Honda Car Forum

I just passed my smog test, but just barely.. I have both the new and
old numbers (recent test, and test from 1.5 years ago). Wondering if
anyone can tell me if I have a developing car problem I can fix before
it gets bad.. I was targeted as a "High Profile Emitter" and forced
to go to a test only center. Preparations listed below..

Note the HC, I barely made it.


Auto: 1996 Honda Prelude, VTEC H22A
Test: June 2004
CO2 O2
Test RPM MEAS MEAS
15mph 1802 14.9 0.0
25mph 2106 14.9 0.0

HC
Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
15mph 1802 58 9 56
25mph 2106 42 7 38


CO
Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
15mph 1802 0.52 0.02 0.08
25mph 2106 0.50 0.03 0.05


NO
Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
15mph 1802 451 57 204
25mph 2106 738 50 139



For the test itself, I changed the PCV, Air Filter, Changed the oil
and oil filter, put in a full tank of 91 octane gas (actually, my car
takes 91 octane, so that's what I normally use).. I also drove it on
the freeway for 30+ miles (45 mins) and then brought it in.. I was
forced to wait, but I went and topped off my tank instead of waiting,
and then sat in traffic, which hopefully kept the car hot..

I didn't put any additives in to clean the injectors, which is
something I wish I had done..

I also changed the plugs about a year ago, they are the expensive 60k
mile plugs, and I only put 15,000 on them...

I also may need a valve adjustment (or have them checked).. I don't
know if that would throw it off much, I hope to do it myself, but
haven't had the time. I don't think they are out of specs though..

The original owner (I bought it 1.5 years ago) brought it to the
dealership regularly and had all the records. He seemed to take good
care of it, and the title xfer smog test kinda indicated that, plus I
don't think he warmed the car up enough for his test..

Here is the Original change of title Test that I got with the car.

Test Date: Jan 2003


CO2 O2
Test RPM MEAS MEAS
15mph 1946 14.9 0.0
25mph 2200 14.9 0.0

HC
Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
15mph 1946 58 9 19
25mph 2200 42 7 15


CO
Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
15mph 1946 0.52 0.02 0.01
25mph 2200 0.50 0.02 0.01


NO
Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
15mph 1946 804 66 81
25mph 2200 738 55 106

> forced to wait, but I went and topped off my tank instead of waiting,
> and then sat in traffic, which hopefully kept the car hot..

topping off the tank may have introduced excessive vapors into the
recovery system.... which gets burned by the engine. so theres your high
HC number.

and idling actually cools the car down.

i wouldnt worry about the test results- you passed.

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 01:56:25 GMT, SoCalMike
<mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>> forced to wait, but I went and topped off my tank instead of waiting,
>> and then sat in traffic, which hopefully kept the car hot..
>
>topping off the tank may have introduced excessive vapors into the
>recovery system.... which gets burned by the engine. so theres your high
>HC number.
>
>and idling actually cools the car down.
>
>i wouldnt worry about the test results- you passed.

I agree, but I really like the car, and I want it to last...

And if I didn't worry, I might not have taken any precautions before
the test, and been just a few numbers over the max, which would have
hurt.. But then, who's to say?

Randall Fox

the one thing you don't tell us is the mileage you have! hc can be
excess fuel [o2 sensor], weak catalyst [excess fuel/oil] or oil [old age].


Randall Fox wrote:
> I just passed my smog test, but just barely.. I have both the new and
> old numbers (recent test, and test from 1.5 years ago). Wondering if
> anyone can tell me if I have a developing car problem I can fix before
> it gets bad.. I was targeted as a "High Profile Emitter" and forced
> to go to a test only center. Preparations listed below..
>
> Note the HC, I barely made it.
>
>
> Auto: 1996 Honda Prelude, VTEC H22A
> Test: June 2004
> CO2 O2
> Test RPM MEAS MEAS
> 15mph 1802 14.9 0.0
> 25mph 2106 14.9 0.0
>
> HC
> Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
> 15mph 1802 58 9 56
> 25mph 2106 42 7 38
>
>
> CO
> Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
> 15mph 1802 0.52 0.02 0.08
> 25mph 2106 0.50 0.03 0.05
>
>
> NO
> Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
> 15mph 1802 451 57 204
> 25mph 2106 738 50 139
>
>
>
> For the test itself, I changed the PCV, Air Filter, Changed the oil
> and oil filter, put in a full tank of 91 octane gas (actually, my car
> takes 91 octane, so that's what I normally use).. I also drove it on
> the freeway for 30+ miles (45 mins) and then brought it in.. I was
> forced to wait, but I went and topped off my tank instead of waiting,
> and then sat in traffic, which hopefully kept the car hot..
>
> I didn't put any additives in to clean the injectors, which is
> something I wish I had done..
>
> I also changed the plugs about a year ago, they are the expensive 60k
> mile plugs, and I only put 15,000 on them...
>
> I also may need a valve adjustment (or have them checked).. I don't
> know if that would throw it off much, I hope to do it myself, but
> haven't had the time. I don't think they are out of specs though..
>
> The original owner (I bought it 1.5 years ago) brought it to the
> dealership regularly and had all the records. He seemed to take good
> care of it, and the title xfer smog test kinda indicated that, plus I
> don't think he warmed the car up enough for his test..
>
> Here is the Original change of title Test that I got with the car.
>
> Test Date: Jan 2003
>
>
> CO2 O2
> Test RPM MEAS MEAS
> 15mph 1946 14.9 0.0
> 25mph 2200 14.9 0.0
>
> HC
> Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
> 15mph 1946 58 9 19
> 25mph 2200 42 7 15
>
>
> CO
> Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
> 15mph 1946 0.52 0.02 0.01
> 25mph 2200 0.50 0.02 0.01
>
>
> NO
> Test RPM MAX AVG MEAS
> 15mph 1946 804 66 81
> 25mph 2200 738 55 106

