chree

I have a Volvo 740 wagon with an LT1/T56. Fun daily driver / sleeper / family truckster. More photos here. The wagon does not have catalytic converters.

It failed its annual emissions test Wednesday, then again today. I didn't do anything to the car in preparation for Wednesday's test because it passed last time (11/06). The only difference in the testing vs. 11/06 is the engine listed on the emissions documentation was the 2.8L V6 (Wednesday's test was 2.3L). Unfortunately I don't have the results from the 11/06 test.

03/05/08:

25/25 Test
HC ppm: 107 / 162 Allowed: Pass
CO%: 2.41 / 1.04 Allowed: Fail
NOx ppm: 835 / 1163 Allowed: Pass
RPM: 2323 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 15.3 / 6.0 minimum

50/15 Test
HC ppm: 111 / 167 Allowed: Pass
CO%: 1.73 / 0.94 Allowed: Fail
NOx ppm: 1279 / 1273 Allowed: Fail
RPM: 2134 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 14.8 / 6.0 minimum

03/07/08

The changes:

• Clean K&N air filter, not re-oiled
• New NGK V-power plugs, gapped at .050 (I think I didn't check the gap last time, some were as high as .065!)
• 1 gallon denatured alcohol mixed in to ~7 gallons of gas
• Removed the ignition box (the car wouldn't rev over 4500 unless I disconnected it, this was before the new plugs)
• Tested as a 2.8L, note some of the limits are lower

25/25 Test
HC ppm: 57 / 157 Allowed: Pass
CO%: .84 / 1.00 Allowed: Pass
NOx ppm: 1056 / 1121 Allowed: Pass
RPM: 2402 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 14.3 / 6.0 minimum

50/15 Test
HC ppm: 201 / 162 Allowed: Fail
CO%: 0.81 / 0.91 Allowed: Pass
NOx ppm: 2516 / 1277 Allowed: Fail
RPM: 1046 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 14.1 / 6.0 minimum

You can tell a car passes if the test ends before all the time runs out, so we knew it passed the first test. He tried the 2nd test three times (the limit) in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear (the results are from the 3rd gear attempt, note the low RPM).

From research: ASM2 or Accelerated Simulation Mode Test - A dual-mode test including a 25/25 test = 25 pounds of load at 25 MPH and a 50/15 test = 50 pounds of load at 15 MPH.

The shop owner's son did the test, and he said I could come back later and have them try some things under the hood using the tester in "manual" mode. $50 if they can get it to pass (plus another $25 since I've used my free retest), no charge if they can't.

I'm wondering if I shouldn't just buy a pair of converters... $100 plus my time to install...

Your thoughts? Thanks!

RickyMartinZ28

iTrader: (5)

Thats cool.

Jon5212

iTrader: (2)

OP, I'd say if you can get a pair of cats on it quickly on/off just throw some on there and go try again. Also if you have tuning capabilities you could maybe lean it out a tad bit and drive it easy the way to the shop. I'm glad Indiana doesn't have these stupid tests.

Jditlfm

iTrader: (26)

Leaning it out will cause the Nox to go higher, especially if he does not have a EGR. I would recommend getting a cat. They will help the car pass the smog test so much easier then all these little tricks to the gas and that sort of thing.

LT1forever

iTrader: (4)

Aside from the snow for once I'm glad I live in Iowa (No Emission Tests)

infinitebird

iTrader: (11)

not passing sniffer test without cats, there's a shocker lol

camaro-94-z28

iTrader: (3)

fixed your whole thread

chree

As I said I'm not opposed to putting converters on the wagon, this thread is to see if anyone knows any other ways to pass the test.

The Volvo will be emissions exempt in 2 years.

infinitebird

iTrader: (11)

it is very unlikely you will find a way to make it pass without cats.

camaro-94-z28

iTrader: (3)

no other ways stop being a cheap *** and put them on. or you could buy stickers from someone(search long enough you will find them) or go without inspection the only options. imo

Revelation Z28

iTrader: (10)

you can tune the car to pass with no cats, but it is VERY hard to get the A/F/R dead on for enough time so the sniffer wont pick it up.

1SLO6

iTrader: (8)

looks to me like u might need a cat..... that should clean up the HC's....

ecniv

iTrader: (1)

Cool swap. I agree with everyone else, cats will fix your problem.

malibu2slow

iTrader: (1)

Damn this is bad news for my rx7 lt1 swamp

chree

Then how did the wagon pass on 11/06 without cats?? My theory is maybe the shop passed it as a favor to me since at the time they had misdiagnosed a broken rearend as a transmission problem.

Magnaflow bullet converters installed; result: FAIL.

I was told the cause was high NOx and it was because the engine was running too lean (???). The NGK TR55s were replaced with Delco 41-906 platinums (OE plug) and the wagon passed. As was pointed out on a Volvo forum, the lack of EGR may be one cause of high NOx (shorty headers with no EGR provision).

25/25 Test
HC ppm: 152 / 157 Allowed: Pass
CO%: 0.90 / 1.00 Allowed: Pass
NOx ppm: 157 / 1121 Allowed: Pass
RPM: 2290 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 14.7 / 6.0 minimum

50/15 Test
HC ppm: 149 / 162 Allowed: Pass
CO%: 0.91 / 0.91 Allowed: Pass
NOx ppm: 999 / 1227 Allowed: Pass
RPM: 1989 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 13.0 / 6.0 minimum

Look at the CO% on the 50/15... 0.91 out of 0.91 allowed. Yikes.

I spent a lot more than I wanted, but I just didn't have the time to do the work myself (major house renovations). Also if I had done the work the shop would not have worked as hard trying to get it to pass. The exhaust is a bit more muffled and the drone is gone.

seawalkersee

What (if any) are the mods?

Chris

chree

MSD Opti, shorty headers, K&N canister type filter, No MAF, PCM programming stock except for MAF/ VATS/ CAGS delete and change gearing to 3.73. Maintenance items like O2 sensor, wires, etc are relatively recent.

290 rwhp / 325 rwtq.

malibu2slow

iTrader: (1)

Glad to hear it finnaly passed , so much for listening to all the "experts" , btw sweet swamp , i havent tryed yet and am riding outlaw style , time for me to bite the bullet and just go

chree

Bump from the dead. The wagon failed emissions again last year, and I had the shop find the cause. Turns out the air intake sensor was mangled. Sensor replaced: pass.

Last years test results aren't handy, but the wagon took its last test today (no changes from last year, just regular maintenance).

25/25 Test
HC ppm: 90 / 162 Allowed: Pass
CO%: 0.79 / 1.04 Allowed: Pass
NOx ppm: 804 / 1163 Allowed: Pass
RPM: 2373 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 14.0 / 6.0 minimum

50/15 Test
HC ppm: 82 / 167 Allowed: Pass
CO%: 0.65 / 0.94 Allowed: Pass
NOx ppm: 992 / 1227 Allowed: Pass
RPM: 2158 / 3000 maximum
CO+CO2: 14.0 / 6.0 minimum

No more tests after this year, the wagon will be 25. By the way the wagon is for sale. Sad to see it go, but the family has outgrown it.

djjab57

iTrader: (17)

OFF TOPIC But glad to see you finally came ot of the closet Ricky Martin
Like we all didnt already know !!!