Passing an MOT

[JohnSW20]

Just got back from having the 97 4.2 MOT'd and it passed first time?????
They boiled the engine to the point it was blowing steam!!! I was told they had to do that Sir to make it pass the emission test is this the normal?????
The fast idle results are below he said he had to take it past 4500rpm to make it pass???

CO 0.085
HC 67
Lambda 1.007

The two guys had the biggest grins on their faces when they handed over the keys and gave me a discount because they loved the noise.

God I love this CAR

John

[Extra 300 Driver]

I can understand that you need the engine up to operating temperature but you should never have steam coming from anywhere, unless you have an airlock.

When the engine has cooled check the coolant level, top it up and keep an eye on it for the next few trips in the hot weather.

[Julian64]

Yep this happens to me at 3K. However I would rather pay the guy a lot of money rather than letting him sit at 4.5K in my car in neutral. Its about the most mechanically unsympathetic thing you can do to the cerb, apart from letting your wife drive it of course

That wouldn't pass an MOT anyway as above 4K you lose the lambda feedback and the car emissions would be a disaster.

Technically its only a short stretch for your MOT guys as running the car at 4.5K to past the fast idle test is illegal anyway.

[Extra 300 Driver]

Hang on......you both have steam coming from under the bonnet?

[njw 77]

I dont :toucheswood:

[Mark Adams]

The emission standards for cat equipped cars have changed for 2002 onwards, but before that they all have to pass a Basic Emission Test (BET) standard test.

BET limits are >0.02%CO, >200 ppm HC, 0.997-1.1 Lambda

If the car fails this limit, then it goes on to a vehicle-specific full cat test. One of my friends (MOT Tester) gave me the figures, which apply to all TVRs (Tuscan, Tamora, T350, Griff, Chim, etc)

Cerbies and other AJP lumps:
Idle 900-1000RPM 0.5%CO
Fast Idle 2500-3000RPM 0.3%CO >200ppmHC, 0.9-1.2 Lambda
Oil temp >85 C

Griff/Chim:
Idle <900RPM 0.5%CO
Fast Idle 2500-3000RPM 0.3%CO >200ppmHC, 0.9-1.2 Lambda
Oil temp >80

Excessive idle speed = fail!

They are talking about two years until webcams in MOT stations!

TVRs used to get out on the fact they weren't listed in the tester's handbook, so reverted to the non-cat standard (>3.5% CO, >1200ppm HC). Sadly they are all in there now...

>> Edited by Mark Adams on Tuesday 21st June 14:15

>> Edited by Mark Adams on Tuesday 21st June 14:16

[Extra 300 Driver]

How do you check the oil temp on a Cerbera?

[Mark Adams]

They are supposed to bung a probe down the dipstick hole, but I've never seen it happen.

I guess it would really be an issue if you got a fail, which might be due to the engine not being warmed up properly.

[JohnSW20]

HI All
And thank you for the feed back, the engine was up to speed at 90 degrees C, I only think it boiled over because yesterday was one of the hottest days of the year so far and having the front end two feet from a wall and reving the nuts of it. I'm starting to think these guys just like the sound of it in garage.

Cheers

John