Many states require exhaust-gas emissions tests on all road vehicles. Your state’s emissions or car-inspection facilities will take a sample from your car’s tailpipe and run it through a computerized analysis. You car will “pass” or “fail” depending on the percentage of toxic emissions in your car’s sample.
The only real way to prepare your vehicle for the emission test is to take good care of your car and utilize preventative maintenance. If your car is out of tune or you tamper with your emissions system, you probably won’t pass.
The purpose of the emission-control system is just that — it controls the emissions and exhaust from your vehicle. The idea is to turn the harmful gases your engine manufactures into harmless ones that don’t ruin the environment — or us. Some of the problem gases are unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, phosphorus and lead.
Thanks to better, unleaded gasoline with additives, many of the harmful gases have already been eliminated. Although emissions-control systems vary between manufacturer and vehicle, all have the same goal and use many of the same methods in reducing a car’s emissions. The addition of computerized ignition systems allows the engine to monitor and adjust itself continuously.
The best news is that emission controls have reduced carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions by about 96 percent from pre-control vehicles. For peace of mind, we recommend that you take your car to an independent mechanic who can test for emissions prior to the official test and have it checked.
For more on emission-control tests, see www.autoshop-online.com.