my 1992 mercury grand marguis emissions test?

Question

it barely passed....HC ppm limit is 65 and the reading was 65!
the guy at the shop said to start using a gas treatment called "BG 55K" My question is should I use this treatment or is this guy trying to make money off me? Also, more importantly, is it safe for the car? My friends dad told us never to use fuel injector that you pour with your gas, because it's actually bad for the car!
Thanks!!

Answer 1

There are many things that can cause your car to fail the emissions part of the emissions inspection. Some as simple as very dirty oil.

Emissions 101:

HC = Hydrocarbons. Unburned fuel. Fuel that went into the engine, and right back out again. Never got lit up.
Causes-
Vacuum leak
Ignition timing,
Failing fuel pump, restricted fuel filter, failed fuel pressure regulator.
Fuel injector (rare)
Oxygen sensor failure
Engine temperature out of range
...and more.

CO = Carbon Monoxide, fuel that actually began to burn, but the fire went out before the burn was complete.
Causes-
Dirty air filter
Fuel pressure regulator failure
Oxygen sensor failure
Coolant temperature failure
Thermostat stuck open
Dribbling fuel injector
...and more

NOx = Oxides of Nitrogen, result of nitrogen and oxygen combined with great pressure (engine compression) and sustained cylinder temperatures greater than about 2500° F.
There are several strategies for dealing with NOx, such as computed control of ignition timing, cam timing, and EGR valves installed to introduce exhaust gas into the chambers. The exhaust gas has virtually no oxygen or fuel, so it contributes nothing to the process, in effect reducing the efficiency of the engine, and this reduces the temperatures generated.

In addition to these control strategies for all three pollutants, cars today are equipped with catalytic converters that further reduce the harmful emissions from HC, CO & NOx to H2O, and CO2.

If you barely failed the HC, look to the things listed as contributors of HC, such as possibly an oxygen sensor, or restricted fuel flow, or even a vacuum leak.

NOTE ------> There are VERY FEW chemical answers for a mechanical issue for your car. Adding chemicals to your oil or fuel is a fundamental waste of money.
All of the fuel and lubricant detergents and conditioners are already in the products you buy. If there is a failure, adding MORE of what it already has isn't going to help anything but the product manufacturer's bottom line.
It is much better that you spend a bit of money, find a REPUTABLE and LICENSED emissions test and repair facility and pay for the diagnostics, and then if you are unable to perform the repairs, have the shop do it.
Two things will result -
1) Your fuel economy will benefit and emissions will go down (a good thing).
20 Your car will be over-all more dependable and cost less to drive.

Good Luck

Answer 2

a little gas treatment can help you pass a test. it depends on what they're testing, but if you add something to help oxygenate the fuel, then it will burn that fuel much better.

but that's not fixing any mechanical problems you might have. especially if that 92's on it's original emissions equipment.

Answer 3

i don't understand why your mechanic would have you treat the gas, most probs with the emissions usually require tinkering w/ the carburetor/ fuel pump/ othr related things. (i think)