Failed CA Smog Test
Good to go for another two years.
08-11-2012, 02:27 AM
#32
Rennlist Member
Here is a recent post from me....
My shop (SGS Motorsports in San Luis Obispo, CA) replaced the stock down stream sensors with two Mini Cat sensors from FVD
Below from the FVD web site in BLUE:
Oxygen Sensor Simulator (Minicat)
FVD 111 LAM SIM
$79 Ea.
Having problems with your Check Engine Light? Want to run Cat Bypass pipes or a free flowing sports catalyst set up on your vehicle without having to reprogram the DME (ECU)?
Our adapter achieves a sufficient measurement for the air/CO ratio and increases the tolerance range between the pre and post cat oxygen sensors. In addition, the sensitivity of the oxygen sensor is also reduced allowing you to run a nearly any exhaust or catalytic set up, including bypass pipes, without the need to reprogram your ECU! Use only for the 2nd oxygen sensor (after catalytic)!
After replacing the two O sensors with Mini Cat sensors, my tech forced two of the codes to reset...then drove around a bit and watched the remainder of the codes reset. As far as the $79 X 2, more than worth it to me to pass smog. It would have cost me more than that to put the stock cat back in, test for smog, remove the stock cat, re-install my Fabspeed X pipes and 200 cell sport cats. Now I am STREET Legal again!!!
My shop (SGS Motorsports in San Luis Obispo, CA) replaced the stock down stream sensors with two Mini Cat sensors from FVD
Below from the FVD web site in BLUE:
Oxygen Sensor Simulator (Minicat)
FVD 111 LAM SIM
$79 Ea.
Having problems with your Check Engine Light? Want to run Cat Bypass pipes or a free flowing sports catalyst set up on your vehicle without having to reprogram the DME (ECU)?
Our adapter achieves a sufficient measurement for the air/CO ratio and increases the tolerance range between the pre and post cat oxygen sensors. In addition, the sensitivity of the oxygen sensor is also reduced allowing you to run a nearly any exhaust or catalytic set up, including bypass pipes, without the need to reprogram your ECU! Use only for the 2nd oxygen sensor (after catalytic)!
After replacing the two O sensors with Mini Cat sensors, my tech forced two of the codes to reset...then drove around a bit and watched the remainder of the codes reset. As far as the $79 X 2, more than worth it to me to pass smog. It would have cost me more than that to put the stock cat back in, test for smog, remove the stock cat, re-install my Fabspeed X pipes and 200 cell sport cats. Now I am STREET Legal again!!!
08-11-2012, 11:19 AM
#33
Hi Nick,
Ventil Sauber and Jectron are additives (by a company called LubriMoly) that help treat your injectors and valve deposits. You basically add a bottle of each to an empty gas tank, then fill up with gas and do your spirited run prior to a Smog retest.
A search on the web will net numerous places where you can get this stuff but Steve Weiner here on the board is a great contact as well (http://www.rennsportsystems.com).
I also ran into this article on high HC values which was an interesting read for me: http://www.smogtips.com/failed-high-hydrocarbons-HC.cfm
As others have mentioned, there may be other underlying issues and the use of additives isn't necessarily a guaranteed fix. For me it was a first step and I was fairly confident I don't have valve guide issues yet as my oil consumption sits around 1500 miles per quart.
Good luck!
Ventil Sauber and Jectron are additives (by a company called LubriMoly) that help treat your injectors and valve deposits. You basically add a bottle of each to an empty gas tank, then fill up with gas and do your spirited run prior to a Smog retest.
A search on the web will net numerous places where you can get this stuff but Steve Weiner here on the board is a great contact as well (http://www.rennsportsystems.com).
I also ran into this article on high HC values which was an interesting read for me: http://www.smogtips.com/failed-high-hydrocarbons-HC.cfm
As others have mentioned, there may be other underlying issues and the use of additives isn't necessarily a guaranteed fix. For me it was a first step and I was fairly confident I don't have valve guide issues yet as my oil consumption sits around 1500 miles per quart.
Good luck!
However, if the oil comsumption is within acceptable range/valve guide wear is not ready for repair/rework, then do these measures seem reasonable?
Maybe a cocktail every 5k-10k miles, and check valve replacement every 30k. Does there appear to be any logic in this attempt at 'preventitive measure' thought process?
BTW, is the check valve readily accessible (easy to change) and can someone post a diagram, or describe its location?
What about the valves having some caked on carbon deposites that eventually get loosened and break off due to the cocktail mentioned above; with the pieces gettng lodged in the SAI ports, which assist in capturing other pieces...I think you can see where my thought process is going with this.
Last edited by nine9six; 08-11-2012 at 11:27 AM. Reason: Another thought...
08-11-2012, 02:31 PM
#34
Rennlist Member
No doubt. If Adele is willing to travel cross country in a stinky old 911 with no A/C, no radio, stiff suspension, and wearing ear plugs most of the time, she deserves some 5 star treatment. Best Western hotels and a steady diet of beef jerkey and gatorade is my usual style on a solo effort, but I don't think that's the program here. At least the sport seats are comfy!!
Keith and Ed know my car, but here it is (sorry for the large size, I don't know how to shrink them):
Keith and Ed know my car, but here it is (sorry for the large size, I don't know how to shrink them):
See posts 21 & 22 above.
