So what exactly are vehicle emissions? These are the gases that are released through a vehicle’s exhaust system. This includes everything from carbon monoxide to hydrocarbons, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates.
When a vehicle's engine is using fuel, the process produces a number of air polluting contaminants. You probably already know about carbon monoxide. There are others too, though, like metal particulates, soot, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides.
Essentially, smog testing is beneficial both to the environment and to the car. Not only does regular testing help make sure that damage done to the air quality is minimal, but also checks if the car is in need of any type of repair.
Did you know that the most common reason for a check engine light coming on is a faulty oxygen sensor? This means that it is not properly regulating the gas and air mixture coming from the car, ensuring a smog check failure.
While the tailpipe test is usually what most people are concerned with, the smog control devices must all be properly located and functioning according to state standards. If not, the test does not move forward.
How does smog develop in the air? Modern-day smog produced from internal combustion engines and industrial air pollution is formed when pollutant particles react with sunlight high up in the atmosphere – this reaction creates secondary pollutants that, in turn, result in smog.
