Passing Smog "Trick"
08-06-01, 04:25 PM
#1
Passing Smog "Trick"
I was just at a California testing station watching my buddy get his '89 honduh' sniffer tested (odo 218K miles), carberated.
He failed his previous test. So he ran his tank to near nothing, then he added about a gallon of Denatured Methanol from the hardware store. There was a little stumbling at first, but it ran fine after it had time to mix in the tank.
He PASSED!
Some of his stats were cut in half.
Does anyone else have experience with this, and does it make sense to you?
I AM IN NO WAY RECOMMENDING THIS. Just seeking opinions. I've heard of rotaries running on alcohol, but who knows what this could do to your engine.
After the exam, he filled up this tank with normal Unleaded gas.
He failed his previous test. So he ran his tank to near nothing, then he added about a gallon of Denatured Methanol from the hardware store. There was a little stumbling at first, but it ran fine after it had time to mix in the tank.
He PASSED!
Some of his stats were cut in half.
Does anyone else have experience with this, and does it make sense to you?
I AM IN NO WAY RECOMMENDING THIS. Just seeking opinions. I've heard of rotaries running on alcohol, but who knows what this could do to your engine.
After the exam, he filled up this tank with normal Unleaded gas.
08-06-01, 06:58 PM
#3
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Did a goggle search, looks like it may be one of them thar alternate fuels, or at least one part of an alternative fuel, which are used to help reduce emissions. Which would help explain why it was successful on your buddies Honda. Anyone ever try Denatured Methanol? Wonder how much hotter or faster it burns than dino juice?
“I really really hate Georgia......Texas rules!!” Remind me Johnny, why did we kick you out?
“I really really hate Georgia......Texas rules!!” Remind me Johnny, why did we kick you out?
08-06-01, 07:56 PM
#5
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Originally posted by Johnny_84_GSL
you didn't kick me out! i left cause St.Mary GA has a really good submarine school, so i'll be here for a while
you didn't kick me out! i left cause St.Mary GA has a really good submarine school, so i'll be here for a while
Thanks,
08-06-01, 10:58 PM
#7
Keep in mind that alcohol needs around a 9:1 ratio to burn stoich instead of around 14:1. This means you gotta pump in way more fuel to get the same burn - youll be running lean if you dont rejet, which is probably where the pass on the emmisions comes into play.
Cody
Cody
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08-07-01, 10:03 AM
#8
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Methanol also burns cooler than gasoline, which reduces NOX, and since it's not hydrocarbon, it reduces HC. Add to that it's engine deposit cleaning ability, and you have nice clean breathe for the smog man. But you are running lean, so only do it when you need to.
Kerry
Kerry
08-07-01, 11:31 AM
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Hey, I just failed Ontario's smog test a little while ago, I'm missing my air pump and my three way cat. My NOX was WELL below normal, but my CO was around double what it should be, and my HC was about 4 times what it should be. What exactly should I try using, how much, and should there be some gas in there, or none, or lots, or what?
08-07-01, 11:41 AM
#10
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Thank you very much for the post. Some years ago I was having problems with a 82 and considered doing something similar. Was thinking of using something that was called gasahol but never found any, so went the new catalytic converter route. Good to know it might have worked.
08-07-01, 01:14 PM
#12
clean,
I don't know if Ontario requires an equipment check like they do here, but if you are missing at least the converter and maybe also the airpump you are not going to get your emission apprecably lower. The converter converts. Read about it on the web, lots about how it works. It is truly Sci-Fi with how the catalysts work for change the molecules around.
If you want to make a million bucks, come up with a formula for just passing smog and market it. It may be illegal to use, but like many other things, not illegal to sell. Please don't take me seriously!
I don't know if Ontario requires an equipment check like they do here, but if you are missing at least the converter and maybe also the airpump you are not going to get your emission apprecably lower. The converter converts. Read about it on the web, lots about how it works. It is truly Sci-Fi with how the catalysts work for change the molecules around.
If you want to make a million bucks, come up with a formula for just passing smog and market it. It may be illegal to use, but like many other things, not illegal to sell. Please don't take me seriously!
08-07-01, 05:33 PM
#13
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DIE ENVIRONMENT!!!!
HERE IN NYC THEY'VE TRIED TO MAKE PASSING EMISSIONS HARD AS ALL HELL BUT I HAVE A SOLUTION...... I PRINT MY OWN INSPECTION STICKERS HAHAHAHAHAHA
DIE DAMN ENVIRONMENT!!!
DIE DAMN ENVIRONMENT!!!
08-07-01, 05:49 PM
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Desnt methanol eat up seals if let to sit for more than a few hours?
If this does work, I would make sure to flush the gas tank and run some fresh fuel though the system before letting the car sit.
If this does work, I would make sure to flush the gas tank and run some fresh fuel though the system before letting the car sit.
11-30-03, 10:30 AM
#16
love the braaaap
I love having a car thats more than 20 years old. Its not on the road yet, but here in Canada any car older than 20 years doesn't have to have an e-test done.
11-30-03, 10:45 AM
#18
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yea i had some questions on this my self cause the reason i have my 7 now is cause the previeous owner could not get her to pass....
i thought id give it a shot.... unfortunatly if she doesnt pass in 30days in nc you get fined for not getting emmisions checked so i cant just roll around and chance it cause the damn city already knows and the $295.00 fine just comes in the mail!!!! damn emissions laws!!!
i thought id give it a shot.... unfortunatly if she doesnt pass in 30days in nc you get fined for not getting emmisions checked so i cant just roll around and chance it cause the damn city already knows and the $295.00 fine just comes in the mail!!!! damn emissions laws!!!
11-30-03, 12:40 PM
#19
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Ethanol, or "denatured" alcohol (ethanol with poison added to prevent cheap drunks), is OK in moderate quantities, but methanol (wood alcohol) may deteriorate seals.
I tried passing smog (with my problem car) with 15% denatured ethanol in the tank: still got high HC and CO in the new CA dyno test.
Didn't try a high concentration, yet. But today I'm going to modify an old ACV to always pass air to the cat, and I'll up the ethanol concentration again and try the $50 smog test.
I wanna find a good general way to pass the new CA smog since it's tough and I believe tilted against rotaries. And I have 3 FBs, so far.
B
I tried passing smog (with my problem car) with 15% denatured ethanol in the tank: still got high HC and CO in the new CA dyno test.
Didn't try a high concentration, yet. But today I'm going to modify an old ACV to always pass air to the cat, and I'll up the ethanol concentration again and try the $50 smog test.
I wanna find a good general way to pass the new CA smog since it's tough and I believe tilted against rotaries. And I have 3 FBs, so far.
B
11-20-09, 03:22 PM
#20
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Do you have to modify an ACV? I've done it before with some clever wiring on the solenoid rack, which set it up to have always-on air injection (for the duration of the test). Of course, that's on an FC, who knows what kind of voodoo there is on an FB....
11-21-09, 07:46 PM
#23
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I just passed today, here in Kali, with a new cat and about 30-40% denatured alchohal and a new cat on my "81. Came down a ton from my previous 2 tests, I was a ":Gross Poluter". I shimed my air control valve, which did not make a difference, so that meams it was working ok. I replaced the cat with a CA spec magnaflow cat and put in a gallon of denatured alcohol to about3 gals of gas.I passed after 2 previous fails.
11-22-09, 04:12 AM
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Whoops, I totally missed the fact that this post was ancient whilst searching! If I can't get my damned car to pass smog, then you'll see me posting in the "electric conversion" threads....