Emissions test - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Giller · 04-04-2015, 04:00 PM

Here in Ontario, Canada, we have a little thing called an e-test (emissions testing). Every two years you have to run your car through if it's between certain model years. As my ride just came out of storage, is there anything I need to do to help pass? The gas in it has been sitting since Nov (with a few drops of antigel). Thoughts or suggestions? Needs to pass before I can renew my sticker. Lousy January birthdays....

KRAM36 · 04-04-2015, 04:06 PM

Can you get your hands on some of this?

Guaranteed To Pass® Emissions Test Formula, 12 Fl Oz - Product Information

mikefocke · 04-04-2015, 05:32 PM

What do they do to test the car? Connect electronically or do an exhaust sniff?

Any check engine lights? Have you checked with an OBD2 code reader to see if there are any recent codes or even pending ones?

The typical suggestion is drive it a bit and deliver it to a place that will test it immediately...while warm.

Most of the miracle solvents are nothing but trouble.

KRAM36 · 04-04-2015, 06:33 PM

Curious Mike, how are they trouble?

I add 104 Octane Boost with complete fuel system cleaner every 3rd fill up and CRC complete fuel system cleaner every oil change and my car is a daily driver.

I want to keep my fuel system clean.

BoxsterSteve · 04-05-2015, 03:41 AM

Giller,
What mikefocke said.
Fill up with fresh fuel and drive it a bit to shake things out. If you take it in right away, it may not pass because emissions devices haven't cycled for months, and they need to signal to the DME that they are working.
You shouldn't have any major problem if you don't have a CEL lit up.
Since yours is newer than MY 2000, you will get an electronic scan. I still wouldn't change oil until afterward, though. Fresh oil is more volatile, and can cause a fail in some cases.
I had it happen years back with the previous summer car, and the guy at the test centre said it's not a common issue, but that I had to put some miles on and then do a re-test after the oil burned off a bit. Fresh stuff overworked the cats, he said.
A good 45 minute warm-up run should be enough.
Best of luck.

Giller · 04-05-2015, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxsterSteve

Giller,
What mikefocke said.
Fill up with fresh fuel and drive it a bit to shake things out. If you take it in right away, it may not pass because emissions devices haven't cycled for months, and they need to signal to the DME that they are working.
You shouldn't have any major problem if you don't have a CEL lit up.
Since yours is newer than MY 2000, you will get an electronic scan. I still wouldn't change oil until afterward, though. Fresh oil is more volatile, and can cause a fail in some cases.
I had it happen years back with the previous summer car, and the guy at the test centre said it's not a common issue, but that I had to put some miles on and then do a re-test after the oil burned off a bit. Fresh stuff overworked the cats, he said.
A good 45 minute warm-up run should be enough.
Best of luck.

I didn't realize it was an electronic test, always assumed it was tailpipe. So really, it's just about getting the computer reconditioned. I guess this is where it comes in handy to leave the battery in the car all winter so it doesn't reset the info, correct? So a good drive to shake it out should do it then. Cool.

BoxsterSteve · 04-05-2015, 04:20 AM

Yep,
The tailpipe/dyno test is for older cars. Can't say why the split is at this point.

healthservices · 04-05-2015, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxsterSteve

Yep,
The tailpipe/dyno test is for older cars. Can't say why the split is at this point.

Tailpipe test on older cars because OBD2 system is not universally installed in all cars as of yet and not all the info on all cars are accessible easily threw the port before that time on all cars

thstone · 04-05-2015, 10:22 AM

If your car is well maintained, you shouldn't have any problem passing an electronic only test. If the battery has been maintained all winter to avoid an ECU reset, then you are probably good to go.

amagalla · 04-08-2015, 04:51 PM

They will do both an ecu check, and a tail pipe sniffer check. Make sure you get the cat converter nice and hot. It works better hot. If disconnecting the battery has truly erased the ecu, then you'll want to drive it around for a week or two to uild up some historical info in the ecu (ask me how I know). If you fail, most places will let you do a retest for $10 after a few days. Good luck.

Tony