Emissions and ...., gas quality Options

[MarkG]

My '76 has been in shop for 5 weeks now trying to meet colorado springs emission requirements........

Shop can get it to pass requirements for out-lying areas (Colorado does not have a State wide universal standard) but not for the metro area - say it passes at shop but by the time he drives to emission station it fails by just a hair. Entire fuel injection system has been replaced with NEW stuff including a new CHT and all new vacuum hoses. Has a new CAT converter and passed California specs 2 years ago (and then sat until I got it this summer).

Gas in car is at least a year plus old, and I added a bottle of Lucas FI cleaner and a bottle of HEET for winter.

Question: is it possible that the deteriorated fuel quality and added additives could have a negative affect on tail pipe emissions? i.e. fresh gas and try again?

My only other options: Move; wait until 2007 when Colorado drops all emission testing or sell it.........

[ArtechnikA]

QUOTE (MarkG @ Feb 23 2005, 06:53 PM)

...it passes at shop but by the time he drives to emission station it fails by just a hair. Question: is it possible that the deteriorated fuel quality and added additives could have a negative affect on tail pipe emissions? i.e. fresh gas and try again?

it *should* be better if it is hotter (i.e. - after the drive...)

stale gas is bad news.

what is it failing on -- HC? CO? NOx?

if it's CO, run on the lowest octane fresh gas that will keep it from pinging. high octane gas burns too slow for complete combustion, especially at altitude.