Rubbing Alcohol To Pass Smog

[onslow]

Hi-

Myths or Truth?

I have heard that adding about 1 1/2 oz. of rubbing alcohol/gallon will help in smog test. Also, it was suggested that the wastegate rod be disconnected before testing.

Can alcohol reduce O2, HC, and NOX emissions and, if so, will adding it damage O2 sensor?

How would disconnecting the wastegate rod help pass the test? Is this the rod under the front of the turbo?

Thanks.

Steve

[MSDGN]

I use Denatured Alcohol...not Rubbing...does it work...who knows?...but I haven't failed yet using it...so I figure it can't hurt...

[the wrath]

thats the s--t right there

[mybuick]

taking off the wastegate rod will not let the turbo boost and not comanding more fuel. just dont get on it going to the test. and if you have any aftermarket gauges disable them and cover them, the kids like to watch the gauges rather than looking at the test screen.

[Underboost]

Originally Posted by MSDGN

I use Denatured Alcohol...not Rubbing...does it work...who knows?...but I haven't failed yet using it...so I figure it can't hurt...

So you add Alky to your tank. How much? What does it do?

[ijames]

Alcohols (rubbing, methanol, ethanol, denatured, etc.) will not hurt the O2 sensor. The driver shouldn't make boost during the test anyway, so in theory taking off the rod won't make a difference. However, some around here like driving in digital mode, stomp gas until going too fast, then lift completely until too slow, then repeat :-). In that case taking off the rod may help some, but may not help enough. That's why I like to have the laptop with DirectScan (or Turbolink) recording (set DS to 4 frames/sec or slower so it will get the entire test) while the car is on the dyno, and I tell them all about how it is recording all the sensors, including the tps, so I can tell if they are doing an acceptable job of driving so if I fail I can show their boss. I also tell them before they turn the key on to mash the gas pedal a few times, then to rev it up once or twice in neutral, so they can get the feel of the car - I want the smoothest test I can get.

Will alcohol lower emissions? Maybe, especially if you are running too rich. How much to add? Dunno.

[BadAssGN]

One thing you guys should know... Alcohol is corrossive, Make sure you add alky to a very low tank of fuel, like under a 1/4 I added a whole gallon and I got through a test without a Cat (hollow) you must go fill your tank right away, because the alky will corrode your fuel system, might not hurt anything but probably would if you left a high concentration in your tank during winter storage.....

p.s. run some boost with your alky gas mixture and see how well it works...

[bison]

I wouldnt use rubbing alky unless it was nearly 100% alky. The stuff you buy at a store is a max of 91%. The other 9% is water . From my experiences with methanol, it will lower the CO if you can get the block learn out of its correction window. Basically it will stay at 150 when out of its correction window. Then the correction is maxed out and anything further you do to lean it out will work. If you fail on HC you may have other issues. It will take a lot more than the amount that was suggested to you. You will need 20-30%. Dont forget that most gas in the USA has up to 10% ethanol already. Our fuel systems are very resistant to corrosion from alky.

[Boy Buick85]

So what if you run a half of a tank, and a gallon of Xylene will it work the same ??????

[BLACK6PACK]

Pep boys carries a product called G2P- Guarunteed to Pass. Its a few bucks for a bottle. Never failed using this stuff.

[Race Lutz]

The first thing you need to do to pass emissions is to change the oil. You will have a large collection of burned gasoline and oil by-products in the motor oil. So, that's the first thing you do.

Next, make darn sure all your filters are in really good shape. That's air and oil filters, both.

Next, make sure your ignition system, including the wires and spark plugs are good.

Get the gasoline low in your tank and make sure it is good gasoline. Then, add to your tank, the off the counter stuff from Pep Boys. (Forgot the name.)

To make sure you can use some gasoline moisture remover to your tank. I use "HEET."

The three things that will cause the most problems are: Spark plugs, motor oil and filters.

Good luck!

[Boy Buick85]

Well on mine every thing looked good except the Nox (SINCE I HAVE NO CAT ) So will the g2p stuff do the same as the alky or what ?????

[Boy Buick85]

i really appreciate all the help guys

[its turbo time]

two bottle of heet or iso-heet will work. when i did emmissions on my 85 with "heet" he said my car ran cleaner than the modern cars.

[Boy Buick85]

And this will fix my NOX ??? even with not CAT

[Boy Buick85]

"no cat" excuse me

[Pablo]

your NOX is high because you either have a faulty or inoperative AIR system, or timing that is too far advanced. NOX is formed by extreme temperatures which AIR and retarded timing work to reduce.

a cat would probably produce more nox

[Boy Buick85]

So what would help me pass?? an emissions chip??? the timeing thing is something i have no experiance with??

[turbojd]

What chi[ are you running now? does it disable the egr? if so get an emissions chip burned for your size injectors. My NoX's were high on my GN when I had a hollow cat, I put a new cat on and passed with flying colors.

[hboost]

Could I pull this stunt with no cat, and no Egr system?

