MOT Failed

[revjames]

would you believe it. I drive a sensible car - 07 Cmax 1.6 TDCI which I bought for its low emissions and good mpg. Well looked after and serviced. Just took for MOT and it failed on emissions! Its only done 80K so I was surprised.

However the reason was my recent attempts to save money by driving more carefully. Rarely letting the engine go over 2000 RPM and being ever so gentle and not in a rush to get anywhere. This has seen me achieve up to 70mpg.

I was told today that the valves in these cars are designed to rotate in their seats which keeps them clean. Unless you rev over 3000 RPM they dont rotate and get dirty and lose efficiency.

The bloke just said 'Its failed on emissions - chuck a can of BG power enhancer in the tank and drive it to Kirkham and back at high revs and we'll test it agin free' So I pays my

 

[philbas]

I think its fair to say most cars need a good thrashing (resists all comments about women here)

I have alwaway found If i I do get to drive it up the moterway for a few hours it sorts a lot of problems out

 

[pickleye]

Spoke to a VW salesman a few months ago, they have a little old lady who comes in with various problems with her newish golf a couple of times a year. They spent ages looking the first time.

Now they take it off her for a week and drive it like they stole it. Cures all the niggles and shes a happy bunny. Takes it back and drives the half mile or so to the shops at 22mph again.

 

[Andy™]

and if you have a diesel with a particulate filter, it needs a good drive at high revs to clean it....

 

[Evans Electric]

Oh thats what meant by " Give it a good thrashing" For years now I've been thrashing the van the same as Basil Fawlty did , with a branch , just before MOT .

 

[Megaohm7]

Every now and again drive thru the gears at high revs it clears the cobwebs out and it will do the engine a power of good. and you can admire the black sooty cloud that is left behind you.

 

[revjames]

just seems a bit ironic I have a low emissions vehicle and being green and trying my best to save fuel and it fails on high emissions. Ah well.

 

[Andy™]

its all to make it 'look' green

engines with EGR usually burn more fuel, yet emissions are lower. something seems a bit backwards there

 

[revjames]

EGR means exhaust gas going into inlet manifold. My landrover had one and it kept getting gunged up. I took the manifold off and it was full of a marmitey gunge because the oily mist from crancase fumes combines with the soot from the exhaust and makes gunge. A blanked off the EGR and cleaned everything out and whacked a K&N on - oh and took the cat off and put a straight through pipe on and it was a different vehicle. Oh how I miss my Landy!

 

[sprocketflup]

Give any car a bit of a thrashing before MOT time, its much more likely to pass the emissions test if its very hot

 

[PC Electrics]

All engines benefit from a good 'spirited' drive occasionally. Take it out for a good punt of about 20 miles at least once a month.

As it's a turbo, allow it to warm up thoroughly before clogging it and then allow it to cool down before turning off. And use the best oil you can afford.

Oh, and as it's a Ford TDCi, put a

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

The main cause Of MOT failures is the nut behind the steering wheel

 

[revjames]

Thanks PC. I have had a couple of these now and AFAIK the 1.6 diesel doesnt have the dual mass. Last one had over 120K on the clock when I sold and never failed an MOT or had any injector problems.

 

[batty]

Trouble is nowadays with all the low speed limits there are not many places you can give it a goood thrashing so to speak.

 

[steptoe]

Trouble is nowadays with all the low speed limits there are not many places you can give it a goood thrashing so to speak.

tell that to revvedupsparky !!!