smog fail - oops

[ryan.f]

Well, the fun has to start somewhere when you buy a 'new' car, eh?

Failed the initial-registration smog-test today:

It measured:

15mph @ 1641RPM
CO2: 14.0%
O2: 0.9%
HC: 192 PPM (max: 116 PPM; avg: 31 PPM)
CO: 0.65% (max: 0.74%; avg: 0.10%)
NO: 1978 PPM (max: 791 PPM; avg: 237 PPM)

25mph @ 1803RPM
CO2: 14.1%
O2: 0.9%
HC: 151 PPM (max: 91 PPM; avg: 20 PPM)
CO: 0.60% (max: 0.62%; avg: 0.09%)
NO: 1534 PPM (max: 730 PPM; avg: 199 PPM)

This is the enhanced smog test in California. Anyway, looks like it needs a new cat? Any other things to look out for? O2 sensor? I'm going to try to bring it by Santo's as soon as I can. I'm also going to do the basics: new engine/gearbox oil, filters, plugs, etc.

-ryan

[Gubi]

Yeah, probably new cat, I'm afraid. The dyno test is a b-tch on NOx, and the original cats have a lot of trouble with it.

[Gilles]

Ryan,
There is a new Bosch O2 sensor on ebay with a couple of days left to go
Gilles

[75evo]

New O2 sensor and cat should help out a lot. Gearbox oil won't help. But new oil, air filter, and clean out the oil vapor separator as well. Check for old leaky hoses.

[ryan.f]

Tom,

Yeah, that's what it looks like it needs -- a new cat.

Gilles,

Hey! Too bad I missed the mini SoCal X gathering today. The O2 sensor on the car should already be new.

75evo,

Yeah, I'd assume the gearbox oil (was just throwing out my preliminary laundry list) won't help emissions. . Thanks for the tips on the vacuum hoses and the oil vapor seperator (maybe you can clue me on what that is).

Anyway, I'll see how it goes, I'll try to get it to be nice and green, no pun intended, for Arnold.

thanks a lot everyone,

-ryan

[slyalfa]

yea most L-jet cars not just Alfa need a new cat to pass.
there is a lot of cars that have been scraped due to a cheap $100 cat.
if you pay more then $100 installed you got the shaft.
also you will notice a big power gain with the new cat. as the old type are crappy.
at lest I did. if you do a search this has come up over and over and with a new cat the numbers drop big time.
before HC is at 227 CO 3.18
after HC is at 24 and CO 0.01 and my NO went from 475 to 17

[shoshone3]

Your numbers are very good, low CO, low O2 and only moderate HC. The engine is running well. It's just the NOX, which is corrected by an EGR valve and/or Cat. Assuming there is no EGR, it's probably the cat.