California smog check for Light Duty Diesels

[Martyn]

I got my registration renewal for my truck today and it included a notice that the truck needed a smog check. Double take, this is a diesel truck, there is no smog check on diesels in California.

I started to think about how I was going to get this sorted out with the DMV and did some internet research. Well, I don't know if I've had my head under a log for the past year, but California now has smog checks for Light Duty Diesel Trucks.

"Beginning January 2010, state law requires certain diesel powered vehicles to be included in the Smog Check Program. This includes all model year 1998 and newer diesel vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 14,000 pounds and less.

The diesel vehicle Smog Check consists of an on-board diagnostic test, a visual inspection of the emissions components and a visible smoke test".

[psdfrank]

Yep, we are getting nickeled and dimed, i'm lucky enough to have a 95' though.

[redthies]

99% of the time I love California, when it comes to "rules" and the price of camping I am NOT in love... If only the water temps were warmer up in the other pacific states and province... Wetsuits suck!

[cnynrat]

Tempted to say something rude about this, but lets just say this sounds like another high cost/low value program brought to us by CARB. I'm all for clean air, but really don't think this will make a difference.

Just missed it this year, my Powerstroke will be up for inspection next year.

[Maximus Ram]

Just wait til you go the the test station..from what I've heard from Diesel owners, its not nice ($$)...
And people wonder why we spell kalifornia with a k...:orngartis

[Martyn]

I don't have a problem with the smog check. Although I own a diesel I hate the clouds of black smoke that issue from some trucks. I am left scratching my head a little that this check is only for vehicles under 14,000 lbs. Is there something else for the big rigs?

[bobcat charlie]

I had to get the 'smog check' on my '03 to register it this year. It is a joke...$78 to visually inspect that the truck is stock, look at the tail pipe while the throttle is blipped. I wonder what happens if the 'smog technician' thinks a little soot is excessive? Would an after market air filter system fail you? Change the intake manifold and fail?

Impossing added regulation and costs on the public and on business is one of the main reasons California has 13% unemployment...this diesel smog check will cost California millions and have almost no impact on air quality.

[Martyn]

Diesels do pollute that's for sure, a Google search for "Diesel Pollution" will provide a wealth of information. One of the top rates summaries says "diesel pollution contains more than 40 “air toxics” including carcinogens and fine particulate matter", and if you delve further you get the statistics of deaths and aliments caused by diesel pollution.

So while the diesel smog check in California may be cursory and expensive I still don't see it as a bad thing. While we would all like to be free from regulations and laws, I don't think we have to look far to see that without them individuals and companies have a strong tendency to go to extremes with total disregard to others health, wealth, and happiness.

I just don't think the owner of that big rig or light diesel is going to do anything about spewing black smoke, particulates, and nitrous oxide into the air unless it has a major effect on the performance of their vehicle, the mpg, or there is enforcement of a law to stop them.

[charlieaarons]

For vehicles over 14000 lb GVW: aftermarket DPF fitment will be required by ~2014 UNLESS the vehicle is an RV.
So get a vehicle >14000 (F450-550-650-750, Freightliner, Unimog, etc) and put a camper on it.

Charlie

[RocKrawler]

Sorry to hear that Martyn, when in CA it was aways one of the big advantages of owning the diesel - never having to worry about smog checks! Its a bummer to hear that has changed. Living in VA now I have found out there are other things they still get you on, like yearly state inspections ($16 here) for the entire state, and some counties still have smog testing in addition to that. They still charge sales tax and registration fees at the DMV. Oh, and to top that off, you get this little letter from the local government a few months later notifying you they have valued our vehicle at $xxx and you get a property tax bill for owning that vehicle, never saw that one coming! Kali isnt the only state that nickels and dimes you to death!

[Outback]

That Law is a complete joke. Not only are they wasting yours and tax payers money but will have ZERO affect on air quality. Further more modern diesel trucks get less MPG because of there "new" CARB certified emission exhaust systems. So how can something that makes you use more fuel per Mile help the environment? The manufacturing of these special and exotic systems also produce more pollutants in the environment and add a few thousand dollars to the expense of your new vehicle. Another example is the great little VW diesel that was getting 60 mpg. When CARB came out VW stopped selling them. I never saw any "black soot" come out from these little vehicles. But since they didnt meet the new CARB requirements they stopped selling them. The new version gets about 35 mpg. One step forward 3 steps back. Also these "new" exhaust systems make it so you cannot convert your diesel engine to burn 100% veggie oil. That to me is just a crime! When you burn Veggie oil you have NO pollutants. Burning veggie oil keeps millions of gallons of waste veggie oil out of land fills as well. You have better MPGs, more power and your engine lasts longer. To me its criminal what these people with power have done. All in the name of protecting the environment. Thats a bunch of Hogwash!

