Calif Smog Test Question

[E30 Cabrio]

I think a mouse fart puts out more then 5 PPM of Nitrogen Oxide.

BTW, the "Test Weight" lists my car at 3375 lbs. (Exactly the same as 2 years ago, but it was tested at a different smog test facility)

The gas tank had was below 1/4th, the trunk pretty much empty, and the guy doing the smog test was some pinner dude who didn't weigh more then 100 lbs., although I don't know if the weight is measured with the tester in the car or not, or if the weight is estimated for that model car by the state of Ca.

But I'm wondering, why is my car so heavy?

I know verts weigh a bit more, but I think they are listed at right around 3,000 lbs., or even slightly under.

Does anyone know if the car is weighed on the Dyno when they smog test it, or are those numbers an estimate determined by the State of Calif?

[einstein57]

87 octane based on AAA independent fuel study showing that lower octane fuels actually burn cleaner. Use a stock chip, perhaps clean out your injectors, new oil and filter, and a smog at a test only facility should cost $50. When i replaced my injectors and afm with 19lb 4 pinlte units and 027 afm it ran much cleaner and had lower readings from when i bought it a year earlier.

[E30 Cabrio]

Here are the Nitrogen Oxide (PPM) numbers from my smog test today:

15 MPH: 780
25 MPH: 672

Maximum Allowable Emissions:

15 MPH: 785
25 MPH: 724

I made it by 5 PPM!

The rest of the numbers for CO2, HC, CO were a bit higher then average, but very close to the numbers from 2 years ago.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. 2 years from now when I have to do this again, I'll be more prepared because those NO2 numbers are going to be an issue.

And I'll have to switch back to the stock chip for the test.

[E30 Cabrio]

Yes! My car passed the Calif. Smog test by a hair on the NO2 levels.

I was busy this week and all I did was change the oil, oil filter and air filter.

I bought the CRC additive, but didn't get a chance to use it.

Oh, I took a chance and had it tested with the performance chip still installed.

I'll post the numbers later, but I barely passed.

[george graves]

^on what do you base that?

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

RUN 87 OCTANE!!!!!!!!!!!

not 91!

[george graves]

Sorry to jack the thread, but how much should an e30 smog cost? I was quoted at something close to $80, does that sound right?

Yea, depends where you live. That's about right. Rolling smogs (called "enhanced smogs") can cost more.

[E30 Cabrio]

$65.00 is what I was quoted. It goes in on Thursday or Friday.

[agealy]

Sorry to jack the thread, but how much should an e30 smog cost? I was quoted at something close to $80, does that sound right?

[downernsp]

Reply to post

Nox is related to high temp. levels,so I would look closely to cooling sys. and O2 sensor good luck.

[clavinZERO]

High NOx levels would be from the motor running TOO HOT is what he is saying...

Now as far as driving around to get the car hot, that means getting the catalytic converter good and toasty so it does its job and helps to pass the test easier. That would be along the lines of being properly warmed up, not along the lines of having an engine that is running too hot.

[E30 Cabrio]

NOX is caused by the car running hot, if you want the nox to be lower make sure that the thermostat and aux fan are in proper working order. if they are not cooling the engine properly the nox levels will be high. try to go on a cooler day if that is possible

What about this?

Should the car be Hot or Cold to lower Nitrogen Oxide levels?

[s0urce]

Drive the shit out of it for the 30 minutes before you test and don't wait around and let it sit at all before they hook it up. If they have you waiting, drive around the block a few times. Get that cat nice and hot.

Exactly! This works like a charm.

[E30 Cabrio]

normal operating temperature, make sure it doesn't run hot

My Fan CLutch might be going bad because if I let the car idle for several minutes on a hot day, like 90+, the temp needle will move a little above the halfway mark.

It's supposed to cool down this week, so I will probably drop the car off at the smog place because it's near work, walk to work, have them smog it and hope it passes.

I'm going to change the plugs and oil and oil and air filters, plus run the CRC additive.

So I should have them smog it when the car is cold if my NO levels are high?

And Premium or Regular? I still need to swap my chip as well.

[clavinZERO]

DO NOT mess with the AFM unless you can set it properly with some sort of emissions reading tools... It has to be adjusted with the o2 sensor off and then you have to watch the air-to-fuel ratio as you adjust. This is not something you just tweak a lil bit.