I had to do the emissions test.

White Snake · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 01:34 PM

For the first time since I built the car in 1997, I had to get an emissions test. I thought I might be exempt, wrong! I guess they don't emission vehicles for the first 5 years in Washington State.

It is a 1988 EFI motor I have catalyctic converters but the air pump was not hooked up. I was also concerned they would make me pass the 1997 emissions and not the 1988 requirements. I brought all of my original inspection paperwork from the state patrol and a copy of the Mustang Donor Title so I could prove that I had full disclosure of what it was when I built it.

The emissions office was awestruck and confused on what to do. They all came over and checked out the car. After little discussion and no arguments, they set me up for the 1988 5.0 requirements and ran the test. It not only passed but it REALLY passed. The HC read 16 PPM at cruise (25 mph) and the limit was 150 PPM the CO was .01 percent at
cruise and the limit was 1.0 percent. I probably could have passed the 1997 requirements. The 5.0 EFI engines are clean running motors!

I left with a huge smile. I have never had such a good time at the emissions office! Now it is time for the turbos!

Dave
FFR 1060 5.0 EFI

mikiec · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 01:56 PM

Dave,

Those are the numbers one should expect to see with the cats hooked up. It is really amazing what the Cats can do in cleaning up the exhaust.

Mike

Mr.Fixit · #3 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 04:07 PM

Off topic, a mechanic I used to work with who was also a smog tech (I only deal with smog exempt stuff) said that some cars need to get the cats hot to pass. Hyundai's were named specifically, he said you would have to hot lap the car around the block in second gear for a few minutes until the cat got really hot, then quickly do the test before it cooled off. Anybody heard anything like this before?

xlr8or · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 04:17 PM

MrF
Yes I have heard of that.
I think it has to do with aging cats primarily. As they get older and they don't clean the exhaust as well they have to get good and hot before they work at the peak.
My brother is a smog tech here in San Diego and he has told me that if he doesn't have time to let a car run for 10 or 15 minutes before testing he will hot lap it around the block a couple of times to get the temperatures up. I believe the California test requires the car to be at full running temp prior to test.

Scott

wrench · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 05:09 PM

cats do have to be fully warmed up to work right, they are burning off the excess hydrocarbons. newer cars have heaters in the o2 sensors so that they will control fuel mixtures sooner after cold start.

Back in Black · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 07:56 PM

No emissions testing at all down here in the Olympia area...and the air is the best I have seen/breathed anywhere on the mainland USA...there is emissions testing in Tacoma (Pierce county)