[John E]

there are still pollutants when using vegetable oil, they're just different than the ones that come out of fossil diesel. It's far less toxic but they still produce pollutants. I don't know of any form of combustion that doesn't produce some sort of pollutant.

Vegetable oil also has less energy stored in it then fossil diesel so you typically get lower MPG and less power when using it, that's been the case with my own veggie converted Mercedes 300TD and has been since we got it and started using oil instead of diesel.

As for those little Volkswagen diesels, the original diesel Rabbits used to smoke like a semi tractor. They did get great mileage but they were producing a lot of pollutants both visible and invisible. The newer ones get fantastic mileage with less visible and invisible pollutants due to much better fuel injection systems. They can run on bio-diesel very easily and some people are running a 2 tank vegetable oil system with them.

[nely]

From what I was told by the lady at dmv. Right now ca is smogging any diesel with a vin that ends in an even number. So I assume all will be smogged next year. I have a 96 econoline and 80 rabbit pickup. The rabbit doesn't smoke much at all. Either did my econoline.. till I added a dp tuner. Now it smokes like mad when not on stock setting.
Big rigs are smoke test when you have a fleet, which consists of 2 or more diesels. Not including personal vehicles like you and me. I mean I own 2.
The smog guy I know said he's done a few. He pops the hood and looks. Closes and charges 60 or whatever. But they are looking for cat deletes and stuff. A pyrometer is auto fail. Obviously if you have a pyro your watching the temp cuz you've got aftermarket products. A lot of companies are now going thru carb approval for there diesel products. That will hike the price up on the parts to cover the thousands it cost to apply and test them for carb approval. I believe ny and others follow carb so expect those states to start doing similar things.
Even 2011 streetbikes will be emissioned soon. Its just gonna be a never ending cycle with emissions and will only get worse and worse.
Of course clean air isn't a bad thing.

Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using Tapatalk

[BigJimCruising]

Yet another reason why I can't wait to retire and move back to America!!

[Regcabguy]

99% of the time I love California, when it comes to "rules" and the price of camping I am NOT in love... If only the water temps were warmer up in the other pacific states and province... Wetsuits suck! I'm still wearing a wetsuit in August no less thanks to La Nina. CARB has admitted the conclusions they came to were based on junk science concocted by an uncredentialed "scientist". It's not going to impact us light duty owners that much. The losers are the independent truckers and small construction companies that are required to retrofit or replace their existing fleets. My super reliable 1992 Hino 4 cylinder tiltcab at work was replaced by an International of the same size and IH's Workforce engine. Results: fuel economy went from 14mpg to 09 mpg. The International is actually louder also. Where's the gain?

[Outback]

I'm still wearing a wetsuit in August no less thanks to La Nina. CARB has admitted the conclusions they came to were based on junk science concocted by an uncredentialed "scientist". It's not going to impact us light duty owners that much. The losers are the independent truckers and small construction companies that are required to retrofit or replace their existing fleets. My super reliable 1992 Hino 4 cylinder tiltcab at work was replaced by an International of the same size and IH's Workforce engine. Results: fuel economy went from 14mpg to 09 mpg. The International is actually louder also. Where's the gain?



That about somes it up!

[charlieaarons]

A pyrometer is auto fail.


Very logical (I'm being sarcastic).

Charlie

[bobcat charlie]

FYI...I have a pyro and they didn't fail me. The whole $72 'smog test' took less than 10 minutes...at that rate that would be $432/hour!

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: DMV and SMOG restrictions are a few of the many reasons I registered my jeep in Nevada--relatively few rules and no SMOG requirements--

:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider: JIMBO

[Martyn]

:sombrero: DMV and SMOG restrictions are a few of the many reasons I registered my jeep in Nevada--relatively few rules and no SMOG requirements--

:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider: JIMBO

Washoe County, Reno area, has diesel smog. It depends on the county you live in.

[JIMBO]

:sombrero:----YUP, I'm in Lyons county--no smog



Washoe County, Reno area, has diesel smog. It depends on the county you live in.