[Boy Buick85]

I have a turbo tweak chip NOT sure if EGR is disabled, and No Cat. REALLY TRYING NOT TO HAVE TO BUY ONE . I passed everything but the NOX

[turbojd]

The egr is disabled with the turbo tweak chips, when I ordered my turbo tweak chip I had Eric burn me an emissions chip. It is doubtful that you will get your GN to pass emissions with the egr disabled and no cat. See if you can borrow a cat converter from somebody to pass emissions if you don't want to buy a new cat.

[MrMNTTA]

I don't know the emission testing procedures you guys have to deal with, but I do know that ethanol reduces tailpipe emissions significantly. If you aren't set up for it, I wouldn't suggest going above a 20% ethanol blend. Also, especially in higher horsepower levels, if you aren't tuned for higher ethanol concentrations, I wouldn't go WOT with it. However, if you tune for it, you'll reap the benefits! Don't forget to make sure your fuel system is compatible with ethanol, and you'll be good to go!

[olds443]

See my post below titled "Legalizing the Hybrid". I used alcohol and it may have helped. I posted the test results as well.

[topfuel]

Originally Posted by Boy Buick85

I have a turbo tweak chip NOT sure if EGR is disabled, and No Cat. REALLY TRYING NOT TO HAVE TO BUY ONE . I passed everything but the NOX

EGR reduces Nox by cooling the combustion chamber tempuratures.
You probably won't pass with no EGR and no cat...

[TrboHead]

It truly works but you have to use the right stuff.

2 gallons of Denatured Alchy from Home Depot/Lowes to an empty tank will pass with flying colors. All measurements will be at least half of what they usually are. This is my way of sticking it to the man every year. I mean you will have the inspection guy wondering what the heck as it flashes pass on the screen. I've been doing this for the past 10 years or so with a hollowed out cat. I ran it through last week and it was helerious because the car would barely stay idling, surging back and forth. It will run like crap but will still pass so who cares...

After you put the Alchy in you will need to crank the fuel pressure up all the way to 75-90 or change your injector size in your program to a smaller injector so it will dump more fuel in. It takes twice as much alchy to burn as it does for gas so that is why you will need to fatten it up somewhat.

After it passes just run all the Alchy out and replace with 3 gallons of gas and run that dry also. Alchy is corrosive so I prefer to run it dry a few times before I add a full tank.

Forget anything else. 1 gallon would probably do it but It's fun to watch there faces as it passes.

[MrMNTTA]

Originally Posted by TrboHead

It truly works but you have to use the right stuff.

2 gallons of Denatured Alchy from Home Depot/Lowes to an empty tank will pass with flying colors. All measurements will be at least half of what they usually are. This is my way of sticking it to the man every year. I mean you will have the inspection guy wondering what the heck as it flashes pass on the screen. I've been doing this for the past 10 years or so with a hollowed out cat. I ran it through last week and it was helerious because the car would barely stay idling, surging back and forth. It will run like crap but will still pass so who cares...

After you put the Alchy in you will need to crank the fuel pressure up all the way to 75-90 or change your injector size in your program to a smaller injector so it will dump more fuel in. It takes twice as much alchy to burn as it does for gas so that is why you will need to fatten it up somewhat.

After it passes just run all the Alchy out and replace with 3 gallons of gas and run that dry also. Alchy is corrosive so I prefer to run it dry a few times before I add a full tank.

Forget anything else. 1 gallon would probably do it but It's fun to watch there faces as it passes.

I agree with most of what you're saying.......but I really don't believe it takes twice as much alky compared to gas. But yes, I hear you, if you're tuned for gasoline, you will be running lean on alky. (as I noted above, don't go WOT)

It would be fun to see their faces!!

[the wrath]

trbohead is 100% right about the denatured alky i do the same thing to my car i have a old 87 g body cutlass that would never pass i put in 2 gallons of denatured and about 3 gallons of gas the tank would be almost empty i would do this around the corner from the emissions place it would go thru and the wheels wouldnt even spin on the dyno and it would say fast pass and i have been doing this for the last 5 yrs

[olds443]

Is this where it would say "... your actual results may vary..."?
I added 2 gallons denatured to 7 gallons 91 oct. I actually turned the fuel psi down to about 35 due to high blms previous to any changes. My car ran fine and still pulled strong (no wot) idled well, etc. with a Turbo Tweak alky chip.

[TrboHead]

I would do the same thing right around the corner from the place. It works everytime. You guys buying chips dont waste your money. Do it once and be done.

[TurboP7]

True, alky and a HOT engine, drive it hard before you show up.

[chopped39]

at least we dont have to worry about this emissions stuff anymore in illinois.

[topfuel]

Originally Posted by chopped39

at least we dont have to worry about this emissions stuff anymore in illinois.

Why is that?

[chopped39]

ILlinois dumped its im240 test as of feb 1 2007. so 1995 and older cars are exempt. unless you failed before dead line. then you have to do an idle test to be exempt. they are only going to be testing obd2 cars 1996 and up.

[Chrisk]

Originally Posted by chopped39

ILlinois dumped its im240 test as of feb 1 2007. so 1995 and older cars are exempt. unless you failed before dead line. then you have to do an idle test to be exempt. they are only going to be testing obd2 cars 1996 and up.

Where did you read this? This is great news. They suspended my plates on my TTA. Been driving around with plates from 1998 for years now.