How do I get this thing to apass emissions?

[SpencerC]

My son bought an 86' ranger 2.9l V6 4wheel drive about a month ago. We have not been successful at getting it to pass emissions.

Here is what we have done trying to get it to pass:
Replaced fuel pump, fuel fiter, and ran Lucas cylinder cleaner through a tank of gas- didnt pass
Replaced plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor, ignition coil, timed it at 12deg- still didnt pass.
Changed oil, air filter, and put CRC guaranteed to pass in the tank- still didnt pass
Timed it to 10 deg, - didnt pass
Today he tried the 2 bottles of ISO heet in a 1/4 tank of gas. Still didnt pass

We have had emmisions done atleast a dozen times trying different temperatures and what not. We are at a loss of what to try next. They guy at Jiffy lube told him to run seafoam through it but I am worried about continue to run various treatments though it. Pretty sure right now he has a full tank of gas that has both seafoam and the equivalant of one small bottle of ISO heet in it. I told him to go for a long highway drive for atleast an hour and burn of some of the carbons.

Here is some other tidbits
The EGR system seems to be working fine.
The vacuum systems seems to be working fine
We have a PCV valve and crankcase ventilation filter arriving tomorrow- will they do any good?

What suggestions do you guys have? We are getting a bit frustrated and losing direction on this.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

What are the results from the test? That will give the mechs a chance to diagnose. There should be three different gasses measured at different rpm's.

 

[SpencerC]

here is the data from several of tests. It is at Idle speed that we are having the issues:

High speed-
HC 57
CO .85
RPM 2393
Idle test-
HC- 220 FAIL
CO .55
RPM 817


High speed-
HC 62
CO 1.6
RPM 2491
Idle test-
HC- 316 FAIL
CO 3.06 FAIL
RPM 807

High speed-
HC 66
CO .79
RPM 2409
Idle test-
HC- 171
CO 2.04 FAIL
RPM 1148


High speed-
HC 113
CO 1.37
RPM 2426
Idle test-
HC- 340 FAIL
CO .1.66 FAIL
RPM 859


High speed-
HC 173
CO 1.11
RPM 2389
Idle test-
HC- 361 FAIL
CO 1.68 FAIL
RPM 828


High speed-
HC 82
CO .99
RPM 2507
Idle test-
HC- 244 FAIL
CO .79
RPM 1077

 

[SpencerC]

here it is again with the CO2 numbers too. They dont have a pass fail for the CO2 just CO and HC


High speed-
HC 57
CO .85
CO2 11.1
RPM 2393
Idle test-
HC- 220 FAIL
CO .55
CO2 13.4
RPM 817


High speed-
HC 62
CO 1.6
CO2 15
RPM 2491
Idle test-
HC- 316 FAIL
CO 3.06 FAIL
CO2 14.5
RPM 807

High speed-
HC 66
CO .79
CO2 15.3
RPM 2409
Idle test-
HC- 171
CO 2.04 FAIL
CO2 14.6
RPM 1148

High speed-
HC 113
CO 1.37
CO2 10.3
RPM 2426
Idle test-
HC- 340 FAIL
CO .1.66 FAIL
CO2 12.5
RPM 859


High speed-
HC 173
CO 1.11
CO2 10.9
RPM 2389
Idle test-
HC- 361 FAIL
CO 1.68 FAIL
CO2 12.9
RPM 828

High speed-
HC 82
CO .99
CO2 13.5
RPM 2507
Idle test-
HC- 244 FAIL
CO .79
CO2 13.5
RPM 1077

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

What are the limits? Where is the passing mark at the rpm's where you failed?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm surprised they don't measure for NOx. Where are you located?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

And I just took another look at what you've done to the motor. Did you change the o2 sensor? Those will slowly stop working over time. It will be up above and before the cat. It's a bitch to get at.

 

[SpencerC]

What are the limits? Where is the passing mark at the rpm's where you failed?

HIgh spped limits:
HC 220
CO 1.2

Idle speed
HC 220
CO 1.2

 

[SpencerC]

I'm surprised they don't measure for NOx. Where are you located?

Utah

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I would change the o2 sensor if it hasn't been already. Also make sure the engine has been driven highway for a couple of tens of minutes before going to the test. Check and double check the vacuum lines. Check for vacuum leaks around the intake manifold, I use propane gas. You could probably use a spray bottle with gasoline with a fire extinguisher right beside you, preferably not powder type. If you hear the motor rev up then there is a leak.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Looking at your results, you failed every test but one on HC. The one test that didn't fail HC failed on CO. What changed?

 

[SpencerC]

Looking at your results, you failed every test but one on HC. The one test that didn't fail HC failed on CO. What changed?

Pretty sure all we did up to that point was change the intank fuel pump and in line fuel filter. It also may have had CRC guaranteed to pass in the tank for that test.

 

[2trux]

My sons B2 with 2.9l failed the HC with everything changed that could be changed and the engine rebuilt. We visited the emissions place so many times they got tired of seeing us.
I finally decided the only thing I hadn't checked was the cat. After pulling the Cat I found out it was gutted. With a new cat the HC went from 440 at idle to 92 at idle. You might want to look at the cat.

 

[adsm08]

Your HC numbers are all over the place. Sometimes they are well within spec, and sometimes you are almost doubling the allowed limits.

I would run a can of Seafoam through the intake, not in the gas, make a nice fancy blue cloud through the neighborhood, then change the O2 sensor and get it retested. If that doesn't get a pass out of her it is time to look at a new cat.

Also, make sure it is being tested hot. The cat doesn't work very well unless it is up to temp, and it does affect every gas you fail on.

 

[SpencerC]

Just an update, it failed again today. I have not seen the numbers but they told him to do test it again he would have to pay again.

We will get it on highway a few times and see what we can burn off. It has seafoam in the tank so we will burn through that and then I will try the seafoam in the intake. After that has been done we will replace the O2 sensor and take it in.

I am also going to check the vacuum hoses all again.

Any advice on getting the O2 sensor out? I am sure it is in solid and it going to give us a fight to get it out.