How to make a VW Bug pass emissions test

**Altis6453** · August 31st, 2007 12:36 PM

My brother recently purchased a 1972 VW Beetle. I know the engine is a little old and it may not pass emissions testing when the time comes to renew the registration. Is there any way to make this emissions compliant? (legally of course!) TIA!

**mazdamazda** · August 31st, 2007 12:42 PM

the new "classic beetles" being made in mexico before has catalytic converters installed.

**niky** · August 31st, 2007 01:35 PM

For old ones, you do the regular maintenance, tune-up, oil change, change spark plugs and wiring. Clean the carburator and make sure the jets are still okay.

Do a compression test to see if the cylinders are at least of comparable compression.

See if it'll pass emissions... if not, time to get a cat. Nodalo's sells locally packed catalytic converters.

**t2erns** · August 31st, 2007 02:07 PM

to pass the emission you must determine where it will be likely to fail, what i mean is dapat magpa exhaust analyzer ka muna to know which one is failing so you can address it beforehand. of course there's some tips like dapat mainit ang engine mo before taking the emission test

**Altis6453** · August 31st, 2007 03:32 PM

Just spoke to a guy from Nodalo's. They said that they don't recommend installing a catalytic converter on a VW Bug since it'll induce the engine to either overheat or stall. They do have an accredited emissions testing center and they said that the VW's normally pass the emissions standard set by the LTO. Just make sure the air filter and spark plugs are either clean or new.

**niky** · August 31st, 2007 05:35 PM

A car shouldn't overheat due to a catalytic converter placed in the exhaust... stall, maybe, if there's too much backpressure from the cat.

**mazdamazda** · August 31st, 2007 05:39 PM

I also don't get it... how can a properly built catalytic converter stall or overheat an engine?

Though if properly maintained, even vehicles w/o a cat converter can pass our country's basic emmission testing mechanism. Our 323 (w/o cat also) has no problems with it.

**lhandzs** · September 5th, 2007 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by t2erns

to pass the emission you must determine where it will be likely to fail, what i mean is dapat magpa exhaust analyzer ka muna to know which one is failing so you can address it beforehand. of course there's some tips like dapat mainit ang engine mo before taking the emission test

If you want a legal way, sangayon ako kay sir t2erns kaya konting dagdag na lang ng suggestion. Before taking your car in the emission testing center, complete tune up muna ng engine like palit ng spark plugs, linis distributor cap and rotor, contact point, filters, oil and adjust ng ignition timing kung kailangan.
Then the most important is while technician doing a test for your car ask him or hingi ng explanation kung bakit pass or failed. If failed get the result and show it to your mechanic.
If your car failed in HC (hydrocarbon) Any chemical compound made up of hydrogen and carbon. A major pollutant formed by the engine as a byproduct of combustion. Its possible you have a bad ignition system. In one words it is the "unburned fuel". But if your car failed in CO (carbon monoxide) A deadly, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas found in the engine exhaust. Toxic even in relatively small concentrations. Formed by incomplete burning of hydrocarbons. Thus at its greatest with a rich mixture. So its need adjustment of the carburetor. It is between the air fuel mixture and idle. The technician can adjust it for you just tell them that your mechanic do not have a gas analyser. Yun lang kasi ang madalas na dahilan bakit maraming sasakyan na pabalik balik at ilang beses na bumabagsak. Because the carburetor have an ideal ratio of 14.7:1 to meet the standard level of CO in emission. Gas analyser lang nakakakita nito. Good luck.

**niky** · September 5th, 2007 01:18 PM

*torque2006: I was just pointing out that if you feel the center is being dishonest in failing you, you can double-check at another.

*jundogg and kurt02: From what I've seen, your car can be as dirty as sin and still pass... so if your car actually fails, don't take a shortcut and bribe the testers... you should actually go into the engine and find out what's wrong.

Our Highlander (we use it as a delivery vehicle) just failed emissions. Did I order the driver to bribe the emissions center? No. I did maintenance on it, instead.

Turns out, some of the valves were damaged, as the adjustment was off (140,000 kms and poor maintenance by the first owner). If I'd waited too much longer to fix it, I could have broken pieces of valve all over the engine.

The work done was expensive (top overhaul), but it would have cost me twice as much down the line (as in, full overhaul) if I'd just said "meh" and paid off the emissions testers and walked away.

**OTEP** · September 5th, 2007 03:30 PM

Wasn't your VW built before emissions control became standard? Meaning it is a non-legislative vehicle (no emissions control systems on board). I'm not sure when emissions control became standard, in the U.S. I think it was 1966, but other parts of the world did not immediately follow suit.

We also have a non-legislative vehicle (1946) and non-appearance na lang sa emissions testing because even with everything set to factory specs, the chances of failing are still high. This is because there were really no set emissions standards during the time of the engine's manufacture.

Same case din with the vehicles of other members of the Vintage Car Club. I don't attend the meetings much but I think they are planning to take steps to exempt pre-emissions control/historic/vintage vehicles from emissions testing.