CA M42'ers - SMOG Test Results?

[bmwman91]

For those in CA who have SMOG'ed their car since January 2009, how have you done?  Apparently the laws changed & our cars must meet OBDII regulations.  I love many things about this state, but some of their regulations pertaining to cars are getting kind of nuts.  Anyway, I am getting a Magnaflow "CA-Legal" catalytic converter installed at lunch today, taking the car out for a nice & hard 15 minute drive & then SMOG testing it.

From everything I have read, the CA-specific cat's are exactly same as the 49-state ones, but they have some numbers stamped them & they cost 2-3x as much since CA has us by the balls (or ovaries in some cases).  All OBD-II means is "3-way" cat, which is basically the standard-issue core type now anyway.

Last time I SMOG'ed it, I failed as a gross polluter the first time through.  I forget what I adjusted to pass, but I JUST scraped by (I think the cat was a few years old by then, and I am replacing that one today).  I think I stuck the stock chip back in & took out the MAF conversion or something.  I am going to try to pas with the chip & MAF conversion today...the chip doesn't change the part-throttle maps at all, and the MAF conversion has been re-tuned since last time.  My O2 sensor is in good shape (it is a Wide-Band setup anyway), and all of the vacuum lines have been replaced in the last year.  I really want to pass the first time through...getting labeled as a gross-polluter is not good!

[tjts1]

From what I read, as of Jan 2009 the only replacement cat legal in California must have the original factory PN. Smog techs have to check for this PN and look it up. If it doesn't match, it's an automatic fail. Friggin nuts. I'm moving to WA state in a week. I'm sick of this BS.

[BraveUlysses]

^^^For school? where are you moving to exactly?

[tjts1]

Moving to Bellingham. GF is going to WWU for grad school.
Here is the info on the new law.
http://www.car-sound.com/04basics/04california.asp

[bmwman91]

I was asking the shop that installed the cat about this today.  It is pretty nuts...they are not even allowed to flare the inlet/outlet of the cat.  So, this list of which cat can go on which makes & models ends up wrong...the "approved" cat for my car has 2" inlets/outlets, despite the M42 exhaust being 2.25".  Luckily, this does nothing to hurt performance on an internally stock motor.  However, it can make installation a PITA.  Anyway, it went in fairly quickly, and I even had them place it so that my muffler tip was properly centered in the rear apron (it was a bit to the left before, my SuperSprint cat-back's never have fit perfectly).

Immediately afterward, I went to the SMOG station across the street.  It turned out that the tech doing the inspection is a former M42 fan, and a car enthusiast.  We talked cars a little after the test which was cool...always nice to run into people who know about the M42!

The result: PASSED with flying colors.  I was WAY under the limit in all categories, and also WELL under the average pollutant values for cars SMOG'ed in CA.  So, it turns out that a new cat will do wonders!  It looks like my car will have many, many years of registered ownership ahead of it!

[bmwman91]

OK, now that I am home, here are the final SMOG numbers...



So, with the exception of the hydrocarbon emissions, I am kicking out a tiny fraction of what most cars here do, and am resting quite comfortably within the test limits.  Clearly, a well-maintained E30 has absolutely NO problem passing the sniffer.  No "snake oil" gas additives or other BS necessary!

[tjts1]

Good numbers man.

[roundel318]

no idle test?

[bmwman91]

Good numbers man.

Thanks!  I was very relieved when I was informed that I had passed lol.  I have gone down as a gross polluter twice before because I was too cheap to replace the cat (read: college student) and somehow managed to pass.

no idle test?

Not in CA, unless you drive an AWD vehicle.  Supposedly the 15 & 25mph load test is more appropriate.  I don't think it is any harder to pass than the idle test, personally.  Actually, I do not think that all cars need to be on the rollers, only ones that are told to go to "test-only" centers.  I think that includes all OBD-I cars now.

[SmogMeEvo]

OK, now that I am home, here are the final SMOG numbers...



So, with the exception of the hydrocarbon emissions, I am kicking out a tiny fraction of what most cars here do, and am resting quite comfortably within the test limits.  Clearly, a well-maintained E30 has absolutely NO problem passing the sniffer.  No "snake oil" gas additives or other BS necessary!

Thanks!  I was very relieved when I was informed that I had passed lol.  I have gone down as a gross polluter twice before because I was too cheap to replace the cat (read: college student) and somehow managed to pass.


Not in CA, unless you drive an AWD vehicle.  Supposedly the 15 & 25mph load test is more appropriate.  I don't think it is any harder to pass than the idle test, personally.  Actually, I do not think that all cars need to be on the rollers, only ones that are told to go to "test-only" centers.  I think that includes all OBD-I cars now.

Hello fellow car enthusiast,

This is the the owner/tech of  the smog station, and it was nice to meet you bmwman91. I just came across your thread, and just wanted to correct a few pieces of information you have related to smog. All vehicle's in the enhanced areas(most of bay area) is subjected to biennial smog testing except if you own a new vehicle not older than 6yrs of age, hybrid, diesel(which will be tested in 2010), motorcycle, or 75 or older. As far as the types of testing in the enhanced area goes, there is just ASM(Acceleration Simulation Mode) or TSI(Two Speed Idle). And the only time a TSI is called for is when a vehicle is if it equiped with full AWD, non-disengagable traction control, and/or if its over a certain size or gvwr. Also TSI is alot easier to pass since there is one less reading to measure(Nox) and with no load.

