Fat FTO

[CJ]

Rather than go off topic on the 'Dying for more power' topic, I thought that I'd mention that my FTO is a bit on the overweight side. Last NCT in 2003, it was 1230Kg which is 40kg over the quoted weight of a GPX tip (1190kg).
I was shocked to see that the FTO had gained more pounds at yeserdays NCT, it was weighing in at 1250kg, a massive 60kg over spec. I can imagine that strut braces, bigger alloys, a couple of amps, a sub and a few rolls of sound deadening material will add on a bit of weight but 60 bleedin' kilos?! Has anyone ever tried mixing Slimfast in with the engine oil?

CJ

[Muad_dib77]

Jesux 60kgs..that's a lot...

Was anybody in the car when they weighed it?

[CJ]

Was anybody in the car when they weighed it?

Good point, not sure at what stage the car gets weighed.

CJ

[Viper]

Maybe it was full of petrol?

[CJ]

Maybe it was full of petrol?

There was about a quarter of a tank so approx 15L, whats that 10Kgs or so?

CJ

[Muad_dib77]

Maybe it was full of petrol?

There was about a quarter of a tank so approx 15L, whats that 10Kgs or so?

CJ

The density of pterol depends on the temeprature of the stuff. As a rule of thumb 1l is approx 1kg afaik. (same applies to milk and water)

[pergau]

Try filling the tyres with Helium.

[CJ]

Try filling the tyres with Helium.

Pergau, is your name MfFTO all of a sudden? Hold on, I think not, you'd expect something a bit more humerous from the resident prank monkey

CJ

[Muad_dib77]

Perhaps the car was mucky underneath? Muck weight more thatn one thinks.

Also did you have the spare in the car? Spares weigh a fair bit.

Thicker mats?

Did you still have the sticker on your spoiler at the time of the nct?

To further reduced weight you couldt create a vacuum on the cabin of the car while it's on the scales (or you could apply the before mentioned helium here as well).


Just as a followup on the density of petrol...Petrol is actually lighter than water...

Here's a couple of links on the subject:

http://www.simetric.co.uk/si_liquids.htm

http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_much_more_ ... f_gasoline

[mark]

That is interesting as my Gr weighed in at 1294 kg the other day in Fonthill. When I had it done last time it weighed in at 1207 kg with standard alloys which are very light. I have changed the alloys since which are a lot heavier but look nice ! and it has been lowered with Apex springs and had 3/4 of a tank of fuel. The guy who was testing it probably weighed in at 15 stone. I should have asked him...

Anyway the w@nkers failed me on emissions (.73 instead of .3)engine temp @85 C so i'm a bit pissed as they got me through last time. Anyone know what i should do or who I should go to to get the emissions turned down ?

Also, I put in some fuel injector cleaner into the tank the day before so i'm wondering if this had an effect on outcome. Cheers.

[mark]

Ok, this could get nasty. Please don't hate me for this CJ !
The last time that you did an NCT you put your results up on the forum and I printed them off to compare with mine. Anyway, I've just found your results from 03 and the weight of the GPX comes in at 1307 kgs. This should sort out a few weight problems. Could be that extra sound proofing etc God I feel like an FTO stalker.
Anyway, about my emissions!

[CJ]

I've just found your results from 03 and the weight of the GPX comes in at 1307 kgs

You're right of course Mark, I dunno why I had a figure of 1230Kgs in my head Now I'm really confused, I've thrown a load of ICE and bitchumen based sound proofing in there since and now the car weighs 57Kgs lighter It appears that the weight figure that appears on your NCT report can't be trusted!

As regards emmisions, I'd leave the injector cleaner out of there for a start, drive the bejaysus out of the car on the way up to the test as well. If it fails again then your cat or lambda sensor could be on the way out. At that stage you'd want to be taking the cat off to see if the matrix is damaged, if so then get a loan of a cat for the next test. Do an oil change before the test, IIRC oil thats been knocking around the engine for a while can lead to higher emmisions (although I can't remember why...)

CJ

[mark]

Cheers CJ, your'e right about the weight, seems to be a fair bit of inconsistancy with NCT these days. It's a major money making scam if you ask me. I've seen the book that they test cars against and it's about half as thick as a phone directory ! I actually did do an oil change just before it so I must have a look at the cat or that injector cleaner even though it's running sooo well now.

[Muad_dib77]

Can they fail you on weight??

[Myfeckin FTO]

Can they fail you on weight??

Only at weightwatchers!

[Ivan E]

Just a note on that Mark, my GR did the NCT over the last few weeks and I had about the same readings as you. There was also a cut on the front tyre so that needed to be replaced. But on closer inspection my mechanic noticed that there was a pin hole in the exhaust that seeming lead to higher emissions.

He normally uses a cleaner as well to get them down but I got a reading of 0.66. The exhaunst was repaired and the car put through again, this time with a reading of 0.15. So might be worth a look there.

[Viper]

Same for me last year as well... just plugged up the hole and flew through on the second attempt...

[paulkenny]

Mine failed it last week for the same reason except my reading was 4% ..will probably need a new cat still need to drop the car over to Paul Nolan to get it checked out ..anyone got any idea how much a new cat is or where it can be got? ..doesn't seem to be any on camskill.

[CJ]

anyone got any idea how much a new cat is or where it can be got? ..doesn't seem to be any on camskill.

Pm steelroe or RiceRocketUk, they may be able to get you a second hand one. Alternatively, get yuourself a cat bypass pipe and borrow another owners cat (assuming they're also using a bypass) when it comes to NCT time.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

anyone got any idea how much a new cat is or where it can be got? ..doesn't seem to be any on camskill.

...get yuourself a cat bypass pipe and borrow another owners cat (assuming they're also using a bypass) when it comes to NCT time.

CJ

Better option than buying one - though I have seen some good value high flowing cats for sale in the UK. I have my Cat all wrapped up in the shed for NCT time - using a decat rest of the time. Its one way to make the cat last longer
You will only realistically be able to use a decat on a performance exhaust though - I wouldn't leave one on a standard exhaust for long.

[mark]

Cheers guys, must have a closer look at the chimney.