Help with passing a smog check – Fuel Additives? (desperation setting in…) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RunningTooHot · #1 08-02-2002, 03:02 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions regarding any type of additive that will help a *marginal* car pass a smog check? I remember something about mixing in some methanol or ethanol, but I don’t know which one (if either). There are plenty of off-the-shelf additives at the parts stores, but has anyone had any luck with any of them? Luck – meaning that your car did not pass the test, then you used ‘brand X’, which then helped it to pass. (NOT a situation where you used a product “just in case” & the car passed – in that scenario you don’t know whether or not the product actually made any difference!)

I’m really in a bind with the old 5 liter – she’s just plain worn out; I put some valve guide seals on her just to help stem the tide of oil being sucked past the intake valve guides under high manifold vacuum conditions. Everything else is O.K. – ignition, fuel injection, etc. She’s just plain old tired; pretty much worn out and on the last lap. Make that the last corner of the last lap.

Any suggestions other than a re-build (at least not yet) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks Everyone!

RTH

Jim Anderson · #2 08-02-2002, 04:14 PM

There's a process called "de-carbonzing" that cleans up carboned piston rings and reduces oil usage, do a search.

#3 08-02-2002, 06:47 PM

The kind of "additive" that you need is to have your engine and your catalyst really warmed up before the test. Take the car for a quik spin (keep the rpm in the medium range) and then take it for a test. That should let a marginal car pass. If it still does not, then your car has a problem that needs to be fixed and no additive in this world will cure that.

Zaxbenz · #4 08-02-2002, 10:29 PM

Trade it for a diesel, and your woes will be over--

Ron Johnstone · #5 08-02-2002, 11:27 PM

There is a product called "Clean Power" that is absolutely amazing. My Porsche, after sitting for 8 months, would barely run. I put a shot of this into the tank and it was running like new within 5 miles. Clean Power Marketing, Sacramento, CA 916-927-0374 is the # on the old bottle that I have. Good luck!