How to Pass Emissions Testing

With the Earth's temperature on the rise, it has become more and more important for people to do everything they can to curb their pollution habits. Cars are one of the leading causes of air pollution. Because of this, many cities and states have made emissions testing mandatory on any vehicle that's licensed to be on the road. There are several steps you can take to help pass an emissions test.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Schedule your emissions test to take place on a nice day. The mechanic will need to run your vehicle for a greater period of time if it's cold or raining. The engine oil, coolant and the catalytic converter will need extra time to get warm.
2. Test your battery to make sure it's in optimum working condition. If your battery's too weak, it can affect your fuel injector's performance and alter the outcome of your emissions test.
3. Change your car's oil before scheduling an emissions test. If your oil is dirty, your car will create more harmful emissions.
4. Fill your tank with premium gasoline. While it may cost a few cents more, premium gas is cleaner and more environmentally friendly.
5. Circle the block for 20 minutes before parking in the mechanic's garage. This will give your vehicle plenty of time to warm up and burn off any emissions you don't want registered during the test.

Tips & Warnings

• There are numerous simple steps you can take to ensure that your vehicle is running efficiently. The more efficiently your car runs, the more likely you'll pass the emissions test. Check to make sure that your tires are inflated properly and your gas filters are clean. That way, you'll get better gas mileage and cut down on the amount of fuel that's needlessly burned by your engine.
• When a mechanic is performing emissions testing on your vehicle, make sure that he mounts the correct wheels on the testing rollers. If your car is front-wheel drive, he'll need to put the front wheels on the rollers.
• See that the mechanic adjusts the settings on his dynamometer before testing your vehicle's emissions. There are different settings for different makes and models of cars. The wrong dynamometer setting can produce significantly different results.
• Make sure to remove your parking break before a mechanic attempts to test your emissions.
• Watch the mechanic conducting your test. Make sure that he applies the gas and breaks evenly during the test, as sudden accelerations can skew results and make it less likely that you'll pass the test.