Passed CA Emissions

[zr1don]

First I would like to give a shoutout to JR at TeamZR1 in Oregon. He runs a shop there that does custom tunes for anyone that wants to pay for the service. He came up with a number of sugestions that led to my passing emissions. I have contracted with him for a performance tune for my ZR1.
Thanks to all members who have posted info regarding their emissions testing, it took me a while to process the info and I believe I have a descent understanding of what effects emmisions testing and what to do to pass. I began the current testing process last August and failled. In 2010 CA reduced the measured emissions gases allowable from the previous standards. I last tested in 2008 and passed. My numbers in August would have passed with the old standards (what happened to the EPA rule that standards cannot be changed to become more restrictive?) Sorry, thats a little frustration coming through. My tests failled to meet the required NOX standards. My factory cats failed in 2009 and I replaced them with SSW headers and their bullet cats. I removed the AIR inj tubes from my stock manifolds and installed them on the SSW headers. My first attempt at passing in August was w/the aftermarket cats and headers. After failing I found the exterior cat temps were in the neighbor hood of 250 d F, not hot enough to significantly reduce emissions gases. An inquiry to SSW tech support brought the response "our cats are not certified to meet CA standards". Time to look for another set of cats. GM does not sell the cat/manifold for 90 LT5's so thats not an option. I have personal experience using after market magnaflow cats on a 96 Chevy 454 p/u, so I talked to their tech reps about it and found they have a CA approved cat for the 90 LT5. I was concerned about how to get the cat to heat up enough to work efficiently, and came up with a possible solution - thermo wrap. Several companies make the stuff, I chose Thermotec from NAPA. I wrapped both headers and both cats (see attached pics) Additionally I installed an oil catch can between the pcv valves and the intake manifold (as a result of finding oil in the intake manifold during a plenum pull to check all vacume lines. Of course you need to go through all the normal stuff if you are trying to pass an emissions test - fresh gas, fresh oil, plugs, pcv valves, all vacume lines, properly functioning O2 sensors, I Seafoamed the engine to assure no carbon buildups, and stock chip programming. My cats are now heating to 450d + and I passed. Anyone who isn't bored to death can ask whatever questions you might have, don't know if I have an answer but someone here will.
Just to summerize: Trying to pass CA smog w/aftermarket cats and headers:
1. Do all the normal stuff: fresh Chevron premium gas, fresh oil, fresh plugs, pcv valves, all vacume lines, properly functioning O2 sensors, Seafoam the engine to assure no carbon buildups, and stock chip programming.
2. Thermo wrap headers and cats (I did ask Magnaflow if this was OK, they said no problem)

[mike100]

It seems the NOx (and the other limits too) are based on county. Some people are held to higher limits. What year is your car? mine had a limit of 750 on high speed NOx the last time it tested- it's a 91 model year.

The NOx is mainly ign timing and engine load dependent- (combustion temps to be exact). So they let you by with headers?

Also, once the cat gets hot, did you feel that it wasn't staying hot? Usually HC and CO is easy to pass if the valve seal and compression are healthy-then it's just finding lambda on the fuel mix. Mostly NOx issues worry me because the 3-way part of the catalysts that deal with that do not have a lot of capacity and deactivates kind of easy compared to HC scrubbing ability.

I have a collection of LS3 catalysts that I'd love to graft onto some manifolds like that.

[mike100]

Let me also say that I thought that maybe the EPA levels were always low and the state is now just converging on those levels in an attempt to retire older cars sooner. They never had an underground regulation if the law allowed them to go lower the whole time.

[tccrab]

Congratulations on passing the CA SMOG Nazis!!
This is valuable information for any of our brothers having problems with their respective SMOG Nazis.
I suspect that our cycloptic Moderator will be very interested in your cure, as he's been trying to pass AZ SMOG since last year.
How much trouble was it with the referee in getting your headers waived?
My '90 still has her original manifolds/cats but I wouldn't mind switching over to headers in the off hand possibility that my original cats should fail *wink*wink*.:dancing

TomC
'Crabs

[zr1don]

I've had past experience with the referee system, I put a 96 454 engine and trans (w/all wiring) in a 95 Chevy p/u. That was a change from obd1 to obd2 and required a referee inspection and approval. It really isn't that difficult, DMV has a list of referee's you can use, call them explain what you are doing and if it within their purview, they will schedule an appointment to bring your vehicle for the inspection. If you pass their inspection you take it to a smog test station for testing, bring your successfully completed inspection back to them and they issue you an approval w/your changes.

