FAILED on emissions

[Advanture Magazine]

Just had my ITV (MOT) in Spain and failed the emissions test. Not quite sure where to start with this, other than visiting a garage. But what would they start with? Any and all advice is greatly welcome.

1990 1.6 JX
246k km / 152k miles
Just did oil and air service

Many thanks

[Aidan]

What were the results and what are the standards that apply in Spain.

Over here emmission testing for old diesels has actually become subjectively less stringent but in Spain it maybe more stringent than when the vehicles were new.

Knowing what the results are will help determine likely causes

[davidoft1]

Drive it very hard for and hour, get the engine as hot as possible, take it back for re test

[ZsZ]

I assume they measure smoke opacity on near full throttle or just releasing from full throttle. They do it like this here and also in Germany, so I assume it is EU standard measurement.

As I wrote on FB:
Temporary solution would be turning out the full load screw on the injetcion pump in quarter increments until you cannot see smoke on full throttle and turn back to previous position after ITV.
More permanent fix would be having the injectors and the injection pump tested and calibrated by a diesel shop and set the timing to around 1mm piston movement at TDC. In this case it might worth to do a compression test too to see how worn your engine is.