# Reduced performance after emissions test. 1988 Chevrolet Nova

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/reduced-performance-after-emissions-test-1988-chevrolet-nova/200695>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, emissions\
**Created:** [June 16, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reduced-performance-after-emissions-test-1988-chevrolet-nova/200695 "2025-06-16T22:58:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reduced-performance-after-emissions-test-1988-chevrolet-nova/200695/41 "2025-08-05T21:07:55Z")

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@PaddyOFurniture

If I may ask . . .

What state are you in?

Because what you’re describing is NOT standard smog inspection procedure in my state

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**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reduced-performance-after-emissions-test-1988-chevrolet-nova/200695/42 "2025-08-06T21:09:29Z")

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The test site must have changed the timing. God knows why. They shouldn’t have though. I would not go back there. Go somewhere else next time.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reduced-performance-after-emissions-test-1988-chevrolet-nova/200695/43 "2025-08-07T15:25:00Z")

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Wasn’t retarding the timing used by manufacturers in the ‘70s to reduce pollution? Messed up performance and mpgs, of course.

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**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reduced-performance-after-emissions-test-1988-chevrolet-nova/200695/44 "2025-08-07T15:39:16Z")

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I was just reading up on early emission controls and that indeed is what they did. Seemed counterintuitive but it delayed the ignition so that there was more volume to surface area when the fuel burned.

High surface areas meant more quenching (cooling) which meant more unburned fuel

It also heated up the exhaust manifold which allowed the air pumps to further reduce emissions.

[Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reduced-performance-after-emissions-test-1988-chevrolet-nova/200695.md?page=2)