California smog check

notopM3 · Fri, Jun-25-2010, 03:25:17 PM

Just had my smog check yesterday and barely passed. Everything was good except the HC test. This test measures the amount of unburnt fuel leaving the engine. The max allowable is 54 parts per million, average is 9...I was at 53. All the other tests were almost perfect.

Any suggestion on how to get that number down?

camdinans3 · Fri, Jun-25-2010, 05:19:52 PM

new spark plugs and maybe clean your MAF and IVC

did you drive the car really hard right beforehand to get the cats hot?

M3Blurr · Fri, Jun-25-2010, 05:20:33 PM

How many miles on the spark plugs and oil? Tune up might be needed before attempting an inspection next year.

M3n00b · Fri, Jun-25-2010, 06:01:43 PM

Car wasn't warm enough....

das borgen · Fri, Jun-25-2010, 06:45:32 PM

all 3 answers could explain your "problem"

notopM3 · Sat, Jun-26-2010, 05:47:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camdinans3

new spark plugs and maybe clean your MAF and IVC

did you drive the car really hard right beforehand to get the cats hot?

I changed the plugs about 8 months ago. Cleaned the MAF about the same time. WHat's the IVC? Didn't really drive hard before the check.

notopM3 · Sat, Jun-26-2010, 05:48:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Blurr

How many miles on the spark plugs and oil? Tune up might be needed before attempting an inspection next year.

Fortunately I only have to get it done every other year. I just changed the oil about 2,000 miles ago with Mobile 1. Plugs are about 8 months old.

Zummie · Sat, Jun-26-2010, 05:56:07 AM

I got my car smogged on Tuesday morning and passed with flying colors and had 1s and 2s for everything. I drove my car around for 20 minutes before I got it smogged. I got it fully warm and then some. When you do end up not passing replace all of your O2 sensors and you should be good after that.

notopM3 · Sat, Jun-26-2010, 06:10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zummie

I got my car smogged on Tuesday morning and passed with flying colors and had 1s and 2s for everything. I drove my car around for 20 minutes before I got it smogged. I got it fully warm and then some. When you do end up not passing replace all of your O2 sensors and you should be good after that.

The guy at the check place mentioned the O2 sensors.

alanil · Sat, Jun-26-2010, 05:44:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notopM3

The guy at the check place mentioned the O2 sensors.

If you want to save some $$ just do the pre-cat ones. Those are the only ones used by the engine for air fuel mixture. They should be replaced at about 100k miles to keep the car running most efficiently and with the lowest emissions.

The post cat O2s are for the car to sense that the cats are working. The computer is just checking the voltage of those O2s for a "pass" or "fail".

Fri, Jun-25-2010, 03:25:17 PM	#1
notopM3 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 626 Reputation: 0 Location: San Diego	California smog check Just had my smog check yesterday and barely passed. Everything was good except the HC test. This test measures the amount of unburnt fuel leaving the engine. The max allowable is 54 parts per million, average is 9...I was at 53. All the other tests were almost perfect. Any suggestion on how to get that number down? __________________

Fri, Jun-25-2010, 05:19:52 PM	#2
camdinans3 Resident Rabble Rouser Join Date: Jul 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 13,139 Reputation: 0 Location: Charlestown NH	new spark plugs and maybe clean your MAF and IVC did you drive the car really hard right beforehand to get the cats hot? __________________ Andrew: AVUS 1995 ///95 Supercharged Club

Fri, Jun-25-2010, 05:20:33 PM	#3
M3Blurr Turd bro S54 retard! Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 928 Reputation: 0 Location: Long Island	How many miles on the spark plugs and oil? Tune up might be needed before attempting an inspection next year. __________________

Fri, Jun-25-2010, 06:45:32 PM	#5
das borgen Off-Topic King Join Date: Oct 2009 Age: 27 Posts: 6,500 In the garage: '00 Ducati 848 Evo '97 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Columbus, OH	all 3 answers could explain your "problem" __________________ Never run out of traction, real estate, and ideas at the same time.

Sat, Jun-26-2010, 05:56:07 AM	#8
Zummie Alpine Phoenix Owner Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 993 Reputation: 0 Location: San Bernadino County	I got my car smogged on Tuesday morning and passed with flying colors and had 1s and 2s for everything. I drove my car around for 20 minutes before I got it smogged. I got it fully warm and then some. When you do end up not passing replace all of your O2 sensors and you should be good after that. __________________ -Jonathan 1998 M3 Sedan, Alpine White - Black Dinan Exhaust, Dinan CAI, Dinan Stage 2 Software, X-Brace, Front H&R Sway Bar, UUC Black TMEs, RE RSMs, Rear TCKline Koni's and Front S/A Koni's, H&R OE Sports, GC RTAB Shims, Stewart WP, Zionsville Radiator, Depo IV w/ DDM 55W 6K HIDs, DDM 55W 6K HID Fogs, JTD Underpanel, Z3 Steering Rack, Hyper Silver Arc-8's 17x9 with 245/40s and V1

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