Need CA spec Cat - Smog Results

*finkasaur* · 06-08-2007, 02:17 PM

Well, I did my smog test and failed. Here are my results:

1st Gear:

RPM: 2755
CO2: 14.43
O2%: .24
HC PPM: MAX (54) AVE (9) MEAS (80)
CO%: MAX (.50) AVE (.02) MEAS (.25)
NO PPM: MAX (430) AVE (57) MEAS (993)

2nd Gear:

RPM: 2536
CO2: 14.70
O2%: .07
HC PPM: MAX (37) AVE (7) MEAS (42)
CO%: MAX (.47) AVE (.03) MEAS (.07)
NO PPM: MAX (717) AVE (50) MEAS (523)

When I was back East I had a warpspeed catback system put in (so it wasn't CA spec). I am NOT registering this car in CA but I need to pass CA emission to pass my MD emission (I am here for school). I didn't drive it at a high RPM before doing the test even though I drove it for like 30 minutes from downtown LA to Venice area. Is it worth retesting for free with a "hotter" cat based on those numbers or should I just get a new cat? I'm in a bit of a time crunch because I need to head back East for the summer. If I should get a new cat where do you recommend I get one? I don't really care too much about performance at this point, I just want to pass this thing.

It seems to me that the 1st gear ones were really out of whack.

Thanks guys.

*Larrio Motors* · 06-08-2007, 04:36 PM

Correct me if i'm wrong... but a catback couldn't affect emissions because it is a "cat-back", and hence already AFTER the catalytic converter.

So i'm not really sure what a CA spec cat is in this case.

*Wil's95SE* · 06-08-2007, 05:16 PM

They were high but definitely not anything to do with the cat back. I would suspect EGR system. Is the car running fine? Is it sluggish, sputtering, or anything like that? My numbers were high like that and it ended up being EGR issue.

*finkasaur* · 06-08-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larrio Motors

Correct me if i'm wrong... but a catback couldn't affect emissions because it is a "cat-back", and hence already AFTER the catalytic converter.

So i'm not really sure what a CA spec cat is in this case.

Just for clarity...I replaced EVERYTHING including the cat. Sorry about the wording there.

Yes, car is running fine. Just earlier this week I was going over 90 on the 10 without missing a beat. To me the car seems to be running great. Let me add this, as a work around to my air temp sensor issue I had in the other post I kind of just "tucked" the sensor into the filter (between the MAF and filter) because I didn't have anywhere to drill a hole to fit it. Would this lack of "vacuum" cause my off readings? It seems like and EGR valve is fairly easy to change, I'm up for trying that if it is recommended.

Also, I remembered after the fact. I had to let my car sit cold for like 10 minutes while another car finished. If I run it hotter when I get there, the CAT should burn off more of the "gases" and give a lower reading (I would think).

MorpheusZero · 06-09-2007, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finkasaur

Just for clarity...I replaced EVERYTHING including the cat. Sorry about the wording there.

Yes, car is running fine. Just earlier this week I was going over 90 on the 10 without missing a beat. To me the car seems to be running great. Let me add this, as a work around to my air temp sensor issue I had in the other post I kind of just "tucked" the sensor into the filter (between the MAF and filter) because I didn't have anywhere to drill a hole to fit it. Would this lack of "vacuum" cause my off readings? It seems like and EGR valve is fairly easy to change, I'm up for trying that if it is recommended.

Also, I remembered after the fact. I had to let my car sit cold for like 10 minutes while another car finished. If I run it hotter when I get there, the CAT should burn off more of the "gases" and give a lower reading (I would think).

Yep, the cat works better when it's at temperature (which is the main reason we have precats in the ypipe). Try to run it for at least a half hour right before you're smogged.

*finkasaur* · 06-09-2007, 10:05 AM

So much for running hot...lol

I drove for 40 minutes and when I got there drove right in...nobody there.

Here are the results:

2nd Gear:

RPM: 1555
CO2: 13.97
O2%: .65
HC PPM: MAX (54) GP (271) MEAS (247)
CO%: MAX (.50) GP (2.00) MEAS (.64)
NO PPM: MAX (430) GP (1918) MEAS (2198)

3rd Gear:

RPM: 1730
CO2: 14.61
O2%: .21
HC PPM: MAX (37) AVE (7) MEAS (110)
CO%: MAX (.47) AVE (.03) MEAS (.15)
NO PPM: MAX (717) AVE (50) MEAS (969)

I'm WORSE in everything and I'm a gross polluter now...lol

I think I'm just going to get a CA Spec Cat from Warpspeed and be done with it. Yeah I could clean out the EGR pipe, but that still won't explain the jump in HC.

Thanks for the help everyone.

DR-Max · 06-13-2007, 04:33 PM

I have a stock cali-spec cat in storage. It came off of a 95 SE. It is still in good shape and cheap!

Quote:

Originally Posted by finkasaur

So much for running hot...lol

I drove for 40 minutes and when I got there drove right in...nobody there.

Here are the results:

2nd Gear:

RPM: 1555
CO2: 13.97
O2%: .65
HC PPM: MAX (54) GP (271) MEAS (247)
CO%: MAX (.50) GP (2.00) MEAS (.64)
NO PPM: MAX (430) GP (1918) MEAS (2198)

3rd Gear:

RPM: 1730
CO2: 14.61
O2%: .21
HC PPM: MAX (37) AVE (7) MEAS (110)
CO%: MAX (.47) AVE (.03) MEAS (.15)
NO PPM: MAX (717) AVE (50) MEAS (969)

I'm WORSE in everything and I'm a gross polluter now...lol

I think I'm just going to get a CA Spec Cat from Warpspeed and be done with it. Yeah I could clean out the EGR pipe, but that still won't explain the jump in HC.

Thanks for the help everyone.

*Chunger* · 06-14-2007, 09:32 AM

Now that you are classified as GROSS POLLUTER you can only go to a TEST ONLY station... well it would if your car were registered in CA... dunno in your case. I would just get a new 3 way catalytic converter and be done with it. You should pass afterwards with flying colors since you still have your precats (you didn't mention you have a Y-pipe).

A33 VQ30DEK · 06-14-2007, 07:55 PM

i think pumping the EGR could help you pass.