I believe the key to passing w/aftermarket headers and cats is getting the cats to a high enough temperature to allow them to convert. Of course that assumes all the stuff on your engine functions as its supposed to. The aftermarket cat system will not cover other systems not functioning properly like the factory cat will.

[mike100]

The remaining question is if that company listed a cat for the LT5, was it intended to be grafted onto the original manifold? Did the ref even realize the headers were not oem?

considering our options, or lack thereof, I like your idea of air-injecting aftermarket pipes.

[zr1don]

I don't know the intent of Magnaflow, the cat manufacturer, but the cat comes w/inlet and outlet pipe, looks like it was intended to be installed in line in the exhaust, not attached directly to the stock exhaust manifold. They recommend you have them installed at a "professional installation shop". The shops are required to make the installation as close to original oem as possible? The referee approves or disapproves the exhaust manifold, which GM no longer makes. You have to show proof to the referee that the part is no longer available.

[tf95ZR1]

Wrapping the CATs- great idea!

[FU]

Remember one thing , that is while your car is on the rollers testing emissions. That one of the big advantages of the stock chip is the 1-4 skip shift. Take a second to think about that .

[tomtom72]

Thank you Don as you added some info for me to think about on my car. NYS is also somewhat strict. I was thinking that I would send my CATs out with the headers and get them coated as well.

Thanks for the tip on the magnaflow cats too!

:cheers:
Tom

[GOLDCYLON]

Wrapping the CATs- great idea!


Agree one of my biggest concerns with the Stainless HI Magnaflow Cats were that they would not get hot enough to pass emissions as they disapated heat rapidly. I am still sold that they can never pass the treadmill test as they have also out here in AZ. My suggestion to all my ZR-1 brothers out there is if you are running headers and need to pass a treadmill emission test to not buy the stainless highflows.

These Magnaflows as discussed are regular generic style cats that should pass but I like the wrapping idea. Frank where are you going with the CAGS? Last time I took the test I was aloowed the drive as the kid testing the car could not drive a standard.

[gbrtng]

Frank's right about CAGS - the original EPA tests were run with shifts at 15, 25 and 35 mph for 4-speed transmissions. So GM tricked the ZF to be a 4 speed if you shift out of first at 15 mph. The reason was to keep engine revs as low as possible to make the best EPA mpg numbers.

If roller emission tests are run at 15 and 25 mph, they should be in first and fourth gears, not just first.

[zr1don]

The cats I had installed on my first attempt to pass in August were high flow metallic substrate bullet cat (they wwere not thermowrapped), The cats I passed with are magnaflow ceramic substrate w/the thermowrap,

[tf95ZR1]

I know I'm bringing up an old thread, but now this (and more) is an issue for me. I didn't pass CA smog.
Same HC and CO values that passed for the last 5 years now don't pass. My NO was higher than before at 15mph but lower at 25mph(?).
So I'm researching all of this. My understanding is that HC and CO increase with poor/incomplete combustion,
while too hot a combustion increases NO. So there is a "window" of temperature and combustion that is ideal.
Won't wrapping and possibly overheating the CATS increase NO?

What to do, What to do... I know, move to another state.

:confused:

[mike100]

burning oil, running, rich, lots of miles, will wear out a catalyst.

A lazy O2 sensor or a small air leak will skew the ability of the engine to run at the proper equilibrium to get a complete burn also.

more info like your test sheet data and how many miles you have would help.
my car passed for a rural area and would have failed here in San Diego Co (enhanced test area), but I found the problems and pre-tested it a few months back to ensure it can run clean.

[Hib Halverson]

California wants to force old cars off the road. It does that by changing the maximum limits for pollutants. It's been done three times since my 95 has been in the smog check starting in 2000. One of the cars this reduction sometimes impacts is the ZR-1 and it's usually oxides of nitrogen where the engine has trouble passing.

My car is registered in an enhanced smog check area of the State so I have to test on the chassis dyno at 15 and 25 mph. When I want to test in 2006, the car flunked NOx at 15 mph. Initially I couldn't understand why that happened because it had easily passed before and the engine was in good condition.

Later I learned the State was fooling with the max limits in order to flunk some cars which were marginal in their compliance even when they were in good condition and running well. In some cases were the owner cannot get a low-income exemption, the choices are scrap the vehicle or sell it out of state...exactly what California wants.

