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...

[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!