CA Owners - Smog Results

nckwltn

Explorer
I'm having difficulty passing smog. I'm JUST passing on the 15 mph test, and am failing on the 25 mph test. The conspiracy theorist in me wants to think that CA is making it more and more difficult to pass smog, such that a well running vehicle that is a little older will slowly be squeezed out due to unobtainable emissions standards.

I thought it might be helpful to share actual SMOG results with other owners so that you can have an idea of how well you are doing or not doing in your SMOG pass attempts.

If you have your result sheet, send me the numbers or the copy of your report, put them in and I'll update the table on the first post of the thread.


Test DateUserVehicle YearMilesTest WeightTest Results
3/25/2017nckwltn1999/3.5L168,7965840
TestRPM%CO[SUB]2[/SUB]%O[SUB]2[/SUB]HC (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
CO (%)
(max/avg/meas)
NO (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
Results
15 mph170015.10.050/7/500.64/0.03/0.02508/90/51PASS
25 mph167014.80.334/6/180.78/0.03/0.00761/84/1PASS
3/11/2017nckwltn1999/3.5L168,7805840
TestRPM%CO[SUB]2[/SUB]%O[SUB]2[/SUB]HC (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
CO (%)
(max/avg/meas)
NO (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
Results
15 mph184812.82.944/7/440.56/0.03/0.05478/90/317PASS
25 mph172612.03.927/6/310.69/0.03/0.04731/84/248FAIL
2/20/2017nckwltn1999/3.5L168,2255539
TestRPM%CO[SUB]2[/SUB]%O[SUB]2[/SUB]HC (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
CO (%)
(max/avg/meas)
NO (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
Results
15 mph182113.51.842/7/420.54/0.03/0.05472/90/330PASS
25 mph176411.15.026/6/400.67/0.03/0.05725/84/317FAIL
2/04/2017nckwltn1999/3.5L167,5914000
TestRPM%CO[SUB]2[/SUB]%O[SUB]2[/SUB]HC (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
CO (%)
(max/avg/meas)
NO (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
Results
15 mph168013.71.850/7/500.64/0.03/0.04508/90/257PASS
25 mph162913.22.434/6/380.78/0.03/0.05761/84/165FAIL
1/16/2017nckwltn1999/3.5L166,7834000
TestRPM%CO[SUB]2[/SUB]%O[SUB]2[/SUB]HC (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
CO (%)
(max/avg/meas)
NO (PPM)
(max/avg/meas)
Results
15 mph169413.42.450/7/500.64/0.03/0.06508/90/271PASS
25 mph165112.83.234/6/380.78/0.03/0.06761/84/228FAIL
 
Last edited:

Toasty

Looking for that thing i just had in my hand...
Didn't California allow some kind of racket where you can pay a third party to "pass" your vehicle?
 
Make sure you get that vehicle good and hot before going in! Cat needs high temp to work properly. Don't turn off the engine before the test keep it running!! I'm not saying red line it the whole way there but I'm not saying don't either.

Also noticed your third test was more strict than the first two. Don't know whats up with that.

Good Luck
 
Last edited:

nckwltn

Explorer
Also noticed your third test was more strict than the first two. Don't know whats up with that.

Yeah.. I have no clue.... the gross vehicle weight went up on that test... was thinking that was what might have impacted it.....


Just put denatured alcohol in it


Denatured is my next approach.




Also, the purpose of the thread isn't to fix my smog problem, it is to share data so that other users know what ranges other members are achieving. If further constructive conversion comes from the sharing of data, even better.
 

mike5

Adventurer
I don't have my emissions decoder ring right now, but I think what you're saying is that you're failing the sniff test. That's different than what I pointed out in my thread. Having said this when I went to a smog guy, he was able to sniff it without running the actual state test. He looked at the numbers and said I needed a new cat. So I replaced my cat as part of the smog process. Make sure cat is California compliant.

So bottom line look up what the numbers mean. If it means bad cat then replace it. Cats do go bad over time.

Edit: looks like high HC means unburnt fuel on the exhaust. So maybe engine isn't running quite right. Maybe tune up maybe more.
 
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nckwltn

Explorer
Updated with 2 more smog test results.

The test on 3/11/17 was with 1/4 tank and 16oz of denatured alcohol. It helped my numbers quite a bit, but not enough to pass me. I still don't understand why the numbers fluctuated for my max allowed values. Perhaps it had something to do with the levels measured in one metric causing the max allowed to fluctuate.

The test on 3/25/17 was with a brand new cat (CA approved for a 99 Montero) and a full tank of fuel. Numbers across the board were quite improved. The test took less than 1/2 of the normal test. The way I understand it, the longer the test takes the worse you're doing.


In any case, hopefully the numbers help someone understand what a new cat can mean to the smog results.
 

JohnnyBfromPeoria

I'm Getting Around To It
Dang, you're "that" close. Looks to me like a touch of rich mixture (lean would "up" your NOX reading). I'd try anything that could help: remove the air cleaner element. Run regular, not premium fuel (just a touch of easier "light-off" potential with regular). Drop a $20 on the inspection garage floor when you get out...KIDDING!

Good luck.

John B.
 

nckwltn

Explorer
Interesting notion about lower grade fuel. Makes sense.... Low grade will combust early causing knocks.... So hopefully you can be it is burning all of the fuel.....

I did pass today, so I'm good for a couple of years now! Glad to have this monkey off my back.
 

MIKEYRULES

New member
Wow. No wonder its been so hard to smog my gen 2.5, its been needing a smog for almost 2 years. I thought paying an armenian bro $300 was only way to smog it.
 

nckwltn

Explorer
What did you do differently? Are you going to post the results?
Oh, congratulations!

John B.
Thought I mentioned in an earlier post, but I put in a new cat on the 3/25/17 test. You can see how much it dropped my numbers across the board.

For the 3/11/17 test, I had 1/4 tank of gas with denatured alcohol added. It also dropped my numbers but only by a little, and not by enough to pass.
 

j_hare

New member
Didn't California allow some kind of racket where you can pay a third party to "pass" your vehicle?

Yeah, I've been speaking with the CA air resource board about this for my vehicle and they referred me to their Grey Market Lab (714-545-9822), only lab they work with.
 

nckwltn

Explorer
Yeah, I've been speaking with the CA air resource board about this for my vehicle and they referred me to their Grey Market Lab (714-545-9822), only lab they work with.
What numbers are you getting on smog tests?

Sent from my SM-P580 using Tapatalk
 

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