I spent a couple of days road testing the car and taking engine controls scan data and learned that the stock 93-95 calibration turns the digital EGR valve on at 17 mph. Getting my car to pass NOx at 15 mph was a simple as having an aftermarket calibration engineerwho knows how to change the closed loop parts of the cal change the EGR on from 17 to 14 mph. After that the car passed easily. Unfortunately, while this might be a solution for a 93-95 with EGR, it won't help a 90-92 which does't have EGR.

To correct some misconceptions about the Smog Check.

The standards are the same all over the state. They do not vary by geographical area. That said, the test, itself varies. The standard smog check is done with the car in neutral and the engine at idle and fast idle. The enhanced smog check is done on a chassis dyno at 15 and 25 mph. Enhanced areas are generally the urban ares of the state and a few rural areas with air quality problems.

Lastly, there was a post earlier in this thread about CAGS being for fuel mileage. It is true that CAGS offers an improvement in fuel economy, but that's not why the system was developed.

CAGS (for Computer-Aded Gear Selection) was developed as a way to get the ZR-1 through the Federal pass-by noise test. The test required the car to start in first gear, then shift to second and pass by the microphones at wide-open throttle. The way the test was structured had the car at an RPM which it made a lot of noise and to quiet it enough would have required a lot more exhaust restriction. A development engineer had an idea to use a computer controlled "gate" inside the transmission to lock out second gear and force a shift to fourth, ie: this made fourth temporarily second gear. Obviously this had the car going by the mics at a much lower rpm and making much less noise. CAGS enabled the ZR-1 to pass the pass-by noise test without a much more restrictive exhaust.

[mike100]

California wants to force old cars off the road. ....

They have dyno test 5-gas in some semi-rural areas with higher limits. My car passed (barely) on NOx due to a vacuum leak and the original multec injectors. I fixed all of that and it will pass now. The Nox limit was 750 for the previous owner's zip code, but for me, the same level (around 500 I think) as the original posters smog sheet.

11:1 cars with no EGR need a little help, or a very healthy 3-way catalyst. A couple things I thought about are:

1) get the smog guy to test in first gear for the entire test to reduce engine load at 25mph if that is your problem spot. not sure if they can do that.
2) put 4:30's in the car to reduce engine loading and the combustion temps.
3) burn a chip with 1 or 2 degrees less timing at the load cells typically encountered on the rollers.
4) Have the man fudge the vehicle weight on the dyno to alter the load during the test (obviously not likely unless your man knows you).

[Coupe89]

Do you test with the stock chip?

[mike100]

I actually passed my unofficial pre-test with a haibeck chip- but not by a lot.

I have a mystery chip that is stock up until about 6000 rpm- that passed with flying colors on my then 28k mile 91.

I made a hybrid chip with stock everything below 2200 rpm- the range that the testing is conducted in.

[Paul Workman]

CAGS (for Computer-Aded Gear Selection) was developed as a way to get the ZR-1 through the Federal pass-by noise test. The test required the car to start in first gear, then shift to second and pass by the microphones at wide-open throttle. The way the test was structured had the car at an RPM which it made a lot of noise and to quiet it enough would have required a lot more exhaust restriction. A development engineer had an idea to use a computer controlled "gate" inside the transmission to lock out second gear and force a shift to fourth, ie: this made fourth temporarily second gear. Obviously this had the car going by the mics at a much lower rpm and making much less noise. CAGS enabled the ZR-1 to pass the pass-by noise test without a much more restrictive exhaust.

Hib,

CAGS = noise abatement? Ya might wanna check your sources!

At the 2010 Bowling Green gathering, Dave McLellan went into detail with regard to the CALIFORNIA (not federal) PASS-BY NOISE TEST. There he explained to the audience in the big auditorium that the "POWER" switch was developed as a means to keep the secondaries from opening during the WOT pass-by test. It worked, obviously. However, the purpose evolved to become "officially" known as the "valet swich"; perhaps as a marketing scheme.

As for the CAGS, in his book Corvette From the Inside, Dave McLellan explains that in 1989 the CAGS switch was installed for fuel economy to assist the Corvette in the fuel economy testing to avoid the Federal "Gas Guzzler Tax".

P.

[tomtom72]

I know I'm bringing up an old thread, but now this (and more) is an issue for me. I didn't pass CA smog.
Same HC and CO values that passed for the last 5 years now don't pass. My NO was higher than before at 15mph but lower at 25mph(?).
So I'm researching all of this. My understanding is that HC and CO increase with poor/incomplete combustion,
while too hot a combustion increases NO. So there is a "window" of temperature and combustion that is ideal.
Won't wrapping and possibly overheating the CATS increase NO?

