Emissions Missions - high on all counts

Yes, it's in the screenshot a page back.

I don't think it's overfuelling, as the lambda is too high.  I believe a small, short exhaust small system with an air leak will do this, apparently.

Got round to taking the exhaust manifold off.

Found evidence of a blow around the gasket area which was evidenced by two things - one, lots of carbon all over the heat shield in the affected area, and two - when I was undoing it, the bolts on that area were easily removed (well the studs - the bolts are seized on to them).

Checked the manifold with a straight edge and theres a small amount of warpage I think - as seen below.

It's generally only on the very ends, so mostly clear of the ports.



The blow was on the turbo side (upper on the photo) so I am assuming that it can't affect much or it would have been blowing from the other side too?

No signs of cracks or damage to the manifold otherwise.






I've ordered a new set of studs and gaskets (with heat shield), but I'm torn on whether it's worth a new manifold.  It isn't going to be the cheapest if I do order one, and I'm not sure if the gasket will be happy to take up the small amount of deflection I can see - or if it would actually affect the sealing.

I'm expecting the blow is what will have caused the emissions to be loopy though.  


Funny thing is that it doesn't look recent and I've not done that many miles in it over the last year or so (only between 1 or 2 thousand) so it's either come from nowhere or the previous MOT had a more lenient tester.

I'm aware I left this hanging, so here was the update


Firstly, I contacted a Smart-sized technician.  He insisted that he stay in the boot for most of the job, or at least that's what I interpreted from the incoherent noises he made, and especially when he tried to eat a spanner.




Anyway, I ended up buying a new manifold.  I wasn't convinced by what looked like fractures around the exhaust/wastegate side of the turbo on the manifold, so swapped it out.  As mentioned, I already had bought an O2 sensor and manifold/stud kit.  



I also decided to go all out and stick a new exhaust system on it with new cat.  Nothing exciting, though.



And, whilst I was there, I replaced all the actuator hoses with new braided ones.  I did the actuator in 2019, but kept what looked like the original 18 year old hoses on.






It then sat in the mrs' nan's garage for a few months whilst I dealt with some stuff.

I ended up taking it out and it went for an MOT - ended up needing a washer pump, which has inexplicably failed whilst sat around doing nothing.  Only a £10 job though.  


I don't know if the emissions stuff was anything to do with the new bits, or whether it was a different tester.  The one I ended up taking it to was into his cars and wasn't an old grump, so I have my doubts as to whether the first place was getting it nice and hot enough.  Seems to be pretty common for them to struggle on emissions because the margins are so slim on a 2.5 foot exhaust system.

Nice result although I'm assuming the parts required weren't that cheap.....

Just for future info if the cats are metallic cored and are sooted up from oil burning you can get fairly good improvements by flushing thro with a mix of hot water and washing machine detergent

£300 is remarkable value...... I was expecting way more than that