Smog test tips?

Fellas,

I did a quick search on the forum and couldn't find a thread already dealing with this so if I missed it please just point me in the right direction.

If not what I'm wondering is what I can do to help my car pass my local clean air inspection. They do the usual checking for exhaust leaks and putting a probe up the tailpipe to measure various hydrocarbon emissions (haha). Seems to me there must be some tweaks a guy could do that would help get the emissions numbers down? Possibly leaning out the mixture temporarily?

Thanks for any ideas.

 

Just do what I did when I was in Milwaukee. Run it down to a 1/4 tank, and put 2 bottles of Heat in it.

Lowered the emissions a ton, considering I was running on a percent of alcohol. Gets a little hot, but don't let it run like that for long.

Just make sure you go straight to the gas station and fill up right after to dilute it.

-Mark

 

This always works. I used it to get my hotrod through in Calif. Get your gas down to almost empty. Maybe 2 gal. Add 1 gal of denatured alcohol. The machine can't read it. It only sees CO & Hidrocarbon. UGOTPK PS you can buy it at any hardware store.

 

Thanks. So I'm thinking I would get the same result by running a blended fuel like the ones you can get now with some ethanol added to them:

http://www.myhusky.ca/you/fuel/ethanol_blended_fuel.html

Now what about adjusting the timing? Anything along those lines that might help?

I've got a '62 Coupe Deville that has to get through our Air Care test before I can get collector's plates for her.

Thanks again.

 

usually getting the car running it's best gives you the lowest emissions levels.

If the car fails the test, give us the test results, we might could suggest something.

 

Thanks Squirrel. If I fail I'll post the results here.

 

A fresh oil change, oil filter, air filter, base line on timing, RPM's up a bit and lean the carb down where you dont like how it runs. Its only for the test, re-tune when done. Aint E-test a lot of fun?

 

yeh lets see the results!

 

If you have solid lifters, adjust the exhaust valves two thousandths looser than spec.
That will reduce the valve overlap making it seem like a "mild" cam at idle.
That info was the first thing I ever looked up at the library on the internet.
I was looking for info on how to make my MGB GT pass the smog test.
When I went to tuneup school at the Peugeot factory for their primary secondary dual carb setup I learned that running the carb idle mix too lean will make the HC(?) low but make the CO(?) way high in the process. You need to have them balanced and on that particular car (504 I think, it's been over 30 years,) you flat could not get it to pass without adjusting it by what an exhaust analyzer sniffing it.
One "polutant" had to be just under the limit for the other to not be sky high.

Ignition advance units and timing operating and set to spec is a must.

Make sure you are running a thermostat at least as hot as stock because a cold running engine will be a dirty engine.
In CA, they even check to see if the seal on the gas cap holds vacuum on closed systems.

 

STP gass treatment works too. Wait till your on E put 2 cans in. Its not ''gas'' so it doesnt read the same, fill up tank right after.

My freind had a old smog checker at his shop, we hooked it up to our non smog cars to tune them, worked great.