MOT Emissions Fail

[belldarr]

I recently bought a Ford Explorer as a bit of a project after the previous owner had Sorn'd it 2 years ago, it's a 2000 model 4008cc V6 Auto and only done 52,000 miles so it's had an easy life so far.  I stuck it in to a local place for an MOT to see what need's doing and they failed it on the Emissions at fast idle,  natural idle it passed but the 2 fast idle tests failed.  How can I reduce these emissions? bearing in mind that the car has done no miles in the past 2 years and then went straight to the MOT.  Is there any petrol additives I could use?

Any help is much appreciated.

Regards

Darren

[KW]

The first thing I'd be doing to any vehicle that has been stood for that amount of time is a basic engine service (oil & filters) at the very least.

[Squealey]

Did you give it an 'Italian' tune up just to blow out the cobwebs?

[Del Boy]

Did you give it an 'Italian' tune up just to blow out the cobwebs?

I agree with the above, also do as KW says, take it for a drive and give it some welly. If police pull you over say you're taking it to the MOT station.

[belldarr]

Thanks KW - I did look at the oil and it was as new, It had a major service at 51K but that was almost 3 years ago now, I have replaced all 4 brake discs as they had surface rust, new pads and rear shoes, bled new fluid through the braking system and have replaced all 4 tyres as well as one had cracked on the side wall.

I just need to fix these emissions......

Darren

[belldarr]

Did you give it an 'Italian' tune up just to blow out the cobwebs?

No it hasn't had the right foot treatment lol - new brakes all round bedding in etc etc Plus I didn't want to attract any attention as I have insured the car but it is still SORN and no MOT.....yet, re-test is on Monday.

Regards

Darren

[KW]

Thanks KW - I did look at the oil and it was as new,

It might look new, but it's been standing for 2 years and it will have degraded (as the tyres did).

Basic engine service followed by giving it a work out on the motorway, then see what the score is.

[Kevin Wood]

If you can post up all the figures from the emission result sheet it might help identify the problem. Agreed that you need to get a few miles on it if possible, though.

If it's got old petrol in it, try and drain the tank then brim it with fresh, as well.

Kevin

[belldarr]

Thanks Kevin, Figures as requested from the readout:

FAST IDLE TEST
               Min Lim  Max Limit       Actual    Pass/Fail
RPM -        2500       3000          2585        PASS
CO             .......       0.300         0.007       PASS
HC             .......        200                 0        PASS
LAMBDA     0.970     1.030          1.068      FAIL

SECOND FAST IDLE TEST
                Min Lim  Max Limit       Actual    Pass/Fail
RPM -        2500       3000          2605        PASS
CO             .......       0.300         0.005       PASS
HC             .......        200                 1        PASS
LAMBDA     0.970     1.030          1.063      FAIL

Hopefully that all makes sense, will a good run bring that Lamda reading down?

Thanks for all the help so far.

[waspy]

Did you give it an 'Italian' tune up just to blow out the cobwebs?

I agree with the above, also do as KW says, take it for a drive and give it some welly. If police pull you over say you're taking it to the MOT station.

You don't have to break any speed limlits to give some welly, just leave it a low gear & give it some. Make sure the engine's nice & hot first