Hello and an Emissions Issue!

[kenf]

Just got a beater subaru again after oh, I dont know, 30 years. Its a 92 Loyale, 170K. Im impressed by the power this and the power that, hell of a lot nicer to drive (although not as fast)than my last beater, an 85 Prelude.

 

The issue is two fold: Mechanic tells me that the valve covers are leaking, oil pan gaskets, oil pump gaskets etc, although you dont see much drip. Think its worht it to change this stuff out over the Alaska summer.??

 

Second issue is that it fails hydrocarbon test at idle, and it does idle a bit rough. First time tested 1080 (750 pass), second time 1230. Took it over to a Sub analyst who cleaned injector, retimed it (it was way off), checked this valve and that valve and this module and that module. Plugs and wires are fairly new as is cap. Coil is old.EGR is good. Oxy snesor works. Oil change is fresh. Seems to idle better, but he thinks cat is shot. Reason being is that he cant get it to consistely blow hydrocarbon... it ranges sometimes in the 500s, sometimes 1200s. Now this car sat in the winter without running with no gas from about October 04 to last week, I have it filled with fresh gas and seafoam. It runs like a top and has nice pickup, although there is a bit of dieseling at certain rpms if the gas isnt punched hard

 

It also shows a bit of oil in the "intake?"

 

I just need this to pass Emissions....mechanic thinks sooner or later Ill get lucky and it will be blowing light hydros on one of the tests (no pass, no pay) which I can do often...what about running it hard until the tank is empty, filling with premium and octane booster and some of that "Guaranteed to Pass" chemical...think that may work?

Any other suggestions?

[SuBrat84]

my uncle says put four cap fulls of rubbing alcohol to 1/2 tank of gas = pass emissions

I haven't tested this theory though.. so i dunno.

[edrach]

If you haven't done it yet, replace the air filter. I think running it hard for two tankfulls of gas will help a lot. Also check for a good connection on the O2 sensor.

[kenf]

Got a summer waiver for it so I can drive till it passes...

 

The air filter looked pretty clean...worth it to change anyway

 

The mechanic told me the o2 sensor is OK

 

Should I run it hard on premium?

[85Sub4WD]

change the O2 sensor anyway - they do not throw a trouble code unless they are COMPLETELY shot (open or to ground) - they are relatively cheap too

 

I would run it on premium - not hard (past 5k rpms), but at constant highway speed for at least 200mi with either Techron fuel additive (little black bottle) or CRC's Guranteed to Pass in the tank - both have worked for me in the past

 

change the air filter anyway - just to be safe

[kenf]

OK gonna take it for a highway trip tonight, then drive it tomorrow and see what the carbons are....

[kenf]

Ran it for 50 miles, still seems to be idling rough....also now thats its properly timed seems to be "diesleing" or knocking at some speeds

[torxxx]

Kenf where at in alaska are you. I'm in Fairbanks. If you are here, I'd be glad to take a look at your car and see if I can get it to pass for you. I havent found a subaru yet that I havent been able to IM.

 

If you arent in town, heres what you can do. Run it down to a 1/8th of a tank. Fill up with 5 bottles of heet. The Metyl Alcohol Kind.. not sure on what color the bottle is, but I'm positive on the Metyl Alcohol (same principal as running methanol - burning it creates lil or no carbon)

 

While you are sitting outside waiting for the car to get pulled into the IM shop, Rev the piss out of the engine. Get that catylitic converter as hot as possible. This will help in reburning which means cleaner exhaust output

 

As far as the oil leaks, if it dont leak a quart or two every tank of gas, dont fix it.. Subarus leak oil... My buddy with a 92 loyale with 40k miles on it drives his car maybe 3 or 4 times a week and he has to add 5 quarts of oil a week... I bet what is leaking is the cam case o-ring and the cam cover seals. Nothing major

 

The oil in the intake is caused by crankcase blowby. replace the PCV lines running from the cam covers to the air intake boot (they build up oil and gunk) and then get some throttle body cleaner and spray down the intake to get all that oil residue off.

 

and you say "lthough there is a bit of dieseling at certain rpms if the gas isnt punched hard" sounds like the valves are rattling side to side?

That would be the engine pinging.. retard the timing some. turn the disty counterclockwise a lil bit and drive it.. see if it still does it.

 

Not to be an *********************, but I think your mechanic needs to learn a few things about subarus....

[kenf]

Hey im in anchorage...i had run it over to AAA subaru which has a good or bad rep depending on who you talk to..

 

Now if we retard the timing, wont that cause more emissions? So I should eat the valve pings for now and retard after IM right?

 

The oil leak is mostly under the oil pan...no drips in the driveway

 

Gonna try IMing on Sat with the heat trick...now how about that rough idle?

[kenf]

OK here is an update:

 

1. Cleaned out the air intake, cleaned out the PCV hoses and Ts, found a crack in one, replaced it.

 

2. Changed PCV valve (it was nasty)

 

3. Changed out the autolite plugs to new NGKs ($2.88 per),gapped at .40.

 

4, New fuel filter

 

5. New air cleaner

 

6. Ran a tank of Chevron premium, added sone techron.

 

Took it to IM today with a 1/8 tank left, dumped in 3 bottles of Heat, jumped up and down on bumper to mix, revved engin, drove it in and blew Hydros of 236 at 832 rpm....limit is 750 so the little freak passed with flying colours...

[ShawnW]

Cool, thats a pretty good trick. Congrats!