What to do, What to do... I know, move to another state.

:confused:

are the cats the OEM ones? If yes then I would change the O2 sensors as older ones will react a bit slowly over the life span. If the cats are the s/s metal spun substrate then you would do well to have a heat coating on them. s/s cools too quickly, or I should say transfers heat too quickly and the spun metal substrate ones actually do not do as good a job of cleaning up tail pipe emissions.

The trick of Hib's with the EGR is a sweet one! I have a 90 so I would have never thought of that trick! Kudos Hib!!

:cheers:
Tom

[zr1don]

In response to the inquiry about NOX and temperature, its true higher "combustion" temps will increase NOX, but thermowrapping promotes higher exhaust system temps, including raising the temp in the cat. The increased cat temps increases the efficiency of the cat reducing NOX.

[Paul Workman]

Don n Mike...

All very interesting stuff. Copied and pasted, against the odd chance I end up in Colorado, or some such other. Thanks for the detailed post!:thumbsup: I thought the "hybrid" chip tuning was an interesting approach too!

P.

[Hib Halverson]

Hib,

CAGS = noise abatement? Ya might wanna check your sources! (snip)



Actually, I decided to do that over the weekend. I hadn't talked to him in a while and he refreshed my memory.

Over the years, I've gotten the story confused. CAGS does, in fact, exist for CAFE and avoiding guzzler but it also enabled the ZR-1 to get though the pass-by noise these, which back then, was only in the State of California.

Fuel economy was the main reason. California Highway Patrol's Pass-by noise was a second benefit.

Sorry for the confusion. I rely on what I remember happening too much sometimes.

[Hib Halverson]

In response to the inquiry about NOX and temperature, its true higher "combustion" temps will increase NOX, but thermowrapping promotes higher exhaust system temps, including raising the temp in the cat. The increased cat temps increases the efficiency of the cat reducing NOX.

This is true...but only to a certain extent. You have to be careful with exhaust wrap. Do the pipes before and after the car but not the cat itself.

Cats can get so hot the substrate fails and then you're in worse shape that before.

What I do before testing is take a 5 mile run on the freeway in 4th or 5th gear then pull into the test station. If the test station is not near the freeway, I'll drive around the block a couple of times in first gear. Either way gets the cats hot.

[Z51JEFF]

Well,just got back from my friendly neighborhood smog nazi and my Haibeck chipded,other wise 100% stock 18,000 mile 1991 ZR-1 FAILED!On NOX I think its 702 with a 502 max.So whats my solution here guys?Drove the car for 20 miles right to the smog station.Stock chip,octane booster and what brand of gas Im not sure.How do I get this this thing to pass?

[mike100]

You need to post the entire test result, but my NOx was 700 when it had a gaping vacuum leak under the plenum.

went to 390-400 when it was fixed.

[Bill]

I have read that thermo wrap on the headers would cause the metal to become brittle over time. Is there any truth to this? I thought about wrapping mine for several reasons.

[Hib Halverson]

Well,just got back from my friendly neighborhood smog nazi and my Haibeck chipded,other wise 100% stock 18,000 mile 1991 ZR-1 FAILED!On NOX I think its 702 with a 502 max.So whats my solution here guys?Drove the car for 20 miles right to the smog station.Stock chip,octane booster and what brand of gas Im not sure.How do I get this this thing to pass?

Wow...that's failed by a ton!

Unfortunately, if the engine is running right, 90-92 owners have few options as far as EGR because they don't have an EGR valve. Plus the State of California wants to force old cars off the roads and one way it does that is by lowering the emissions limits which has been done at least twice since 1995.

First, stop using octane booster. Few of them are effective and the ones that are (which use MMT as the active ingredient) can damage your cat converters.

Specifically, what brand of octane booster have you been using?

Secondly, I'd inspect the engine looking for anything that will increase combustion temperature which raises NOx emissions. Check the engine over and report back to the forum on your findings?

Lastly, can you post the full results of your test?

[mike100]

I think on the other forum you clarified that you were not running the stock chip and plan to revert before re-testing? that would be a biggie right there, although I was able to get mine to barely pass with a chip when I pre-tested for fun.

[Z51JEFF]

Wow...that's failed by a ton!

Unfortunately, if the engine is running right, 90-92 owners have few options as far as EGR because they don't have an EGR valve. Plus the State of California wants to force old cars off the roads and one way it does that is by lowering the emissions limits which has been done at least twice since 1995.

