My desmogged FJ62 just passed Oregon DEQ emissions testing

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lechnito

lechnito

10 Year
Joined
Apr 29, 2015
Threads
30
Messages
310
Location
Portland, OR
EDIT/UPDATE: The prius-like results below happened because I had a small exhaust leak in the manifold. I still passed DEQ easily after getting the leak repaired, although with considerably higher numbers (HC: 143 / CO: 0.5277 / CO+O2: 13.6)

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I'm posting this for future reference in case anyone else in the Portland metro or Medford areas is thinking about desmogging. I just came back from the testing station and can confirm that you can totally pass the tailpipe test without an EGR and smog pump!

Here are my levels with just the cat:

HC (PPM)
Standard: less than 220
Measured: 12

CO (%)
Standard: less than 1
Measured: 0.0108

CO+CO2 (%)
Standard: more than 6
Measured: 14.2​

Now that I know my rig will pass future tests, I can safely finish removing the air injection rail so my engine compartment will finally be nice and tidy.
 
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How are you getting such low reading??? I have been messing around with my mixture for days and have failed 10 times. Cant get it dialed in. I think honestly its my cat. Not burning hot enough. Josh and Larry are booked for a while so I guess I'll take it to LCNW. They have a sniffer and could prob throw a new cat on. Its a weber carb though. Are you running stock?
 
Obviously, they don't check for installed smog equipment. Were you running E-10 (regular gasohol crap sold at the pump)?
 
Turns out I had an exhaust leak on the manifold that was helping me out here. After getting the leak fixed, I still passed emissions when I had to go in for the real test, but the results were considerably worse.

BTW, I've had some really good experiences from Barker's Exhaust on MLK. If you're pretty sure you need a new cat, they have more availability than the LC specialists in town.
 
lechnito said:
Turns out I had an exhaust leak on the manifold that was helping me out here. After getting the leak fixed, I still passed emissions when I had to go in for the real test, but the results were considerably worse.

BTW, I've had some really good experiences from Barker's Exhaust on MLK. If you're pretty sure you need a new cat, they have more availability than the LC specialists in town.
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Thanks. I've also heard a fresh oil change with synthetic oil can work as well. And also octane booster in the gas?? Are you running the stock carb? These webers are fussy bastards.
 
I have a 1990 FJ62 which has the EFI fuel injection instead of the carb stuff.

@SteveH, Yep, no special fuels. I heard from an old grease hound that you can goose your fuel tank with some denatured alcohol to get your numbers lowered, but that sounds pretty dangerous TBH.

Here are my last emissions numbers from when I renewed last February:

HC (PPM)
Standard: less than 220
Measured: 143

CO (%)
Standard: less than 1
Measured: 0.5277

CO+CO2 (%)
Standard: more than 6
Measured: 13.6​
 
ah ok. yeah much easier to deal with. haha. Im so sick of carbs. THeyre on all my bikes and now my LC. I'm thinking of just doing the EF conversion and maybe that will save me some headache. I've heard alcohol does help. Have you ever put in 85 ethanol in your tank? I heard this can help as well.
 
@JHE4601, what are your emissions numbers? Are you failing due to HC or CO? If your cat is bad, then you'll still fail to pass DEQ even if you convert to EFI.

No, I've never put in any additives into my fuel or engine. If you desperately need to renew, you can intentionally give yourself a minor exhaust leak off the manifold. They won't ask to look under the hood unless your leak is really loud. Just be sure to get your manifold sealed back up or else the euphoria you feel behind the wheel won't be entirely caused by the joy of driving a badass FJ60 :)
 
lechnito said:
@JHE4601, what are your emissions numbers? Are you failing due to HC or CO? If your cat is bad, then you'll still fail to pass DEQ even if you convert to EFI.

No, I've never put in any additives into my fuel or engine. If you desperately need to renew, you can intentionally give yourself a minor exhaust leak off the manifold. They won't ask to look under the hood unless your leak is really loud. Just be sure to get your manifold sealed back up or else the euphoria you feel behind the wheel won't be entirely caused by the joy of driving a badass FJ60 :)
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They have been all over the place but I got the HC down to about 138 which is under the 200. My CO is down to 3.8 down from 6.8. The mixture and idling screws on this weber are so dam sensitive. I think my cat may be bad so I'm gunna try to replace that first. Maybe ask LCNW what they think and have them sniff what they can before I go down to DEQ. Hopefully I'll have better luck later this week. That place is such a scam.
 