:wings::costumed-smiley-007 JIMBO

[DEEZLPWR]

I don't know of any form of combustion that doesn't produce some sort of pollutant.

hydrogen.

[DEEZLPWR]

all of this emissions crap is all about money revenue. charging $75for a human being to take 10 second to observe something is criminal and absolutely insane to do so at that price. If someone requires us to have us take time out of our life to bring our vehicle to them so they can see if it clears why do we have to pay when they are the ones requiring it???????????

[cnynrat]

hydrogen.

Water vapor is a green house gas.

[DEEZLPWR]

Water vapor is a green house gas.

and clouds are made of.......

water vapor is a phase of a liquid not a gas.

what negative effects does water vapor have on the planet (aside from cloud cover)? I mean we should take god to court for making clouds....


really this is the argument? cant have everything.

We as human beings put out more CO2 than anything on this planet.

We should stop breathing.

[Christian P.]

How long before they start smog test for the motorcyles?

[DEEZLPWR]

How long before they start smog test for the motorcyles?


hopefully never. modern bikes run so dang clean all it will be is another source of revenue...

we will be nickle and dimed to death till we are taxed on air to breathe

[cnynrat]

and clouds are made of.......

water vapor is a phase of a liquid not a gas.

what negative effects does water vapor have on the planet (aside from cloud cover)? I mean we should take god to court for making clouds....


really this is the argument? cant have everything.

We as human beings put out more CO2 than anything on this planet.

We should stop breathing.

A couple stipulations first:

1. I don't want to turn this into another global climate change debate.
2. I'm not a believer in the scientific case for global climate change.

That said, water vapor is indeed a gas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vapor). It is in fact the gaseous phase of water.

Water vapor also happens to be the most common greenhouse gas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas) in our atmosphere. A greenhouse gas is one that absorbs and emits energy in the infrared spectrum, thereby causing the earth to warm.

If we conclude that CO2 is a pollutant due to its greenhouse gas properties, it's only logical that we would deem human produced water vapor to also be a pollutant since it has similar greenhouse properties.

So, my original comment was intended to point out that hydrogen powered vehicles do in fact have emissions, and those emissions may be considered by some to be "pollution". And by the way, we haven't even talked about what happens in the production of the hydrogen that goes in the car in the first place. I'm not sure either of those facts are commonly recognized by many that believe hydrogen is the answer to the world's problems.

So, as you say, we can't have everything.

[DEEZLPWR]

now that you cleared it up it makes more sense. and i wont turn this into a climate thread either. :D

[bajajoaquin]

hopefully never. modern bikes run so dang clean all it will be is another source of revenue...

we will be nickle and dimed to death till we are taxed on air to breathe

Actually, the requirements for motorcycles are only about a third as stringent as for cars.

[DEEZLPWR]

Actually, the requirements for motorcycles are only about a third as stringent as for cars.


true but it will still be enough ammo to get revenue from.

[bonito]

Back to California:

So whats the deal with the smog check? My registration is up in Nov and I heard the techs slam on the gas pedal to see for smoke.......and any mods you fail! I have a home made cold air intake?! Do I need to go to stock again for the test?
Does anyone with mods have their Diesel smoged yet? What was the outcome?
Or do I have to find a back yard garage pay some extra and all good?
I love Cali, moved here 3 years ago, but the fees and regs are worse than in Germany where I am from and trust me thouse Germans are anal (in a nice way)!

[Regcabguy]

Welcome! This is a great site! Logon to www.cumminsforum.com and www.dieseltruckregister.com for Dodge diesel specific information. Intake should be fine. The problem is uninformed smog techs who aren't too savvy on the procedure. Register with those sites and somebody'll refer you to a competent tech in your area. Any power adders should come off. Sad to hear Cali's higher than Germany.

[bonito]

Will check it out, thanks.

[bajajoaquin]

I, for one, am generally in favor of clean air initiatives. I grew up in the LA basin in the 70s, and I remember the bad old days of smog. While LA is still one of the worst in the nation, I think it's one of the only metropolitan areas to have actually gotten cleaner in the last decades.

I'm also not naive enough to think that air quality is going to get better if the burden goes to everybody except me.

Do I think that an hourly rate of $432 is excessive? Yes. Do I think CARB is inefficient? Yes. Do I find it a pain? Yes.

But I bought a 7,000 pound pollution-controlled vehicle in California. I knew it was illegal to change or modify the emissions equipment. I'll suck it up and deal with it.

After all, I'm in favor of the end result they're trying to achieve.

