A Small Miracle
02-16-11, 07:48 PM
#1
A Small Miracle
Here in Colorado, we have to emission test our cars every two years.
Mine came due this month.
In the past, I've gone to extraordinary lengths to squeak by- run the gas tank to nearly empty and add a gallon of denatured alcohol, new plugs, fresh oil change and divert all the air from the pump full-time to the cats (I only run the cats for the test, they get replaced with a "test pipe" to save the cat from wear).
As my engine approaches 200k miles (197k currently) I was pretty fatalistic and figured I had little chance, so I rashly just went to the test station without any prep at all.
I figured to use my failed results as a guide to see what I had to do.
She passed.
Dunno how or why but she sailed right through and made it (albeit just barely).
After buying the car in '07- knowing nothing about the quirks and foibles- a compression test lead me to believe I was soon due for a rebuild (compression in the low 80's) and I've been pondering/exploring my options ever since.
I've actually made a decision but this gutsy little engine just refuses to die...she always starts, does not smoke or consume too much oil and basically, runs like a top.
I consider this a miracle.
Mine came due this month.
In the past, I've gone to extraordinary lengths to squeak by- run the gas tank to nearly empty and add a gallon of denatured alcohol, new plugs, fresh oil change and divert all the air from the pump full-time to the cats (I only run the cats for the test, they get replaced with a "test pipe" to save the cat from wear).
As my engine approaches 200k miles (197k currently) I was pretty fatalistic and figured I had little chance, so I rashly just went to the test station without any prep at all.
I figured to use my failed results as a guide to see what I had to do.
She passed.
Dunno how or why but she sailed right through and made it (albeit just barely).
After buying the car in '07- knowing nothing about the quirks and foibles- a compression test lead me to believe I was soon due for a rebuild (compression in the low 80's) and I've been pondering/exploring my options ever since.
I've actually made a decision but this gutsy little engine just refuses to die...she always starts, does not smoke or consume too much oil and basically, runs like a top.
I consider this a miracle.
02-17-11, 10:02 AM
#5
Freshly Built Streetport
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
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I used to live in Boulder, so I know how those emissions tests go. But I feel the same way about my engine. When I bought it in '07 with 136k miles, compression was around 100. But now I think it's in the 80's at 148k miles due to more boost and harder driving. My tired S4 TII is slow slow slow compared to my buddies freshly rebuild S5 TII. Mine runs fine, but I just wonder how much longer she will hold on...
02-17-11, 10:46 AM
#6
NA-BOOSTIN
shoot brotha i've been a state inspector for close to 10yrs now off and on . the worst emissions test i've ever done was on my own 7 back in 05 
it blew a 2009 on the hc and the limit is 220 . that was with a new cat and stock exhaust . when i did the test it was for training showing someone how to use the machine if i remember right 
. anyway like a month later i got my rb header (back when n/a of cousre) and removed the cat and ran 2.5 straight . i actually passed by 1 point. dont you know i slapped that sticker on quicker then **** too a few seconds later before it changed its mind 
it blew a 2009 on the hc and the limit is 220 . that was with a new cat and stock exhaust . when i did the test it was for training showing someone how to use the machine if i remember right . anyway like a month later i got my rb header (back when n/a of cousre) and removed the cat and ran 2.5 straight . i actually passed by 1 point. dont you know i slapped that sticker on quicker then **** too a few seconds later before it changed its mind
02-17-11, 10:57 AM
#7
had a customer come in a few weeks ago after another shop did a turbo engine swap. they took the car in to be tested and it came back at 2600hc... found they left some vacuum lines off and used the non turbo AFM, it was also missing the smog pump and a dual plate catalyst for the smog pump(had no split air tube, used a solid brick metallicat). swapped out everything and reinstalled all the missing solenoids and it passed perfectly fine.
my car with a streetport, microtech LT8, T70 turbo, 3" full exhaust, blah blah passed perfectly fine by simply installing the air pump and main cat. didn't have to touch up the fuel maps at all. engine only had 90psi compression, marginal water seals and god knows how many miles on it now.
rotaries really aren't as horrible to smog as many people make it seem, if everything is working ok. the same can be said for any car. the worst cars were the feedback carburetors from the early 80's which were nearly impossible to get right and why all of these emissions laws have been getting stricter to try and squeeze those cars off of the road, our just got the backlash of it since fuel injection came in just after those were phased out. take a look at an early 80's honda, they had a true "rat's nest"!
my car with a streetport, microtech LT8, T70 turbo, 3" full exhaust, blah blah passed perfectly fine by simply installing the air pump and main cat. didn't have to touch up the fuel maps at all. engine only had 90psi compression, marginal water seals and god knows how many miles on it now.
rotaries really aren't as horrible to smog as many people make it seem, if everything is working ok. the same can be said for any car. the worst cars were the feedback carburetors from the early 80's which were nearly impossible to get right and why all of these emissions laws have been getting stricter to try and squeeze those cars off of the road, our just got the backlash of it since fuel injection came in just after those were phased out. take a look at an early 80's honda, they had a true "rat's nest"!
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 02-17-11 at 11:04 AM.
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02-17-11, 11:37 AM
#8
I'm due for smog next month, but the actual test should be a breeze. 2 years ago it was way below the maximums. My 179k NA engine was always borderline passing, but not this one. The hassle will just come from re-installing the cat and air pump prior to driving to the test station.
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