SteveH said:
Obviously, they don't check for installed smog equipment. Were you running E-10 (regular gasohol crap sold at the pump)?
Click to expand...
Yea they don't check under the hood. The ones I've dealt with actually love LC's Almost got to know them all by name. Haha. Yea running regular stuff at gas station. Think I should do E85? Can you run that in the 2F?
 
I'm in Medford Oregon and they don't even require any testing whatsoever on my 89. No more smog tests for my rig.:)
 
lechnito said:
I heard from an old grease hound that you can goose your fuel tank with some denatured alcohol to get your numbers lowered
Click to expand...

I can confirm this, up to a 5% mix. Once you get past the test then dilute the mixture/fill the tank with regular unleaded and you're good to go.

Not that I've ever done anything like this in a pollution controlled vehicle in the great state of Kalifornia. :rolleyes:
 
lechnito said:
I'm posting this for future reference in case anyone else in the Portland metro or Medford areas is thinking about desmogging. I just came back from the testing station and can confirm that you can totally pass the tailpipe test without an EGR and smog pump!

Here are my levels with just the cat:

HC (PPM)
Standard: less than 220
Measured: 12

CO (%)
Standard: less than 1
Measured: 0.0108

CO+CO2 (%)
Standard: more than 6
Measured: 14.2​

Now that I know my rig will pass future tests, I can safely finish removing the air injection rail so my engine compartment will finally be nice and tidy.
Click to expand...


great news! how new are those cats?
 
You don't fill the tank with E-85 - you just add a few gallons to your nearly empty gas tank, get your e-test, and then refill with regular gasoline.

Here's a story I posted on the Rising Sun club page about a buddy with no emission equipment who used E-85 to pass Idaho emissions. Using E85 to pass emissions - Rising Sun Member Forums
 
My cat is bad. Its not getting hot enough to burn anything. I'm gunna replace the cat and maybe try the E85 trick with a couple gallons on an almost empty tank. I'll report back after I pass. :bounce:
 
I’ve been thinking about de-smogging my 87’ 60. Has anyone successfully passed DEQ testing in PDX after de-smogging a 60? I realize this is a 62 specific thread so sorry for the hijack.
 
jestlurnin said:
I’ve been thinking about de-smogging my 87’ 60. Has anyone successfully passed DEQ testing in PDX after de-smogging a 60? I realize this is a 62 specific thread so sorry for the hijack.
Click to expand...

I had a ‘76 FJ40 that I got to pass after two attempts when I sold it to a buddy in Portland. Leaned out the carb and ran a bottle of Heet in the gas tank with a 1/4 tank or less of gas. The 40 has all smog components removed.
 
lechnito said:
EDIT/UPDATE: The prius-like results below happened because I had a small exhaust leak in the manifold. I still passed DEQ easily after getting the leak repaired, although with considerably higher numbers (HC: 143 / CO: 0.5277 / CO+O2: 13.6)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm posting this for future reference in case anyone else in the Portland metro or Medford areas is thinking about desmogging. I just came back from the testing station and can confirm that you can totally pass the tailpipe test without an EGR and smog pump!

Here are my levels with just the cat:

HC (PPM)​
Standard: less than 220​
Measured: 12​
​
CO (%)​
Standard: less than 1​
Measured: 0.0108​
​
CO+CO2 (%)​
Standard: more than 6​
Measured: 14.2​

Now that I know my rig will pass future tests, I can safely finish removing the air injection rail so my engine compartment will finally be nice and tidy.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info; I’m in the Portland area and wanting to answer this very riddle. Few questions:

how is your carb tuned? Did you tune it?
Do you have an after market cat? Is it CARB standard?

Portland has Cali level emissions standards and I have several old cars. I’d love to know what I’m dealing with here.
 
Dclowd9901 said:
Thanks for the info; I’m in the Portland area and wanting to answer this very riddle. Few questions:

how is your carb tuned? Did you tune it?
Do you have an after market cat? Is it CARB standard?

Portland has Cali level emissions standards and I have several old cars. I’d love to know what I’m dealing with here.
Click to expand...
I’ve passed since this post twice now. I do the following on a desmogged vehicle

Fresh oil change on engine
Bards no-smoke
Run it around town for 25-30 minutes before test
Then if you fail the mixture screw and idle screw can be easily adjusted right outside the deq station. You can literally drive right back in and adjust you mixtures accordingly to the numbers you get back. Don’t go crazy with those adjustment screws. All is takes is very little fussing to get it just right to pass. Good luck!
 
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