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The little secret to passing the anti-pollution inspection with technical inspection with flying colors

All vehicles in circulation must pass technical inspection periodically to ensure their compliance with safety and polluting emissions standards. Among all the checks carried out, there is one that is particularly feared by drivers: the anti-pollution check. But there is a simple trick to pass this technical inspection test without problem, especially for diesels.

What is technical inspection?

The technical inspection (CT) is a compulsory inspection for all vehicles, to be carried out 4 years after purchase then every 2 years (or even every year for very old or specific-use vehicles). Many points are checked:

  • Exterior: bumpers, fenders, etc. must not show any damage that could compromise safety in the event of an impact
  • Interior: checking seat belts, child restraint systems if applicable
  • Lighting and signaling
  • Tires
  • Pendant lights
  • And of course, polluting emissions for thermal vehicles
  • Focus on anti-pollution control

    Also called opacity test, the control of polluting emissions aims to verify that the vehicle does not exceed the authorized thresholds for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The procedure is as follows:

  • Technicians insert a probe into the exhaust pipe
  • The engine must be warm, in good mechanical condition, with no engine fault warning light on.
  • Radio, headlights and other energy consumers turned off
  • Accelerate from neutral from idle speed to injection cut-off speed
  • Only CO2 is measured at the moment, but a second analysis of nitrogen oxides (NOx) could soon be added.

    The trick to passing the pollution test

    If regular maintenance of the vehicle is essential, a little trick allows you to put all the chances on your side, particularly for diesels:

    Before going to the technical inspection center, drive for 15 to 20 minutes using low gears and higher engine speeds than usual, around 4000 rpm for example.

    This will have the effect of injecting more fuel into the cylinders and therefore burning more particles, the latter often being responsible for a failure of the anti-pollution control.

    Additives, a complementary solution

    In addition to this driving tip, you can use a special pre-technical inspection additive. Poured into the tank, this product cleans the injectors. You then have to travel around 80 km to see the effects:

  • Better engine performance
  • More stable idling, an important point for technical inspection
  • Reduced fuel consumption
  • Simple and effective, these tips will allow you to approach the technical inspection opacity test with complete peace of mind. Combined with conscientious maintenance of your vehicle throughout the year, they will guarantee you pass this test with flying colors.

    SRQ Backlot