Good thinking John.  That much alcohol could also alter things at the O2
sensor and cause it to change the mixture.

I would think that almost all repair shops would have an exhaust gas
analyzer - they do around here. Fill the tank with gasoline first.

On Dec 6, 2007 6:02 AM, John Brigstocke <jbrig@hsfx.ca> wrote:

> Wouldn't adding alcohol weaken the mixture - increasing NOx emission?
> John
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "mordo" <helmut.blong@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 8:38 AM
> Subject: Emissions failures make me feel like a failure
>
>
> > Thanks for the input, people. I am interested to know more abnout
> > standards
> > around the country too. I'll search for some compendium of standards at
> my
> > leisure.
> >
> > A few more items of note:
> >
> >
> >   1. I am suspicious of a leak at the front of the cat - I'm not sure I
> >   got a good seal there even with two gaskets. I cannot detect a leak
> but
> > the
> >   flanges are not parallel.
> >   2. I had a light 1/4 tank of fuel when I went to test. I added about a
> >   liter of denatured alcohol just before driving 5 miles to the test
> > station.
> >   3. The engine was as hot as it ever gets without the fan coming on -
> >   just at the top of the LED.
> >   4. It was about 30F and snowing at the time.
> >   5. The exhuast pipe hose at the test station was almost flat - I don't
> >   know whether more flow or less would be better for my circumstance.
> The
> >   marginally intelligent woman operating it said "it don't matter."
> >   6. The emissions test station literature suggests high NOx can be
> >   caused by a lean burn just as some of you suggest. However, the mix
> > *seems*
> >   rich to me. Maybe a raw gas smell at the rear of the van suggests a
> tiny
> >   leak somewhere rather than a rich mixture? I certainly can't find a
> > leak.
> >   7. I have a spare ECU. Any point in swapping that out to see if it
> >   affects the running condition?
> >   8. Is the typical mechanic equipped with any test devices that can
> >   measure what the emissions test station is measuring? I'd like to
> > pre-test
> >   before going back.
> >
> > cheers,
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
> > Date: Dec 6, 2007 2:12 AM
> > Subject: Re: Emissions failures make me feel like a failure
> > To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> >
> >
> > Other tips for passing -
> > You want it as warm as you can get it.  Keep it running the whole time,
> > I'm
> > not suggesting this, but disconnecting the rad fan sender will get it
> > really
> > warm temporarily at idle !
> >
> > Multi-electrode spark plugs  -  I have read of people reducing emissions
> > for
> > a smog test using those.
> > I 'think' as you retard on timing NOx goes down, but too far and other
> > things go back up.
> > Always consider 'lean misfire' too as a cause of failing  emissions
> > results.
> >
> > Not sure what to do about it, but I've heard that mentioned many times.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Tabe Johnson
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 7:54 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Emissions failures make me feel like a failure
> >
> > Your chart came out kinda funky on my screen, but it looks like
> > you're failing on NOx.  If that is the case, temporarily retard
> > your timing by 5-10 degrees.  That will lower the values enough
> > to get you through.
> >
> > Could you please post emissions results when you do this?  I'd
> > like to know what the reduction actually is.  I have data for
> > another vehicle, but not for a WBX.
> >
> >
> > tabe johnson / 87 westy
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > mordo
> > 1990 Carat
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/