What Causes Excessive Exhaust Emissions?

[DavidLee]

Vehicle aging and other factors. Detailed explanations for excessive exhaust emissions are as follows: Vehicle aging: If the vehicle's mileage exceeds 450,000 kilometers or has been in use for more than 15 years, various components of the car will show significant aging, poor contact, poor sealing, insufficient pressure, and other phenomena. Engine malfunction: The engine may experience issues such as cylinder misfiring, spark plug oil leakage, or oil mixing. When the throttle is increased, the engine does not run smoothly and powerfully. Oxygen sensor damage: In engines using a three-way catalytic converter to reduce exhaust pollution, the oxygen sensor is an essential component. It detects the oxygen concentration in the exhaust and sends feedback signals to the ECU. The ECU then adjusts the fuel injector's fuel quantity to control the air-fuel ratio of the mixture near the theoretical value, ensuring more complete fuel combustion.

[OFinn]

Last time my friend also failed the annual inspection due to excessive exhaust emissions, and it took a lot of effort to fix. Here are the main issues we learned: Poor fuel quality is the worst—small gas stations have impurities in their fuel, leading to incomplete combustion; a dirty air filter, clogged like a rag, disrupts the air-fuel mixture ratio; weak spark from worn-out spark plugs causes incomplete burning, making the exhaust smell bad; carbon buildup on the oxygen sensor confuses the ECU on how to adjust fuel injection; and the most troublesome is a failed catalytic converter—it’s expensive, but it’s the key component for treating exhaust. Oh, and air leaks in older cars can also cause excessive emissions, so it’s worth checking the cylinder head gasket or valve seals.

[Phil]

Excessive exhaust emissions depend on what's wrong with the car. If it's emitting black smoke, it's most likely due to leaking fuel injectors or a severely clogged air filter, meaning too much fuel and too little air. Blue smoke indicates oil burning, suggesting it's time to replace the piston rings or valve guides. White smoke with a gasoline smell means unburned fuel, pointing to issues with the ignition coil or spark plugs. China VI vehicles are more sensitive; even a 5% deviation in sensor data can cause a failure. I once repaired a car that failed emissions just because the fuel tank cap's seal was worn out, allowing fuel vapor to escape. It's recommended to first use a diagnostic tool to read the fault codes—it's much more effective than guessing.

[NoahRose]

Twenty years of car repair experience summarized: 70% of the cases are due to clogged catalytic converters, caused by carbon deposits from low-quality fuel and oil burning. Faulty oxygen sensors can trick the ECU into injecting more fuel, directly doubling the CO levels in the exhaust. As for those who tune the ECU for more power, messing up the air-fuel ratio is the easiest way to exceed emission standards. Regularly revving the engine to clear carbon deposits helps, and don’t forget to clean the throttle body during maintenance. Before the annual inspection, fill up with two tanks of 95-octane fuel and spend a hundred bucks at a specialized shop for exhaust pre-treatment—chances are, you’ll pass.

[LaCorbin]

Excessive exhaust emissions are not a one-sided issue. The fuel system is critical; clogged fuel injectors lead to poor atomization, and a faulty carbon canister purge valve allows gasoline vapors to escape unchecked. Intake manifold leaks and a stuck EGR valve can also cause problems. Heavy engine carbon buildup is like clogged blood vessels in a person—combustion chamber temperatures fail to rise, leading to a surge in pollutants. The most extreme case I've seen involved an oxygen sensor harness melted by the exhaust pipe, causing a 30% data drift. Those modifying their exhaust systems should be especially cautious—straight-pipe headers will inevitably exceed emissions standards.