1992 Regal didn't pass emissions

My 3.1L didn't pass emissions standards today. Went to auto zone, they told me to clean the egr and the exhaust tube leading up to it as the NO2 emissions were too high. Is there any other proven things I can do to it to help it pass? I am cleaning it out today, but do those additives work. Anyone here ever have success with them? Any other methods that would work?

check pcv valve, 02 sensor, catalytic converter, info sensors, charcoal canister, fuel filler cap.....here are a few things that affect emissions. i'd try and check these all out.

I was told by AZ that it mostly had to do with the EGR as that is how most of the nitrogen oxide gets reduced by lowering the combustion temperatures. If it isn't working properly it won't open and allow the flow of exhaust back into the engine yada yada yada, all of which I'm sure you are familiar.
Is it hard to remove the plenum and if I do, can I then easily get to the egr ports and clean them if that is as far as I remove things?

Is there any good websites for the do it yourselfer?

I was told by AZ that it mostly had to do with the EGR as that is how most of the nitrogen oxide gets reduced by lowering the combustion temperatures. If it isn't working properly it won't open and allow the flow of exhaust back into the engine yada yada yada, all of which I'm sure you are familiar.
Is it hard to remove the plenum and if I do, can I then easily get to the egr ports and clean them if that is as far as I remove things?

Is there any good websites for the do it yourselfer?


The 3.1 EGR is a quick change out. Two bolts and one harness, located towards the right and rear on intake location. Don't bother cleaning the EGR just replace at 200.00 from Napa parts. How was your problem resolved?

by additive you mean like what i did to pass with my 88 lincoln that was off the charts??? well i waited till my car was out of gas and added some rubbing alcohol to the tank witha gallon or two and took my car there and passed. but if you have money you should just fix it. i was reall really poor then so yeah i did it i'm not proud but i did it. i hate the bus.

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In addition to the above comment by kronkonn, you can add "HEET" at a ratio of 4-bottles per 10 gal of gas and it will pass first time. Also use a regular bottle of Lucus injector cleaner with your gas to keep the injectors, O2 sensors and cat clean. The above combination makes your combustion process "hotter"!! :angryfire

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If you put a new egr on the car make sure you clean the passages in the intake plenum due to the fact that they will plug up with carbon and cause the egr not to work correctly. You can clean it by removing the plenum and using throttle body cleaner to clean the holes. A pistol cleaning brush on a rod works well too as it will loosen the particles and will allow them to be cleaned by the chemicals.