Current BC Air Care procedure?

[Adam B]

From the two previous discussions I found in my search, it seems like Air Care for diesels in BC is nothing to worry about. The most recent thread I read was about a year and a half ago and at that time they had, apparantly, switched to only doing an idle test. Everyone who posted at that time said it was really easy and that if you weren't so smokey that they told you to go home, you'd pass the actual test.

However, on the current Air Care website they describe a 2 minute driving test at a variety of speeds and doing some weird comparison between horsepower and opacity.

Can anyone verify what the current test involves?

Is the idle test done in gear or in Park?

Will I do better by raising my idle in Park to 1000rpm or so?

 

[cruiser_guy]

Just give it a shot. It really isn't difficult. I had an '84 BJ60 that had so much blow by that sometimes they didn't even let me in the station! If I got in I always passed easily, in fact I've never heard of a diesel failing unless you've really cranked the fuel delivery or something else stupid.

btw I've had a diesel since before AirCare started and I've NEVER failed!

 

[dieseldan]

If I recall they did the idle test in Park and a two minute test in gear under load. I've had some VW heaps and a Volvo 240D that smoked more than Wayne Newton - never a problem.

 

[canucksafari]

They do an idle test and a driving test. Your truck was never for sale in North America so it will not be on the computer - just like mine. Yet, the idiot which did the driving test on mine explained his over reving, lugging and slamming the clutch because he was "following the shift points the computer put on the screen". It took him two tries to complete the test. Sure would not want them to do the test on any vehicle which might have a BEB on the way out. Anyways, when i asked him how the computer would know the shift rpm when my truck was not on the computer he just shrugged his shoulders. I guess their staff is not hired for their high IQ. I also pointed out that my ome tac has the shift range nicely maked in bright yellow. I guess he was too busy watching the computer screen and where he was diving.

Apparently you can drive your own vehicle on the test. I will be speaking to the manager and demanding this next time.

oh, and despite the lousy driving, she passed with flying colors.

 

[Adam B]

I guess their staff is not hired for their high IQ.

Not to mention the daily dose of brain cell-killing gasses they suck back.

Also, I forgot to mention that this is my first vehicle with an automatic transmission. I guess that means the tester doesn't get to choose gears, he just follows a pre-determined pattern of road speeds?

I can't imagine how they determine meaningful emission standards for engines that never existed in NA.....

 

[brownbear]

Yet, the idiot which did the driving test on mine explained his over reving, lugging and slamming the clutch because he was "following the shift points the computer put on the screen". .

Like Fawk I would let them do that to my truck. Scream at them next time.

If you know where your fuel delivery screw is, screw with them by dialing it soo low it makes 0 particulates and stuff out the tail pipe. You will have them wonder why people call diesels dirty...LOL

I'm glad we don't have that BS in the north.

I can't take a government mandate seriously that has different pollution standards for different classes of vehicle weights. SO if you own a responsible small car it's hit hard by the Aircare, but if you own a 3/4 ton V10 it's ok if it pollutes.

Like tax but in reverse, the bigger the vehicle the lower the standard, the smaller the vehicle the more stringent the inspection.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Apparently you can drive your own vehicle on the test. I will be speaking to the manager and demanding this next time.

John, are you sure about that? Fortunately we are now registered in the Kootenays and don't have to mess with AirCare any more but I still remember cringing at the way those idiots "drive".

My best laugh was when they wanted to look to see if I had an "unleaded" restrictor in the fuel filler!?!?!? She didn't get it when I said that it was a diesel and there is no such thing as "unleaded" diesel. Definitely low IQ!

 

[Adam B]

As far as I know, the whole program concludes in 2010 and there is no plan to continue it beyond then. I doubt that the program has accomplished anything useful.

My favorite experience was 2 years ago in my '85 mini truck on 37's. The lady made 3 or 4 attempts to jump into the cab, failed miserably, then went to get someone else to test drive it. The guy that she brought over was about 5'5". He put both hands up on the seat, lifted his left foot onto the drivers floor (LHD), and as soon as he tried to hop his right foot up there he hit his ass on the steering wheel and tumbled to the ground. I just smiled and talked him through it after that.

 

[canucksafari]

John, are you sure about that? Fortunately we are now registered in the Kootenays and don't have to mess with AirCare any more but I still remember cringing at the way those idiots "drive".

My best laugh was when they wanted to look to see if I had an "unleaded" restrictor in the fuel filler!?!?!? She didn't get it when I said that it was a diesel and there is no such thing as "unleaded" diesel. Definitely low IQ!

