could a leak from the headers cause low idle emissions to double what is allowed in the state of delaware? 220 is allowed mine was 456

 

A header leak before the o2 sensors is going to make the computer think it is running lean on that side. Then it will try to compensate on that side by richening the mixture to correct. It will increase emissions not only at idle, but other areas. It is not good for MPG also.

 

What component of emissions is 456..... CO, HC or NOx? Without that info, its impossible to answer your question accurately.

 

Must be HC's....456 Nx is not that high and CO is measued in percent (ie. more than 1% is high. 456 HC's is too high however.

 

it was teh HC(PPM) on the low side the max allowed was 220 and it was 456.. all other emissions passed..

 

How close was the CO to the pass/fail limit? How close was the NOx to the pass/fail limit?

Running rich would cause high HC and high CO. Leaking injector(s) would cause only HC to be high. Faulty cat might cause all three to be high.

 

umm the
hc's Low 456 allowed 220,
hc high 178 allowed 220
co low 1.19 allowed 1.20
co high 1.18 allowed 1.20

these were the only emissions that they took. so the only one that failed was the hc low with alittle more then double the allowed. which confuses me. I have no clue why it would almost double the allowed, but nothing else be failing

 

Sounds like its running rich. This can be caused by a "false" lean condition... leading causes are misfires and exhaust leaks before the O2 sensors, as noted in the first response to your post.

 

i thought that cold be contributing to the problems the other thing. i was wondering about is i hear a ticking noise like from where the rockers are. a mechanic said its sounds tired lol i just had to laugh. because im pretty sure its a loose rocker.. i had the covers off about a month ago and realized alot of the rockers had alot of play side to side in them. I am bringing this up because someone said a lifter could be floating out due to this and causing this too.

 

Makes me happy AZ just checks your computer.