Lucky day at the Test Only station

[2mbb]

Just thought I would post up some positive smog news for once.

It's CA smog test time again from my 1985. I was a little concerned because two years ago I was right at the limit for HC. This morning I replaced a couple of exhaust gaskets to fix a leak, and drove to the station to get a baseline test.

An EVAP test is now required for vehicles '95 and older. They checked it off on my test result, but from what I saw they didn't have a cap that would fit my filler neck. Two years ago this station had one, but they must have lost it.

A few more minutes go by and the guy comes back and say's "you passed". I commented that they didn't do the dyno test. He said they can't do a dyno test because it's a four-wheel-drive vehicle. I've had three previous dyno tests at this same place. I guess they forgot the difference between part-time 4wd and AWD. But I learned enough in school to know not to argue about a passing grade.

And my results:

Idle:
CO2%: 14.10
O2%: 0.60
HC ppm: 96
CO%: 0.08

2500 RPM:
CO2%: 11.7
O2%: 3.90
HC ppm: 85
CO%: 0.04

Good luck to those of you also getting tested this year.

 

[Joe_E]

Good for you bro.

The more I think about it, I think i'm gonna desmog my engine for the rebuild resto.
I have collected alot of smog parts for the resto but i'm leaning away from being smogged.

 

[Willman]

I'm happy i live here in UT......Smog sucks....Desmoging her right now.

That must give a guy gray hairs each year going through that type of pain trying to get your rig to pass....

 

[Cruiserdrew]

What a relief. I really hate the smog jeopardy every 2 years and my 71 with the 2F runs so sweet desmogged.

I think I'm going to have to go fuel injection. then at least you always pass.

 

[rchalmers3]

Idle:
CO2%: 14.10
O2%: 0.60
HC ppm: 96
CO%: 0.08

2500 RPM:
CO2%: 11.7
O2%: 3.90
HC ppm: 85
CO%: 0.04

Well, if you have no vacuum leaks affecting the combustion of one or 2 cylinders, there appears to be sufficient CO to otherwise rule out a lean carburetor condition.

I'd have to say that the high HC's may be the early signs of a tired motor. What is your mileage?

Rick

 

[2mbb]

Well, if you have no vacuum leaks affecting the combustion of one or 2 cylinders, there appears to be sufficient CO to otherwise rule out a lean carburetor condition.

I'd have to say that the high HC's may be the early signs of a tired motor. What is your mileage?

Rick

the motor has 213K. Last time I checked the compression (last year) it seemed fine. Here's all the results I have. It does seem that my HC has been creeping up. maybe my aftermarket cat that I installed in 2002 is giving out...

 

[Spike Strip]

Nice - I guess that 100 -dollar bill you leave in the ash tray really does work !!

 

[rchalmers3]

2mbb,

You never cease to amaze me! That is a wonderful tracking tool, well done. I notice you lived in a loaded mode test area for 5 years. Your truck seemed to do OK on the dyno.

You are right, the 2002 cat installation cleaned the emissions very well. I don't recommend buying a new converter based on the records you keep, but you may want to rig a test port in the exhaust pre-cat for a before/after comparison. Temperature change is also valid, but does not equate to actual efficiency.

Rick

 

[Pighead]

I just love smog station stories, especially when they have a happy ending. and a moral, like knowing when to keep your mouth shut.
May all your rigs, someday, be smog exempt.

 

[2mbb]

Nice - I guess that 100 -dollar bill you leave in the ash tray really does work !!

If it was only that easy!

 

[Spike Strip]

Yeah - It costs me $200 !

 

[toyslug]

hi 2mbb: i'm due for test only on my 86fj60 by 5/22/10! which shop was this in walnut creek? my truck initially failed the last time around and i don't want to sweat it out again! tia, daniel

 

[2mbb]

hi 2mbb: i'm due for test only on my 86fj60 by 5/22/10! which shop was this in walnut creek? my truck initially failed the last time around and i don't want to sweat it out again! tia, daniel

Daniel: I'll send you a PM.

 

[mot]

It's nice to get a nice break like that!

Heaven knows we all need it every once in awhile!

 

[alaska60]

I like the greasy palm effect!

or a JEDI mind trick to.......................
(waving my hand horizontally across my face)"YOU WILL PASS MY 60"

 

[jmccandless]

Congats

That's awesome, Congrats.

I'm in the process of getting my new-to-me 60 smogged and registered in SF. It failed the first time at a test-only station (timing and HCC failures). It's at a test/repair station now getting diagnosed.

Wishing I would have thought of the (C)ash Tray Method!

 

[jmccandless]

UPDATE: It passed!

The SMOG test/repair shop tested it after each change/fix. They adjusting the timing (back to spec) and tested (it failed), new plugs (failed) and the CAT. It only passed after the CAT was done. The CAT on the truck looked to be the factory unit. So, not bad for 23yrs.

15mph
HC, Max:125
1st Test Measure: 168 / New CAT Measure: 6.00

CO, Max: 0.79
1st Test Measure: 0.77 / New CAT Measure: 0.00 (!)

NO, Max: 1062
1st Test Measure: 371 / New CAT Measure: 71.0

25mph
HC, Max:96
1st Test Measure: 189 / New CAT Measure: 11.0

CO, Max: 1.00
1st Test Measure: 0.80 / New CAT Measure:0.19

NO, Max: 1073
1st Test Measure: 393 / New CAT Measure: 5.00


The CO2 measures went up slightly with the new CAT (mid 12.0 to 14.0-ish) while the O2 numbers went down (~3.0 to less than 1.5)

The timing initially failed because it was apparently set advanced. That is an automatic failure on the smog test. I have to say though it drove great set that way around town and on the freeway...

Anyway, the new results are way low! Time to get to DMV!

2mbb: I'm going to crib your spreadsheet format to track this!

Thanks, Jason

 

[FJ40 TOOLMAN]

How much does all this cost.I bought 1983 FJ60 last year and I need to get it smogged .I need to replace the smog pump and its not the right one and not hooked up. I think it would be cheaper to install tbi sbc and not have the problem every two years.I think California would like to get all the carburetors off the road.

 

[mcrty23]

I went to smog my '88 F62 and It failed! I looked at the portion on timing, and it had failed. So, I asked the kid, what was the timing set at? He replied, "don't know, I couldn't find the timing mark on the pulley. So, I failed it." I was standing there ready to choke the guy, refrained, calmly stated you failed a vehicle on timing because you don't have the knowledge to verify it, that's not right. I told him how to check the timing and he just said ahhhh, ok, but you still failed the emissions too. He took my word on the timing being set correctly but needed to fix the emission portion.
Yeah, only 2 cats at $220 each, Thanks Toyota for designing a messed up exhaust system! They were the original cats with just over 232000 miles on them. Californis smog sucks!!!

 

[2mbb]

Ok. I'm back again two years later and passed the first time through! This time they did do the EVAP system pressure test and they did put my truck on the dyno for the tests. I haven't updated my table yet, but my results are:

Odometer: 216735
@15mph
CO2: 9.72%
O2: 8.13%
HC: 78ppm
CO: .03%
NO: 355ppm

@25mph
CO2: 10.14%
O2: 7.08%
HC: 52ppm
CO: .03%
NO: 243ppm

some general observations:

I have only driven 3500 miles in the last two years!

My residual oxygen values seems very high. Maybe this is indicating that my AI system is pushing in too much air...

I was dreading this--not thinking I was going to pass. Now I have two more worry free years!