I am not positive about it. Just heard it said a number of times on BC4x4 mainly regarding testers making shavings with the tranny. Guess some don't know what a clutch is. I will check it out before the next go.

 

[mac]

I was told at aircare that they do idle tests ONLY on some vehicles that are deemed difficult to drive- BJ60 is one example. I couldn't understand why they did a driving sim with my 7.3 and my 80 series but not my 60 and that is the explanation they gave me.

My Dad refuses to get out of the Truck when he brings his through- he's somewhat disabled with busted up legs, back and general crotchetiness. They always give him an idle test only.

 

[UpsideDown]

The air care test for diesels is complete BS. I have seen horribly out of tune Toyota diesels pass with flying colours - barely reading any opacity on the tests. I would not worry about it in the least, unless you cannot see the vehicle behind you due to the cloud of smoke.

BJ60 hard to drive? Man....

 

[cruiser_guy]

As far as I know, the whole program concludes in 2010 and there is no plan to continue it beyond then. I doubt that the program has accomplished anything useful.

With the whole Kyoto crap going on I can't imagine they'll scrap AirCare though I'm with you in that I doubt much has been accomplished. One only needs to visit the developing world, like here in Guatemala where you can't see the buses and trucks because of the clouds of smoke and you get a headache from the unburned gases from the cars ahead of you! Now if they had AirCare down here I'd be the only one on the road!!

The air care test for diesels is complete BS.

I may be wrong but in that most pollution free state of all, The People's Republik of Kalifornia, they do not test diesels because they do not fail!!

 

[Freewheel]

I had my HJ tested 3 months ago. Idle speed only - no drive test. Results were 1/100 of the allowable.



And I would say that aircare probably has helped the air quality here some - there seems to be way less smog above Vancouver now than there was in the eighties. Now if we could get the freighters in English Bay through aircare...

 

[canucksafari]

And I would say that aircare probably has helped the air quality here some - there seems to be way less smog above Vancouver now than there was in the eighties. Now if we could get the freighters in English Bay through aircare...

Most of the crud from Vancouver ends up in blowing into the valley unless there is an inversion. So I don't feel too sorry if once in a while Vancouverites have to breath in their own fumes. I also think a lot of the decline in emmissions has been because of the emmission laws imposed on industry by the GVRD. Even a little coffee roaster I know of on Granville Island had to invest a lot of money in special equiptment to nealry eliminated the emmissions from the roasting furnaces. Now, compare that to all the oil and gas home heating plus the wood fireplaces in the GVRD.

Air Care really has done little as the others have stated. As long as your contaminating with a big new vehicle, your good to go. Also, it is just a tad bit ironic that the little Tercel running an hour or so a day has to pass when big commercial rigs running 10-16 hours a day skip Air Care.

 

[Adam B]

You guys encouraged me so much that I went and got tested today.

My HDJ81 wheelbase was too long for the all wheel drive dyno in Lane 1 of the south Vancouver testing station (foot of Fraser St @ Kent). That means they can't do the driving test.

My test consisted of a fast idle (hold at 1500rpm) for less than 20 seconds.

Results were just silly:

Opacity (%)

Maximum Allowable 30.00
Average Passing Reading 3.50
Vehicle Reading 0.46

 

[dieseldan]

There ya' go. So now doesn't it seem redundant to be required to open up the wallet again next time you're retested? Air Care is a load of crap - they should stuff the whole program into the same bin as the Photo-Radar.

 

[Gold Boy]

You guys encouraged me so much that I went and got tested today.

My HDJ81 wheelbase was too long for the all wheel drive dyno in Lane 1 of the south Vancouver testing station (foot of Fraser St @ Kent). That means they can't do the driving test.

My test consisted of a fast idle (hold at 1500rpm) for less than 20 seconds.

Results were just silly:

Opacity (%)

Maximum Allowable 30.00
Average Passing Reading 3.50
Vehicle Reading 0.46

that's great!

i wounder how a 13bt does?

 

[canucksafari]

that's great!

i wounder how a 13bt does?

You could always come down to the Coast and try it out...

 

[bj70_guy]

that's great!

i wounder how a 13bt does?

My 97,000km BJ74 did 7/10s of 1%
My 365,000km BJ70 did exactly the same reading. I'm with dieseldan - Aircare is a joke, and the sooner it goes away the happier I'll be.