Anyone have any info on new CA Diesel smog laws?

[5akman]

I've got an ATT sitting in my garage but am unsure on the install with the new smog requirements on the horizon. I had also planned on either water injection or an intercooler. Does anyone know what years they will be testing and when testing will begin? Will it be an every other year test like a gasser? (I'm pissed right now because I just failed the smog test on my '95 VW Golf commuter car and the guys in the shop were talking about the diesel test although no one had any info) Is it suppossedly a tail pipe and/or visual test for all stock components?

I have removed the vacuum canister, replaced with a TurboMaster and Heath ECM. I wonder if this will "fail" me, if in fact my '99 will require the inspection.

Welcome to California! Tax and tax the working class and then provide every free service to the illegal immigrants! I know as I'm a high school counselor who has to set up each new student with all the "free" stuff. I hate my job because of this!

Now stepping off my soap box............:mad2:

Lance

 

[BigBlueChevy]

Might of not been a bad idea to have checked the smog laws first before buying the upgrades.

Here's my take on it. Upgrades like the heath PCM and ATT make the engine run smoother and burn its air/fuel mixture more efficiently. Adding either an intercooler or water mist will help reduce the temperature of the intake charge. Lower intake charge temp means the air is more dense. Its been proven that a lower temperature intake charge produces fewer emissions than one with a higher temp intake charge.

I don't know exactly what they will be looking for in your CA smog check, but I would imagine they are going to check for emissions components, and look for modifications. If its just visual, you may be in a bit of trouble. If its a sniffer test, your setup may allow you to pass better than others. Especially with an intercooler or water mist.

The other guys will chime in better as this is really just my theory as what to expect.

 

[CtChevy427]

Take a look here at item 1.

http://search.ca.gov/search?q=diese..._dmv&proxystylesheet=ca_dmv&getfields=subject

Right to the PDF File:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/vin_memos/vin2009/09vin28.pdf

 

[JiFaire]

Looks like the program starts in 1998 as the minimum model year. Your turbomaster and even an ATT, given the EO claims and information given, shouldn't hurt anything. Your Heath reflash might, although it isn't specifically an aftermarket tuner or 'chip' - it is a standard ECM with a modified set of parameters - I wouldn't say anything and hope they can't tell the difference.

If they're looking for particulate emissions, make sure your Soot trap is in place; otherwise, your turbomaster and reflash should help it burn cleaner, if anything. You might even want to turn up your TM to get MORE boost - they won't be pulling anything, so it won't hurt your engine - it should reduce the amount of unburned particulates.

If they are doing a true SMOG test, they'll be testing for Nitrous oxides, and your modifications won't have helped or hurt those... In a gas engine, that is a bigger concern because of combustion temps - ergo catalytic converters, air pumps, and EGR..

-That's from a technical perspective, and just my opinion, worth what you paid for it - I'd sure be interested in hearing from somebody in A that knows what they test for.

 

[Rodd]

I have a friend who works for CARB (cal air resources board). He tests all the diesel engines and components for diesels. It is a visual only test. They will look for diesel cat, all the emissions equipment, and the dtc's. A performance PCM wont do a thing because they won't know if it has been modified.

I have a t/m w/ my vac pump removed so I'm not sure how it is going to pass. It is really subjective. The thing is to make a new friend who does smog checks. Like I said it is all visual.

 

[buddy]

Well, funny thing, in CA they go as far as to check the timing on vehicles. So they may check with a scanner to verify timing is within stock tolerances. I dont know if they will be on diesels or not, but they are going for 97+ for the OBDII factor for some reason.

And they check parts in the visual.

Since a 3500 is not rated for emissions controls, not sure any of it will matter anyway.