Passing the Test (How to Prevent Emissions Test Failure)

Vehicle emission testing has become ubiquitous in North America and for a good reason. Clean air quality is important for the environment and all of us. Since vehicle emissions are among the main causes of air pollution, emission testing can alert you to problems in your vehicle than can be fixed so it won’t needlessly pollute.

Emissions tests are looking for certain toxic gases internal combustion engines produce, such as nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, non-methane organic gases and formaldehyde. Emissions control systems reduce these gases if they are working properly.

The best way to minimize pollution is to keep those vehicle systems working properly, and periodic inspection and maintenance is the key. So if you want to make sure your vehicle will pass an emissions test, it helps to know what might go wrong.

Let’s start on the easy one. Your gas cap could be loose, allowing vapors to escape into the atmosphere. The most common solution is to replace it. Or your air filter may be dirty. A dirty air filter may push your hydrocarbons pass the acceptable level.

Now to the more complicated things. The mixture of fuel and air in your engine may be tilted toward the “too much fuel” side. That could cause problems for your vehicle’s catalytic converter, a device that converts toxic gases from your exhaust into less toxic pollutants.

Your vehicle has a closed system that prevents fuel tank vapors from escaping into the air; it’s called the EVAP system. A technician can track down problems.

Vehicle engineers have gone to great lengths to minimize the amount of pollution your vehicle produces. Your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends how frequently those systems need servicing. Keep those systems in good shape and you’re likely to pass emissions tests with flying colors. Neglect them and you might find your vehicle failing an emissions test. When that happens, you’ll have to get the problems repaired before you can get back on the road.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

Rubber Match (Tire Replacement)

A set of new tires isn’t probably high on anyone’s list of exciting purchases. But since your life is literally riding on them, it’s probably a good idea to know when it’s time for you to buy new ones.

If you’ve been feeling your vehicle slipping more in wet weather or it takes a longer distance to stop, those are a couple of signs you may need new rubber all around. Here’s how to make your decision.

First thing to do is look at your tires. The surface of the tire that contacts the road is the tread. When that tire was new, the tread was deep (the grooves in the rubber that provide traction). If they’re starting to look somewhat smooth, you have a seriously worn tire that definitely needs replacing. Bring your vehicle in for us to look at your tires and we can check your tread with a tread gauge.

Also look at the sides of your tires. If they have cuts or cracks in them, or if you see signs of bulges or scrapes made by hitting curbs or potholes, those could be signs of serious damage.

Keep an eye on your tire pressure monitors. If you notice one or more of your tires showing frequent pressure changes, that needs to be checked out.

One other thing you probably didn’t know is that your tires all have birthdays, and they’re printed on each sidewall. When you bring your vehicle in for us to inspect your tires, we can tell you how old they are. That’s important because rubber deteriorates with age, even if they don’t have that many miles on them. Tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires when they reach a certain age, usually from six to ten years old.

Now the question is, which tires should you buy? That’s one for your service adviser who can recommend replacements based on your driving style, the model of vehicle you own, where you drive most often, and other factors.

Oh, and if you want your new set of tires to last as long as possible, remember to have them rotated regularly, keep the right pressure, and don’t drive aggressively.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

No Fountain of Youth (Aging Tires)

Can you think of anyone who enjoys aging? Wrinkles where you don’t want them, gray hair, eyes that won’t focus any more, no stamina.

Believe it or not, your tires age, too, and they don’t get better the older they get. And here’s the important thing to know, even if they can still pass a tread depth test, they may simply be too old to be safe

Here’s the best way to understand this. Have you ever found an old deck of playing cards with a rubber band wrapped around them? Try stretching the rubber band. SNAP! It’s all cracked and brittle. And you haven’t stressed that rubber one bit since the time you put them in that drawer.

Now you know what’s happening to your tires. Rubber ages. Just like us, the day we come into the world, we start to go downhill (no pun intended). Oh, engineers are able to make a tire last longer than ever before. But that gas that keeps us alive—oxygen—seems to love to chemically mix with some components in rubber. Oxidation causes rubber to become hard and brittle. The rubber band test.

Is there an age test that can tell you when a tire is tool old to roll? Well, not really. They don’t all age the same. Hot climates can make tires wear out more quickly. Some experts say a tire can last up to 10 years but should be inspected every year after the age of five. Others say tires should have an expiration date at six years old.

Since no one would ever ask a tire its age, how do you know how old one is? Believe it or not, tires made after the year 2000 have a date code stamped on either the inside or the outside of the sidewall. It’s a four-digit numbers; the first two tell you the week, the second two tell you the year. So if it has the number 1916, it was made in the 21^st week of 2016.

Another way to find out if your tires still have enough life in them is to have your vehicle service facility inspect them. They look for signs of age, such as developing cracks in the rubber, the condition of the sidewalls and, of course, that old standby: tread. If it’s time to “retire” them, discuss options with your service advisor.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com