How does emissions testing work

Designed to control exhaust and pollutants, the emission system can reduce the harmful gasses that escape into the air. But to perform this vital function, it has to be operating properly. Like other vehicle systems — such as the battery and the brakes — the emission system sustains wear-and-tear with every mile you drive.

So, beyond its role in the emissions test, this visual once-over can help keep you running cleanly and efficiently by catching a small problem before it becomes a major one. Those are the only two outcomes of an emissions test. If you pass, great! But what if your vehicle fails? But when you visit Jiffy Lube for your emissions test, you can rely on a trained technician to explain where and what the problem is and how to correct it. Rest assured, no work will be done on your vehicle without your approval.

With more than 2, locations across North America , a Jiffy Lube service center is likely nearby, ready to perform the vehicle maintenance that will help keep your vehicle operating as engineered. Emissions testing is a necessary evil, and 31 states require it as part of vehicle ownership. These tests are used to determine what, if any, carbon or chemical emissions your car is making as it runs. Every vehicle is manufactured with a number of federal emissions standards in mind, but after years of wear and tear, not every vehicle is going to pass these tests every time.

This is where you might run into problems, as I did. Different engines give off different emissions. In most areas, vehicles are only allowed to produce a certain type and a certain amount before they are considered unfit to drive. In years past, cars were tested with the use of a dynamometer, essentially a vehicle treadmill, before the testing equipment was hooked up to your tailpipe. In , the testing procedure was changed.

Now, technicians only had to hook up a diagnostic device to an onboard diagnostic port and voila, they could measure the emissions without all the fuss. A visual inspection was also required. After all, if black smoke is belching out of your tailpipe without surcease, you might have an emissions problem. Come to think of it, you might have other mechanical problems too. What do tests ensure? Lab tests measure CO2 emissions from passenger cars and vans. The EU has set the most challenging targets for reducing vehicle CO2 emissions in the world.

Read More. Pollutants Why are pollutants tested? Pollutant emissions, such as oxides of nitrogen NOx and particles mass, PM and number, PN , impact the quality of the air we all breathe. There are two types of particles that are measured against ambient air quality limits: PM2. What are the sources of pollutants?

Road transport is not the only contributor to air pollution. Other sources include the burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes and solvent use, agriculture, waste treatment, and natural pollutant emissions.