Club G40 Forum

Club G40 => General Car Chat => Topic started by: superchargedpolo on May 20, 2009, 04:41:48 PM

Title: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: superchargedpolo on May 20, 2009, 04:41:48 PM
I removed my cat from a J-reg G40 and it passed it's emissions without a problem.

What about a K-reg car?  My understanding is that the regulations changed on the date of first reg for a K plate car.  Has anyone got one of these to pass it's MOT without a Cat fitted?

In other words, can I fit my PSD manifold and full stainless system and still pass the MOT on a post Aug-92 car.

Cheers
Craig
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: jscmk3 on May 20, 2009, 04:53:49 PM
I'd be interested in knowing the MOT rules on this too. Although as far as i'm aware, vehicles registered after August '92 have to physically have a cat fitted, regardless of emmisions.
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: samg40 on May 20, 2009, 04:59:40 PM
Well I passed an MOT in March without a cat on a K reg car. I may have just been lucky but they never mentioned it and just put it through as a non cat test.

Apparently the mechanic I used to use said the MOT centre he took it to used to put it through as a non cat test because G40 wasnt on the system so they had to put it through a generic non cat test. Whether one tester would be aware of the rules more than another I have no idea but I've got a ticket for another year so I'm happy!
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: scotsjohn on May 20, 2009, 09:18:31 PM
Same here; no problems. Since almost nobody knows about G's though, you can get a lot of leeway especially as a well maintained G will run very clean.
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: DMWG40 on May 20, 2009, 11:57:33 PM
my co was 0.55 % today
my hc was 48ppm

i have a no cat car,
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: Alexiskayak_7 on May 21, 2009, 05:31:15 PM
What's the emmisions limits in England?
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: djtez on May 21, 2009, 06:32:22 PM
i know in scotland which im sure must be close to englands mot laws

but its 1.5% maximum co emmisions on a post aug 1992

and 3.0% co emmisions on a pre 92

Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: Alexiskayak_7 on May 21, 2009, 06:44:12 PM
What about hydrocarbon limits?
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: djtez on May 21, 2009, 07:03:14 PM
i cant guarantee but 250ppm comes to mind ?

maby thats a bit high but thats wat i can remember

i can double check tommorow at work as i work in an mot station
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: superchargedpolo on May 21, 2009, 08:22:58 PM
Interesting stuff.

My J-reg G40, that had the cat removed, had the following emissions in it's last MOT:
0.71% CO
181 ppm HC
It passed without a problem.

I guess my K-reg car will be similar to the above and these will hopefully fall within the post Aug 92 bracket.

Only one way to find out ;)

Craig
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: superchargedpolo on September 28, 2009, 10:34:37 PM
UPDATE.

Not sure if anyone cares but I MOTed the car today and it actually failed on emissions.
So technically speaking a K-reg G40 will need a CAT to pass.  No surprise there I guess.

Anyway. On a more positive note the car was looking mint and after a 5 min chat with the MOT tester the fail turned into a pass.  What a top chap.  It'll be going there next year.

Cheers
Craig
Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: neil_dubgt on September 28, 2009, 10:56:37 PM
Cheers for that!

i always wondered when i had my GT (k plate) if it would pass without a Cat, never had it long enough to find out.


Think its always going to be one of those grey area's..You have a MOT with no cat just from a chat with the tester!

Depends on the station i rekon
Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: G4O LP on September 29, 2009, 08:33:04 AM
Its not even the station its the tester mine past no cat one year and failed at the same station 1 year later on the emissions because of the de cat
Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: G40supercharged on September 29, 2009, 08:43:42 AM
When they introduced the cat emissions on 1st Aug 1992 there were still a lot of unsold pre cat cars around. The rules were relaxed to allow these to be sold; if the car was built more than 6 months prior to 1st Aug 1992 then it is covered by the non cat test. Most 1992 G40s were built early 1991 (my K reg G40 was built a month or two after my H reg G40) so technically they should qualify (even though they had cats and are perfectly capable of passing the cat test). I'm not sure how you go about persuading the MOT guy though, as it all comes up automatically from the VOSA computer now. I think the same thing applies if you build a kit car; emissions goes on original engine date.
Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: PeteG40 on September 29, 2009, 08:55:42 AM
the grey area is - most non-cats will pass the early cat test.   So as long as it actually passes the emissions test, its down to the tester's discretion to pass if it hasn't got a cat.  As far as I know they should technically fail it as it should have a cat, but many dont as it passes the emissions tests.

Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: hayesey on September 29, 2009, 09:26:34 AM
it's made even more complicated with an engine conversion where there is no proof of the age of the car the engine came out of, it seems in this case with the new computerised tests, you just do a really basic emissions test.  When mine was last done my tester did an old MGB after it and he said that had to pass a stricter gas test than mine did!
Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: Jezza-7 on September 29, 2009, 01:59:38 PM
My other 1.6 polo i have went for its MOT yesterday and passed on the exhausts emissions, without a CAT but failed on the CO2 emissions. I told the fella after i didnt have a CAT and he laughed saying, oh it passed the exhaust test! I thought it was a bit weird.
Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: PeteG40 on September 29, 2009, 02:10:04 PM
Quote from: hayesey on September 29, 2009, 09:26:34 AM
it's made even more complicated with an engine conversion where there is no proof of the age of the car the engine came out of, it seems in this case with the new computerised tests, you just do a really basic emissions test.  When mine was last done my tester did an old MGB after it and he said that had to pass a stricter gas test than mine did!

its only done on the age of the engine when you can prove to the tester the age of it.  Therefore if you put a 1991 engine in a 2000 car, it will be tested under 2000 regs for the car, unless you can prove its from a 1991.
Title: Re: Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: scotsjohn on September 30, 2009, 08:10:44 PM
Quote from: superchargedpolo on September 28, 2009, 10:34:37 PM
UPDATE.

Not sure if anyone cares but I MOTed the car today and it actually failed on emissions.
So technically speaking a K-reg G40 will need a CAT to pass.  No surprise there I guess.

Anyway. On a more positive note the car was looking mint and after a 5 min chat with the MOT tester the fail turned into a pass.  What a top chap.  It'll be going there next year.

Cheers
Craig

What sort of figures did you achieve there Craig? I put mine in on the 18th and got 0.82%
on CO with a 3.5 max and 178ppm on the HC with a 1200 max. No cat.
Title: Re: UPDATED - Emissions on a post Aug-92 (K-reg) car?
Post by: superchargedpolo on September 30, 2009, 09:52:25 PM
I didn't actually ask to see the numbers themself.  There were a few people milling about the garage at the time, so I was just pleased to get a pass and get out of there.  Didn't fancy spending the best part of a day taking the PSD manifold and stainless system off to put the standard one back on again. Phew.

Craig