Fiesta mk4 1.25 CO levels a little high?

[RJP001]

Hi people,

The Ford Fiesta passed the MOT today, but the emissions on the print out look to be near the limit in terms of CO. It's the 1.25 engine.

The readings are as follows:
CO is 0.20 and max is 0.20
HC is 36 and max is 200
Lambda is 0.999 and min is 0.97 while max is 1.03

So as you can see the CO is on the limit. I don't know if this is to be expected of one of these cars at 13 years of age with about 90k on the clock?

If this is running a little rich, it would explain why the car appeared to be doing somewhat poorer in the mpg (35 on motorway as opposed to around 40 it used to do). What am I likely to be looking at to bring the CO back in line to what should be expected?

If it's any supporting evidence, the spark plugs looked mildly fouled up when I checked them after the MOT. I have since fitted a new set as I the plugs I took out were the ones in the car back when I purchased it, so have no idea how long they've been fitted.

Is it possible that it is the PCV causing this?

Thanks!

Edited by RJP001 on Monday 6th August 23:59

[Steve_D]

Can we assume the air filter has also not been changed since you bought the car?

I suspect a thourgh service is all the car needs.

Steve

[RJP001]

The air filter was changed when I got the car.

In the old invoices and receipts it had a new coil pack about three or four years back, as well as exhaust lambda.

I changed the engine oil and filter also when I got the car several months ago, and the gearbox oil was changed when I did the clutch.

[ringram]

Cat might just be getting a bit Ill.
Go for a jolly thrash in it to heat it up. Lots of short trips probably dont help it.
Could have lost efficiency.

[RJP001]

I'm just bringing this topic back up again. On a 255 mile round trip the car returned 40mpg at a constant 60mph on the A1 the other day. I have read people getting 50mpg at this speed? Or am I being optimistic in what the car can achieve and it is probably running reasonably okay? (even if it does start to die and hunt initially when cold?)

[HustleRussell]

Is your temperature gauge behaving correctly?

[RJP001]

Appears so - it sits in the middle after having driven a couple of miles.

[RJP001]

Just thought to update this - found that the backbox baffles had failed and seems to have been causing a restriction as since the exhaust was changed it drives better and mpg is right up where it ought to be.