Exhaust gas analysis

A quick health check of the engine management system can be done by carrying out an analysis of the exhaust gasses using an exhaust gas analyser.

Exhaust gas analysis provides useful information about the engine’s operating conditions as well as the efficiency of the catalyst. It is therefore an essential aid to fault diagnosis.

An exhaust gas analyser is a mandatory item for UK MOT stations and should be regarded as essential equipment for any modern vehicle repair workshop.

Measuring the exhaust gas components is a very quick and simple, non intrusive test. To use exhaust gas analysis effectively however, it is first necessary to understand the composition and typical quantities of the gasses. The four main gasses are:

• Carbon Monoxide - CO. Measured as %.
• Carbon Dioxide - CO2. Measured as %.
• Hydrocarbons - HC. Measured in parts per million - ppm
• Oxygen - O2. Measured as %.

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