Randall Fox wrote:

> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 01:56:25 GMT, SoCalMike
> <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>>forced to wait, but I went and topped off my tank instead of waiting,
>>>and then sat in traffic, which hopefully kept the car hot..
>>
>>topping off the tank may have introduced excessive vapors into the
>>recovery system.... which gets burned by the engine. so theres your high
>>HC number.
>>
>>and idling actually cools the car down.
>>
>>i wouldnt worry about the test results- you passed.
>
>
> I agree, but I really like the car, and I want it to last...
>
> And if I didn't worry, I might not have taken any precautions before
> the test, and been just a few numbers over the max, which would have
> hurt.. But then, who's to say?

well, ya took the precautions, and it worked. do the same thing next
time- except for topping off the tank
>
> Randall Fox
>
>

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 04:31:33 GMT, jim beam <uce@ftc.gov> wrote:

>the one thing you don't tell us is the mileage you have! hc can be
>excess fuel [o2 sensor], weak catalyst [excess fuel/oil] or oil [old age].

The car has about 127,000 miles... It doesn't seem to burn oil. At
least I don't need to feed it oil between changes, if that is any
indication.

I am more worried about the change. I put on 15,000 miles in about
1.5 years, and the smog numbers seem to have gone up
disproportionate... I haven't had any warning lamps or anything..
Gas mileage seems to have been stable during that time as well..

Thanks,

Randall Fox

jim beam wrote:

> the one thing you don't tell us is the mileage you have! hc can be
> excess fuel [o2 sensor], weak catalyst [excess fuel/oil] or oil [old age].

its OBDII so anything seriously out of whack would store a code.

agreed, but a sensor may be "within limits" but on its way out. that's
my bet anyway.

SoCalMike wrote:
>
>
> jim beam wrote:
>
>> the one thing you don't tell us is the mileage you have! hc can be
>> excess fuel [o2 sensor], weak catalyst [excess fuel/oil] or oil [old
>> age].
>
>
> its OBDII so anything seriously out of whack would store a code.

ok, oil should be ok at that mileage if it's been well maintained.
overall, i agree with mike - you passed this time. just drive & worry
about it when you get a code or if it fails next time.

thing is, despite its good history, you still don't really know the full
story. i had a civic with a problem similar to this. it turned out to
be a very slight coolant leak i'd not bothered to fix. the coolant temp
sensor was not getting fully immersed as the fluid level fell thereby
sending lower temp data that was actual. this fooled the ecu into
injecting the wrong fuel mixture. excess fuel = excess hc in the
exhaust! sometimes it's the little things...

Randall Fox wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 04:31:33 GMT, jim beam <uce@ftc.gov> wrote:
>
>
>>the one thing you don't tell us is the mileage you have! hc can be
>>excess fuel [o2 sensor], weak catalyst [excess fuel/oil] or oil [old age].
>
>
> The car has about 127,000 miles... It doesn't seem to burn oil. At
> least I don't need to feed it oil between changes, if that is any
> indication.
>
> I am more worried about the change. I put on 15,000 miles in about
> 1.5 years, and the smog numbers seem to have gone up
> disproportionate... I haven't had any warning lamps or anything..
> Gas mileage seems to have been stable during that time as well..
>
> Thanks,
>
> Randall Fox
>

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:57:36 GMT, jim beam <uce@ftc.gov> wrote:

>ok, oil should be ok at that mileage if it's been well maintained.
>overall, i agree with mike - you passed this time. just drive & worry
>about it when you get a code or if it fails next time.
>
>thing is, despite its good history, you still don't really know the full
>story. i had a civic with a problem similar to this. it turned out to
>be a very slight coolant leak i'd not bothered to fix. the coolant temp
>sensor was not getting fully immersed as the fluid level fell thereby
>sending lower temp data that was actual. this fooled the ecu into
>injecting the wrong fuel mixture. excess fuel = excess hc in the
>exhaust! sometimes it's the little things...

Ya, I closely watch for leaks, but I get your point..

As far as the history, I totally agree. A new car is always better
because you aren't stuck with a question mark for the history, but
the price of a used car is really a good deal.. and I never have to
go through the hell of seeing the "first ding" on the car.. Someone
already paid me to put a ding on it...

Randall Fox