[dragogt]

Welcome! This is a great site! Logon to www.cumminsforum.com and www.dieseltruckregister.com for Dodge diesel specific information. Intake should be fine. The problem is uninformed smog techs who aren't too savvy on the procedure. Register with those sites and somebody'll refer you to a competent tech in your area. Any power adders should come off. Sad to hear Cali's higher than Germany.

http://www.dieselbombers.com/ and http://www.thetruckstop.us/forum/forum.php are also some good ones..

[ntsqd]

From two days ago email:

http://killcarb.org/

[DEEZLPWR]

i just dont understand the reasoning and thought behind making an engine so choked up on the exhaust and emission side that the engine runs less efficient. to make up for this lack of efficiency you must burn more fuel.. thus putting more emissions into the air.

e85 is a joke....
the amount of mileage per gallon on e85 is less than gas. so you have to fill up more on e85 to get the same equivalent mileage that gas has. so using more e85 just nullifies its reason.

diesel emission systems, regeneration cycles consume massive amounts of fuel, and you have to fill up more. so you end up putting the same if not more into the air.

our governments and big oil has buried all the technologies that can free us from oil just so they can keep lining their pockets.

until greed of man stops we will always be at the bottom of the bucket trying to pay our way out of the hole that they dug for us and placed us in.

[Regcabguy]

That's why you'll see increased usage of urea in the future. It enables the manufacturers to lessen the regen events and I guess turn down the egr a bit. The price of urea is predicted to drop quite a bit as I've read that only one company is producing it presently. I ordered my '07 5.9 in November '06,just a couple of months before the axe came down.

[billy bee]

When you burn Veggie oil you have NO pollutants... You have better MPGs, more power and your engine lasts longer.

I'm not so sure this is true. Using biofuels in my diesel vehicles has reduced MPGs and power. A gallon of veggie diesel has fewer BTUs than a gallon of dino diesel.

There is a valuable study on fuel additives, however, that supports your last statement: using veggie diesel s a fuel additive does reduce wear on the engine.

bb

[bonito]

I thought veggie fuel is better and give you more hp for your fuel and better for the engine too?
I am confused now?! :-)

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I'm so sick of California! (Kalifornia!)......!

I'm ready to rent out my house and move to Arizona, where I can wear a gun!....and drive a diesel!...:costumed-smiley-007



.

[DEEZLPWR]

I'm not so sure this is true. Using biofuels in my diesel vehicles has reduced MPGs and power. A gallon of veggie diesel has fewer BTUs than a gallon of dino diesel.

There is a valuable study on fuel additives, however, that supports your last statement: using veggie diesel s a fuel additive does reduce wear on the engine.

bb



you are correct, biodiesel has less energy per volume than regular diesel. less mpg less power. its like 12% i think. could be off a bit though:coffee:

[Fish]

you are correct, biodiesel has less energy per volume than regular diesel. less mpg less power. its like 12% i think. could be off a bit though:coffee:

That was my experience using commercial grade bio in my Powerstroke.

[Jnich77]

Leave it to Ca to spend even more money when they are flat broke.

[Regcabguy]

Leave it to Ca to spend even more money when they are flat broke. We're mimicking the Obama administration. The only difference being,we can't print money.

[Jnich77]

We're mimicking the Obama administration. The only difference being,we can't print money.

Mauahhaaaaa...now thats funny!

[lwindram]

Diesel Power had an article either this month or the last month that detailed the smog testing procedures that will be used. They also had a number of tips on how to pass the test.
According to the article, they will use a "smoke opacity test", which is a mechanized test that checks how much light passes through the exhaust at a certain rpm. So not just a visual inspection by a tech.
It certainly didn't sound like the end of the world, since most trucks should be able to pass. Kind of a bummer about the cost of the test though.

[bobcat charlie]

No "smoke opacity test" last month...just blipped the throttle while looking at the tail pipe. Truely a waste of time and money.

BTW, the smog station owner said they are going to have to install cameras to record the tech doing the smog test. The video will be transmitted to CARB as part of the test results!

There is no limit to the intrusion by these enviro-nazis. We even have 'spare the air' days here where ABAG/CARB wants you to report any of you neighbors who are using their fireplaces! And, yes, they do have 'inspectors' driving through neighborhoods looking for fireplace smoke.

[DEEZLPWR]

we should place a fine on any volcano that erupts. that makes about as much sense as this emissions nickle and dime crap.