Denatured Alcohol: Passed IL Emissions
 

My only mod is a downpipe. Illinois has a dyno type test and you only get 3 chances (I don't know exactly what happens after 3). I failed my 1st test. Then I put an aftermarket cat on the car and took it back and failed again (apparently not enought cat). I took it to a garage and they couldn't find anything wrong so they quoted me $4,800 to install factory pre and main cat (bite me!). So I bit the bullet, bought a gallon of denatured alcohol at the Hardware store, and reluctantly poured it into 1/2 tank of gas. Passed with flying colors!!!!!! I felt like that guy on the "I lowered my cholestorol" commercial. My biggest worry was damaging the engine. It didn't really run much differently and I topped the tank off immediately and kept topping it off everytime it was down 1/4 tank for a couple times.

wow, good story...btw...i live in chicago too! maybe ill have to try your trick, although mine should pass okay

-Dan

how long ago did you do this? you haven't had any probs? it allways worries me hearing about people pouring things in thier tanks. one guy said he put touline or is it toulien in his tank as an octane booster. how many mile do you have on the engine?

All it will do is dry up any seal it comes into contact with. Not a lot mind you, but some.

I used a gallon of this to pass my last emissions test with no problems :)

It might be true that in general alcohols dry out rubber, but there are a few things to remember....

1 - Many gasolines have alcohol in their gas in the winter months so it can't be THAT bad for you to do it once in higher concentration for an emissions test.

2 - The rubbers used in the gas lines and injector O-rings are probably designed to be "extra resistant" to bad stuff in general.

3 - Any time I take my injectors out, I replace the O rings... Since I'm always tinkering with my fuel system, I tend to throw away fuel lines and make new ones that route a different way or connect in a new way... so those don't tend to get really old on my car anyhow.

I put 2 gallons in to pass CA smog about a year ago, engine still runs strong no sign of leaky fuel system.

Damn. I'm due up this month. I might just do that off the bat. If you only had a DP and didn't get it, I'm screwed. :D

Wow, I poured alchohol in my old chevy's gastank to get it to pass.... I dread the thought of puting it in a rotary. Good thing they got rid of emissions testing for us last year :D

GShaffer & Jedon <- Did it lower you NOx? Can you look if you get a chance. I am like .01 & .25 on the other stuff, just need to lower my NOx.

What is the penalty in IL if you are caught?

Here are my before and after numbers with a streetport.
before:
HC (PPM):
Measured 146 @ 15mph, Allowed 88
Measured 83 @ 15mph, Allowed 53

After:

1. A few weeks after my first test my air pump seized and took out my belt, so I bought a used one.
2. changed the spark plugs
3. changed the oil
4. 2 gallons of denatured alcohol into 5 gallons of gas
I think 4 was the clencher.
New numbers:
HC (PPM):
Measured 25 @ 15mph, Allowed 88
Measured 16 @ 15mph, Allowed 53
So I went from 146 to 25 and from 83 to 16 !!!!!

I cant't find what my before NO was buy my after was 255, the max allowed was 804

But for the bonus question..

How different does alcohol (I guess Methanol in particular) burn? I thought it had much less available energy per volume than gasoline. At least the folks that run 100% methanol seem to run about twice the volume of fuel. 2 galons in 5 seems like a lot, so where's danger zone before you start really leaning out the mixture? Or am I missing something.

Just wondering.. I just failed MD emissions and will head back this week with a healthy dose in the tank.

I only did this a couple of weeks ago. My car has 110K on it, but I'm not sure if it is the original engine. Where is that tag anyway? I have had most of the accesories off the motor and have never seen the number tag. I flunked across the board the first time, so the alcohol cleaned everything up.

I ran 1 gallon from Sears in about 1/4 tank of 93 octane and my car passed great (failed the first time). I would fill up with 93 straight after the test to dilute it and then run with little/no boost on that tank until you clear it all outta there.

Brian

Keep in mind the tank has a drain plug.

Really?? Where exactly?

KYLE! I haven't checked out this post since I put it up, but you are my hero!!!! I'm referring to the picture. I'm a 35 year old (dirty old man). Hope you don't mind. She's freaking HOT!!!!!!