First, stop using octane booster. Few of them are effective and the ones that are (which use MMT as the active ingredient) can damage your cat converters.

Specifically, what brand of octane booster have you been using?

Secondly, I'd inspect the engine looking for anything that will increase combustion temperature which raises NOx emissions. Check the engine over and report back to the forum on your findings?

Lastly, can you post the full results of your test?
Cars running great with no VAC leaks or any problems.Is it possible the TECH got something fouled up with the test,the guy had a hard time getting a steady RPM reading,it was jumping around between 660 to maybe low 730 with no noticeable jumping idle in the motor.The guy did change the plug wire lead between #1 and other plug wires on the left bank.This is the second time Ive takin the car to this shop for the smog,these guys know Im a pain in the a$$ when it comes to the car so they are pretty patient with me so Ill take it back maybe Friday.Just changed the oil.Im going to clean the air filter and did get some octane booster,never used the stuff but will now if it helps.Ill give this a shot posting the results,might get jumbled.at 15 MPH,1276 RPM CO2 MEAS 14.30 02[%] MEAS 0.68 HC[PPM] MAX 78 AVE 38 MEAS 13 CO[%] MAX 0.72 AVE 0.08 MEAS 0.01 NO[PPM] MAX 545 AVE 261 MEAS 488.-25 MPH,RPM 2067 CO2%14.20 MEAS 0.82 HC[PPM] MAX 61 AVE 30 MEAS 9 CO[%]MAX 0.60 AVE 0.07 MEAS 0.00 NO[PPM] MAX 502 AVE 233 MEAS 702.

[Z51JEFF]

Im going to put the stock chip in the car.Maybe the 1-4 skip shift might help me get by.

[Hib Halverson]

It's hard to read those results, but it looks like you passed everywhere except NOx at 25.

Do not add octane booster.

Whether you put the stock cal in or not, ask the tech to try running the 25 mph test in a higher gear.

You passed (barely) NOx at 15 mph so it's possible, just by running a higher gear for the 25 test you can pass there, too.

Make sure you have clean, fresh gasoline from a station what pumps a lot of major brand fuel. Get the cats are freakin' hot before the guy runs the test. Highway driving in 4th gear or around the block a couple of times in first or second such that the engine runs mid-range rpm.

[mike100]

The engine is under less load at 25 mph if what you posted is true (2067 rpm). he kept you in first gear to help you out, but I bet your chip has too much timing advance coming in at 2k- so try to change that.

if it still won't pass, the NOx part of your catalyst is stuffed.

Also, the C02 should be 14.5% or better- that cat isn't working well because of too much HC/CO or a lean air leak- but most likely because of the accel enrichment and ign timing from a hot chip. If you run a cat rich for years on end, it will degrade them. That's why I made my calibration bone stock at cruise rpms and it only get up when you are actually getting on it.

[rhipsher]

This is the usual results I get every year. And that's with top end porting. When this was done the car had over 81k miles on it. Now it has 95k on it and the numbers were about the same. I don't know if most of our Z's run that clean or im just lucky.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/emmisionstest2.jpg

[Z51JEFF]

This is the usual results I get every year. And that's with top end porting. When this was done the car had over 81k miles on it. Now it has 95k on it and the numbers were about the same. I don't know if most of our Z's run that clean or im just lucky.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/emmisionstest2.jpg

My car with 14,000 miles was 683 Nox at 2100 RPM and 25 MPH.Im trying to find the first test when the car had 6900 miles on it.Ive never really paid attention to the smog results,until now.

[Z51JEFF]

I just found the smog test when I bought the car with 6900 miles.The Nox level at 15 MPH and 1770 RPM was 488 and at 25 MPH and 1950 RPM the Nox level was 593.Based on some of the numbers Ive read from other members cars this was still on the high side.

[bdw18_123]

These are my results from my 140K mile Z:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/bdw18_123/-My90ZR-1smogtest001copy.jpg

[zr1don]

Change the chip back to stock, if that doesnt work, take out a couple more degrees timing advance in the testing rpm range. Like previously posted, dont use octane booster. running octane booster will cause a slightly lean condition until the computer redjusts to the new fuel mixture, which will drive NOx higher.

[zr1don]

Also, if the tech was having a hard time maintaining rpm, make sure the heater/ac control is set to off for the test. If it is on, the compressor can cycle on/off and the load change makes it very difficult to maitain rpm.

