I took it there because all my car's have passed there, but i think they were particularly picky, think they just wanted to get a re-test out of me, but waht can you do!! Was thinking of winding the pump down, never checked it so don't know if it's ever been mess with. Or might try the accelorator thing, sound interesting.

Thanks again!

You could always put in some injector cleaner aswell, put in a few gallons of good fuel and some cleaner, take it for a nice long drive.

Then top up with diesel and veg and wind down the cable. If you give your engine a rev at the moment, you will no doubt be getting black smoke, throw in some veg, shake the landy up to mix it, run it a bit so its drawn into the system, and then give it a rev, the smoke levels should drop... hence emissions...

You might want to also check your thermostat. If its stuck, the engine may not get up to temp fast enough.

Changed the thermostat a couple of months ago.

Thanks

My 110 TD is smokin like a.....erm.....old landrover. Its not burning oil and Ive put 3 bottles of injector cleaner through and some of that 10K spray, and driven it down the duel carige way in gear three, which i might add did more harm than good. But no, still smokes. I think theres a fiew people out there with this problem.

Could be the injectors need calibrated, garages might do it if they have the machine,

Forgot to say it's blue smoke, so must be oil!!

Now you tell us!

Check your oil level its not overfilled?

If not then its a piston ring, gasket issue somewhere, turbo leaking oil, the list goes on...

If The smoke is blue it wont get better and will be expensive to cure. You could try a heavier oil and some STP. Stop Close to Mot centre Let engine cool and present with a cold engine.

Yeah kinda thought that! Just wanted to see if anyone had any bright ideas!!!

Thanks anyway!

these engines breathe heavily anyway. they create hefty crankcase pressure, check the breathers. disconnect the pipe to the air filter from the oil filler cap so any oil mist is not fed to the air filter and hence burnt. got mine through by taking off the seal from the oil filler cap, made a mess of the engine bay though.

Hi, failed again but the bloke at the garge is still saying it's the pump, even though it's blue smoke aswell he said it's fuel thats getting through. Also he said he was having trouble testing it the first time anyway because the revs carry on after you decelorate. I adjusted the idle speed which helped but it's still not good enough, help!!!

Probaly continues to rev because its burning oil.

You will need to try some of the plans suggested above.

Sounds like a bad oil seal on the turbocharger. Disconnect the flexible hose that goes from the turbocharger to the intercooler and if it is all oily wet then that is an indicator that it it leaks at least a little. Then disconnect the flexible air pipe that goes from the intercooler to the air induction manifold and if that is also oily wet there is your proof.

Have you gotten a second opinion from another garage?

It's a TD so they don't have intercoolers (do they?). I took it to the landy garage where i had my cluth done, after it failed twice and he said to block of the fuel feed to the turbo as it isn't the pump it's the age of the engine. I also took the pipe off between the air filter and the filler cap, but neither helped. The MOT bloke still insisted it's excessive fuel, it's not failing on the oil!! Don't know what to think now! Or do. I wouldn't be so bothered but i've got someone wanting to buy it for more than i paid for it!! Please help, i just want someone to say yes it's knackered (if it really is)

Thanks v.v. much!