How to Pass Emissions

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Motor vehicles are one of the chief polluters in our society today and many steps have been taken to reduce the carbon footprint of our vehicular usage. Because of this, numerous cities and states worldwide have implemented mandatory emissions testing to force adherence to government standards and regulations. If you have a vehicle of your own, you should learn how to pass emissions testing.

Steps

1. 1
   Maintain your vehicle on a regular basis. Perform regular oil changes when necessary. Replace your vehicle filters according to their recommended rate of replacement.

   
   

   • If you are a passive vehicle owner and only wait for your vehicle to show signs of failure before you get it checked out, you are unlikely to pass emissions testing. Many vehicles can continue operating well even though they've dipped under government regulations.
2. 2
   Schedule a vehicle inspection. Unless you are an automotive enthusiast, you probably don't know the intricacies of a motor vehicle. Get your car checked out by an emissions technician to catch anything that you might have missed or overlooked.
3. 3
   Make sure the check engine light is off. If your check engine light is on, you will fail the emissions test automatically. If you don't know what the problem is, an emissions repair shop can run a diagnostics test and fix the problem for you.
4. 4
   Inflate your tires. Proper tire pressure will put less strain on your car engine, which will improve your chances of passing the test.
5. 5
   Change your engine oil. If you haven't changed your oil in over 5,000 miles, this is almost a necessity. If you have changed your oil in the past 5,000 miles, it may still be a good idea to get it changed again.
6. 6
   Warm up your vehicle before testing. Drive your vehicle for at least 20 minutes before arriving at the emissions testing station. This will give your vehicle enough time to reach optimal temperatures for your coolant and oils as well as optimal pressure for your catalytic converter.

   
   

Tips

• Do not schedule an emissions test if your car is not functioning or driving properly. Cars that don't show any outward problems can still fail the emissions test so it's almost impossible for your car to pass the test if it has noticeable problems.
• Avoid wet weather on the day of your testing. Humidity and rain can affect the temperatures of your vehicle, causing it to run sub-optimally. It's possible to pass the test on a rainy day, but it will just be more difficult.
• Use additives in your fuel to help reduce emission levels. Additives are typically poured into the gas tank while refilling fuel at a station. They help to clean out your vehicle's internal system, allowing for more efficient usage of fuel and improving overall engine performance.

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