Failed CA smog test "Test Only"
 

Well I just finished breaking in my new engine and took it to get smoged before putting all the goodies back on.
I had about 2/3 of a tank of gas so I went and bought 2 gallons of Toluene and put them in. I started it up and it sounded and acted normal except for the temp gauge which went nuts, straight to the top and then bouncing down when I accelerated and jiggling so I figure there is a bad electrical connection or something since my aftermarket temp gauge that is tapped into the water filler neck reads 180F. I drive around a bit to warm it up and head to the smog station. They poke around it and look under things with a little mirror and then put it on the dyno. Aftwards when the guy pulls the sensor out of the tailpipe the sensor is so hot it is smoking and the guy is staring at it in disbelief. He motions me over to look in the engine bay and points out that a hose to the PVC is crimped. He says it doesn't matter since I failed the sniffer anyway. I passed everything except HC:
HC (PPM):
Measured 146 @ 15mph, Allowed 88
Measured 83 @ 15mph, Allowed 53
After the Dyno test there was a puddle of Evans NPG+ coolent on the floor of the shop right where the overflow is. The aftermarket temp gauge read 210F. What does this mean?
I guess now I will change the sparkplugs, fix the crimped line and use 3 gallons of Toluene next time.
Any other ideas?
Thanx!

A lot of people run alcohol, which probably has a similar effect to tuolene. Run enough and you could pass without any cats, so its pretty much guarenteed to work. However if the car is stock I would try and figure out what is wrong with it.

I just poured in a bottle of (can't remember the name) some stuff that says it's gaurantees you will pass emissions the test. I actually don't have to smog this year but I know i'm not getting enough fuel at WOT, so basically i'm using it as a fuel injector cleaner since that's what it says it does (says cleans all internal parts).

I forgot to mention I have a streetport.
Next time I'll start with 1/4 tank and 2 gallons of denatured alcohol as well as new spark plugs and a fixed PCV hose.

Where do you buy the denatured alchohol? I desperately need to pass the emmission testing! Already failed 3x.

I found it at a Marshalls hardware store. It also says ACE Hardware on the building so try there also. Home Depot did NOT have it.

home depot had denatured alcohol last time i checked. it is in the paint removal/ chemical section in a blue/orange square can.

Will the denatured alcohol make your car run unsafe hot? :allcho:

I meant that Home Depot does not have Toluene.
The question is, since Alcohol has 20% or so less power per volume as Gasoline, will running too high a Gas/Alcohol mix cause a lean condition and blow the engine? Also Alcohol binds with water and can cause your fuel system to rust if not flushed quickly.

From what i hear the best and easiest way to pass smog is to find that one person that can get you in cotact with someone that can test your car with an open mind. This usually happens when you pay a lot more for the smog but its a members only thing. I wish i can help but you are so far away and these places are getting harder and harder to find. I had one friend that couldnt pass cali smog because of this streeport and one pass with one. I guess it depends on how much overlap you have if you have any. It helps to have a very good oe cat. Thats why a test pipe is a good idea, so the cat wont get plugged.

I passed finally!!
1. A few weeks after my first test my air pump seized and took out my belt, so I bought a used one.
2. changed the spark plugs
3. changed the oil
4. 2 gallons of denatured alcohol into 5 gallons of gas
I think 4 was the clencher.
New numbers:
HC (PPM):
Measured 25 @ 15mph, Allowed 88
Measured 16 @ 15mph, Allowed 53
So I went from 146 to 25 and from 83 to 16 !!!!!
wow, alchohol is cool! too bad it is so bad for the fuel lines and costs $9/gallon.

o well. At least you passed, I have to go get mine smogged still too. I think I need new plugs!

Alcohol lowers your HC and CO emissions because it is an "oxygenate" which means it promotes more complete combustion. Sometimes this will result in higher NOx emissions but rarely enough to cause a problem.

I didn't pass the smog twice. I called mazdatrix, they said my air control valve might be bad. I just found out that is a damn expensive part. I called an independent mazda service, its in Santa Ana. They said they might be able to help me out. I will go there next week, and find out what happen.

I have an ACV fir sale :-)

Ack! :eek: Glad I read this! How do I lower the NOX? :(
My Honda won't pass. It's way below on the other stuff. What about colder plugs or more antifreeze? :confused:

If worse comes to worse, or you just don't feel like going to the trouble of getting your car to pass smog, just find someone to pass it for you. A motivated person should have absolutly no problem finding a technician willing to pass it for a couple hundred bucks.

Yes, it's illegal.

No, I do not advocate breaking the law.

But, it will keep you from having to mess with your setup and techs do this very frequently; even if the tech gets caught he just gets a citation from the BAR, and it takes a bunch of citations before any real punishment happens.

Ok, Jedon, so did you drain your tank after you passed, since the alcohol is so bad for the fuel system? this would seem the logical thing to do, but just checkin :)

there was aguy that had a goood place in antioch california one time but cannot find his post. maybe one of you guys remeber

They'd have to remember pretty far back since you dug this fossil up out of the ground...