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Is there any way to lower HCs? I mean in emissions. I just had to get my other car inspected and it failed. It was at like 270 and the passing was 220. I passed the CO ok, tho. Maybe cleaning the air filter and changing the spark plugs? Can anyone think of anything else I might be able to do instead of spending money at some service station?

For those who don't know HCs represent a lean fuel mixture, i.e. too much fuel is not being burned in your shitty inefficient engine.

 
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no need for that!

Slip them a 20 and they'll give you the

 
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What's your other car?

First step, I'd try running a bottle of Techron in the gas for one tankful. Then, when you show up for emissions...make sure the car is running as hot as can be.

 
Rep Power: 348

yeah, heat will help. I've been thinking of changing the thermostat because I belive it's stuck in the open possiton. I'm going to get a 195 from NAPA and see if that helps.

 
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...could probably help more if I knew what type of car it was.

 
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It's an 88 Celica GT with the 3S-FE engine.

 
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Well, if you replace the thermostat get another 180 degree one. If the engine runs too hot you'll risk getting predetonation. Also, you might want to clean the carbon buildup in your EGR passages.

 
Rep Power: 348

Actually, I think I'm just going to take it to a local shop and tell them to do some work on it NOT TO EXCEED $160!!!! The reason why is because if I have a receipt for over $150 in repairs by a certified place I can get a waiver for my emissions test. Just some more money to toss down that damn money pit! Whomever said that when you buy a used car you inherit another mans problems was dead on!

 
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have you checked the plug gap lately? can contribute to inefficient fuel burning...

-AND- usually its running FAT, not LEAN... (lean = less fuel/more air) to make more hc's... try leaning out the mix

edit: brain wheels are a turning

what oil do you run in it now? you can try a straight weight oil to lessen the oil burning, which will also help bring hcs down (if your burning a lil bit o' oil)

 
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FAT? Never heard that before...do you mean RICH?

 
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yeah same thing, fat is more domestic car slang...

 
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This problem is so obvious and so easy to fix..it's caused by a rich fuel mixture by the way....get your injectors vacuum cleaned and change your plugs..

Your injectors are probably streaming gas into the cylinder instead of misting it in...shouldn't cost you more than $75-80

 
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Weird...grew up with domestics and their online boards...never heard it before.

 
Rep Power: 348

Werd! I'm going out of town for a month so I'm going to worry about it when I get back. I'm going to have a shop work on it so incase it fails again I can get a waiver. I'm going to do the plugs, thermostat, and have the injectors cleaned. I'll tell them to mix in some misc. shiit so it adds up to over 150 and they sign my piece of paper stating they did the job and all that crap.

Oh, and I did mean running rich but I just typed wrong. you know how that goes. I was going to do the job myself because I didn't know about the waiver but then I read the paper they gave me and decided to have someone do it. Thanx for the input!