With the high greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and the threats they pose to the environment, many countries conduct routine tests on vehicles to curb them. Vehicles with high amounts of emissions are not allowed on the roads, so it is very important to make sure your car passes the emissions tests.
Your vehicle might fail an emissions test due to worn-out parts in the engine or exhaust system. The good thing is that you can easily identify these parts and replace them.
Here are five most common things that can potentially cause your vehicle to fail an emissions test:
Bad fuel injectors
If your car’s fuel injectors are not functioning as they should, they might make the air-fuel mixture too rich. This is when the fuel that gets into the combustion chambers is too much to completely burn during the combustion process. In this case, the vehicle will likely produce a lot of carbon dioxide, which will show up during the emission test.
Worn-out spark plugs
Bad or worn-out spark plugs lead to a higher percentage of emissions because they make fuel combustion incomplete. Bad spark plugs can easily be identified, and therefore should be replaced to avoid failing the tests.
Delayed engine oil replacement
Apart from posing danger to your engine, not replacing the engine oil on time might make your vehicle fail an emission test.
Good engine oil should have a few hydrocarbons that do not produce high emissions. Therefore, replacing the engine oil on time is one thing you should practice if you want your vehicle to pass the emissions test. Check your car owner’s manual if you are unsure of how often you should change your engine oil and always adhere to the instructions in it.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged or dirty air filter can cause high levels of hydrocarbon emissions, one reason your car might fail an emissions test. It is advisable to change the air filter once every twelve months or every 20,000kms. If you can’t remember the last time you changed it, it is better to do it before you take your car to the emissions inspection.
Leaking or Loose Gas Cap
One of the tests that are conducted on vehicles during emissions inspections is checking for leakages on the gas caps. Besides causing loss of fuel and reducing fuel efficiency, a loose gas cap can cause your car to fail an emission test.
Therefore, ensure that your car’s gas cap is always tight. If not, have it replaced with one that is working perfectly.
