The New Emissions Test

Chicagoland
Mopar Connection

Mo-Power Madness Napervill North High
School (Mill St. & Ogden Ave)

Hog's & Hemi's 2007 (Woodstock Harley Davidson)

By Dave Kanofsky
Posted: 09/26/1999

I just got back from taking the new emissions test. Formally known as IM240, it involves putting your car on a chassis dyno (a treadmill for cars, if you will) and run it while taking tailpipe emission samples from your vehicle. The procedure goes like this: You pull up and they ask you to shut off your vehicle and go wait in the windowed booth so you can observe the test. Then they check the gas cap as before, and on newer vehicles check the on board diagnostic system (this is not a fail criteria though). Then a certified operator drives your vehicle onto the dyno, they block in the non drive wheels, blow a large fan at the front of the vehicle (to provide ambient cooling air), and drive through a standard EPA driving cycle. Then they reunite you and your vehicle and give you the report. I had concerns that some yahoo might drive my vehicle into a wall or something, so brought my video camera with to tape the test to protect myself in the event of a mishap. it turns out that they video each lane during the tests. The test crew was very competent and courteous. They are also much more conscious about the amount of time you are there than they were before. This dyno test is only for cars 1981 and newer that are driven by 2 wheels (including AxA's as they can be driven by only two wheels). They also drive the vehicle into the station for the stationary emissions test for older and all wheel drive vehicles. The only potential problem is see for cars that go on the dyno is if you have very low ground clearance near the drive wheels (extra low front air dam on front drivers, traction bars or low hanging mufflers on rear drivers). Some legal hints to help you pass: Be sure your d-ri , ve tires are inflated to the recommended pressure (embossed on the side of the tire). If they are low it could cause your engine to work harder and your emissions to be worse. Run non sticky tires (D.O.T. slicks, BF Drag T/A's, or Mickey T's would be bad choices for use during the test). Weather conditions that could help: low humidity, high barometric pressure, moderate temperature (35 F to 70 deg. F). Be sure your vehicle is warmed up. lf you do a lot of city driving, take it out on the hi way and blow it out. Put a bottle or two of Heet in your fuel tank (because alcohol will burn but is not a hydrocarbon, thus possibly reducing your hydrocarbon emissions). Run a low to mid octane fuel for the test, high octane may not completely burn and increase your hydrocarbon emissions. Install a clean air filter. A good front end alignment on front drivers helps too.

Page last modified: 08/27/2001

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