The reason Test-Only was created in 97 was to ensure consumers gets a unbiased test, since a lot of Test and Repairs were caught failing vehicles intentionally to up sale repairs. Not to mention most test-onlys offer free a re-test, we hate to see vehicles fail. And if it does fail an your vehicle was designated to a Test-Only is would automatically qualify for the CAP program which helps pay for most of the repairs. Roughly 40% of all vehicles are designated to a Test-Only, and even though that never clearly stated why but I know it based on mileage. So if your vehicle has excessively high of low mileage(compared to nat avg) for that model year you are most likely going to a Test-Only. Hope this information helps!

[bmwman91]

Hey, thanks for clarifying!  I have always been curious about how it all works & where some of this stuff came from (started driving in 2000).  I had been under the impression that being sent to a "test only" center was somehow a bad thing, meaning that CA thinks that your car is in bad shape & wants to test it extra hard or something.  I guess I should be happy that I go to them!

The owner of World Mufflers said that CA revoked his gold-shield SMOG testing license because he was "passing too many cars."  Do you know anything about shops having that happen to them, or is there likely more to the story?

Hello fellow car enthusiast,

This is the the owner/tech of  the smog station, and it was nice to meet you bmwman91. I just came across your thread, and just wanted to correct a few pieces of information you have related to smog. All vehicle's in the enhanced areas(most of bay area) is subjected to biennial smog testing except if you own a new vehicle not older than 6yrs of age, hybrid, diesel(which will be tested in 2010), motorcycle, or 75 or older. As far as the types of testing in the enhanced area goes, there is just ASM(Acceleration Simulation Mode) or TSI(Two Speed Idle). And the only time a TSI is called for is when a vehicle is if it equiped with full AWD, non-disengagable traction control, and/or if its over a certain size or gvwr. Also TSI is alot easier to pass since there is one less reading to measure(Nox) and with no load.

The reason Test-Only was created in 97 was to ensure consumers gets a unbiased test, since a lot of Test and Repairs were caught failing vehicles intentionally to up sale repairs. Not to mention most test-onlys offer free a re-test, we hate to see vehicles fail. And if it does fail an your vehicle was designated to a Test-Only is would automatically qualify for the CAP program which helps pay for most of the repairs. Roughly 40% of all vehicles are designated to a Test-Only, and even though that never clearly stated why but I know it based on mileage. So if your vehicle has excessively high of low mileage(compared to nat avg) for that model year you are most likely going to a Test-Only. Hope this information helps!

[SmogMeEvo]

Hey, thanks for clarifying!  I have always been curious about how it all works & where some of this stuff came from (started driving in 2000).  I had been under the impression that being sent to a "test only" center was somehow a bad thing, meaning that CA thinks that your car is in bad shape & wants to test it extra hard or something.  I guess I should be happy that I go to them!

The owner of World Mufflers said that CA revoked his gold-shield SMOG testing license because he was "passing too many cars."  Do you know anything about shops having that happen to them, or is there likely more to the story?

I've known Pat since the day he opened, and I wasn't aware of him trying to be a gold shield station. Good honest person, decent muffler work, but definitely not an advance emission or repair tech/diagnostician.

[bmwman91]

I've known Pat since the day he opened, and I wasn't aware of him trying to be a gold shield station. Good honest person, decent muffler work, but definitely not an advance emission or repair tech/diagnostician.

Hmm, interesting.  Maybe he only did this for a short while.  I agree though, he is a really cool guy, and he does better quality work than the last place I got exhaust work done (Michael's Mufflers in San Jose...they used to do well, but something changed & I ended up having to weld the exhaust leaks they left myself).

Pat was also cool about helping me get the cat-back system I have fitted right too...the tip was not really well centered in the rear apron so we fiddled with cat placement before welding it in to get everything straitened out.  For $50 I was very happy.

[SmogMeEvo]

Hey, thanks for clarifying!  I have always been curious about how it all works & where some of this stuff came from (started driving in 2000).  I had been under the impression that being sent to a "test only" center was somehow a bad thing, meaning that CA thinks that your car is in bad shape & wants to test it extra hard or something.  I guess I should be happy that I go to them!

The owner of World Mufflers said that CA revoked his gold-shield SMOG testing license because he was "passing too many cars."  Do you know anything about shops having that happen to them, or is there likely more to the story?

Sorry, I forgot to answer you question. B.A.R loves paying regular or surprise visits to all automotive shop. Since their job is to regulate and make sure all shops is operating within ca laws and regulations. They can slap anyone with a fat fine for any reason related to procedures, equipment, or smog technician's knowledge. They do mention about the ca avg failure rate, but even if you are under that margin(about 10%) that can't do much besides possibly keep a closer eye on your shop. And if any shop gets red flag for something they suspect is out of the ordinary, they can send in undercover vehicle to make sure you are performing the smog test without a flaw. I am not too worry as I play by the book, and I have the experience and knowledge to cover my behind. Tell you the truth I think due to the budget crisis they haven't paid me a visit for almost 2 years now.......knock on wood.