[Ccmano]

I'm shocked! Just passed my CA emissions!!!

I'm running a Haibeck/Henderson/Sorresso chip, ported with a 4:10 rear end.

Just put the stock manifolds and cats back on.

Not sure if it helped but I put in a bottle of "CRC Guaranteed to Pass" additive and a fresh tank of gas and ran her down the highway about 10 miles. There's a lot of good feedback on this stuff on the net. Particularly on the ThirdGen (Camaro/Firebird) forum. Based on what I have read it's especially good on knocking down NOx. But then again I have relatively new O2 sensors, injectors and plugs. Not to mention the 4:10 rearend.

Here's the report.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/b9b0edc6.jpg

[zr1don]

Hans,

Great news on passing, I think that as long as your engine is in good running order w/good factory cats, you will pass.

[Z51JEFF]

I cant understand these low numbers,my car with 6000 miles tested 593 at 1950 RPM at 25 MPH.

[zr1don]

Stock chip with stock timing should bring your NOX down enough to pass.

[Z51JEFF]

Just failed for the second time.Got the Max Nox level down to 638 but nowhere under the Max 502 it needs to be.Im off to see a smog Referee in a week.Have no idea what thats going to be like.I just might have a $40,000 paper weight in my garage until these D!CKHEADS that run the State start doing the right thing,like thats going to happen.I cant be the only one in the State with this problem.

[sammy]

not to hi jack, but has anyone with the secondary delete prom from mark tried to pass smog in there area ???

[rhipsher]

Jeff just do what most of the guys that are running around with LPE385-415's and no cats do. Either get it registered in a county that doesn't require emissions testing or just pay somebody under the table to give you the sticker. I've got a guy like that. I have a Mazda 626 that has had a check engine light on 6 years now. I give him $80 and does what he does and o get a sticker and a proof of pass document.

[Ccmano]

Just failed for the second time.Got the Max Nox level down to 638 but nowhere under the Max 502 it needs to be.Im off to see a smog Referee in a week.Have no idea what thats going to be like.I just might have a $40,000 paper weight in my garage until these D!CKHEADS that run the State start doing the right thing,like thats going to happen.I cant be the only one in the State with this problem.

Jeff,

There has to be something wrong with your cars emissions system based on the results I'm seeing posted here including mine. It's very possible that the ultra low miles on your car contributed to the issue. Constant cold starts and little driving to get the cats heated over 20+ years may have contaminated the cats and/or the O2 sensors. If I were in your position I would start with a bottle of the CRC additive to see if that cleans the cats and sensors as it says it does. Next I would change out the O2 sensors, they're not that expensive and relatively easy to replace. They may be leaning your motor out too much if they're off. Then retest to see if there is any impact.

Keep us posted.
H
:cheers:

[Z51JEFF]

Jeff,

There has to be something wrong with your cars emissions system based on the results I'm seeing posted here including mine. It's very possible that the ultra low miles on your car contributed to the issue. Constant cold starts and little driving to get the cats heated over 20+ years may have contaminated the cats and/or the O2 sensors. If I were in your position I would start with a bottle of the CRC additive to see if that cleans the cats and sensors as it says it does. Next I would change out the O2 sensors, they're not that expensive and relatively easy to replace. They may be leaning your motor out too much if they're off. Then retest to see if there is any impact.

Keep us posted.
H
:cheers:

I tried the CRC stuff as well as the stock chip and 5 gallons of E85.Ive got a set of oxygen sensors,wouldnt hurt to put those in the car.

[Pete]

What's Emissions? :)

Pete

[mike100]

I'm inclined to think the catalysts are degraded (the NOx part of it- which is only a portion of it anyways). Running it with a deluge of oxides of nitrogens will weaken the part that treats it. Same with excessive HC's to the 2way part of the 3-way cat.

You just will have to make your own Cat-ted headers with an exemption due to not being legal to import used parts into CA any longer. Too bad as 600 would have passed in some counties and probably about 49 other states.

[Z51JEFF]

You just will have to make your own Cat-ted headers with an exemption due to not being legal to import used parts into CA any longer.There is a member here in Ca that did just that.

[RedRiderZR1]

Proof with good manifold/CATS that you can get good numbers. New manifold/CATS I bought off a guy that drove his car home new and took the manifolds off and put headers on. He said they had probably 20 miles or so on them. Looked like it. They looked brand new. This on a car with nearly 100k on the clock. But new oil and fresh gas and plugs are crucial. As well as no vacuum leaks and of course getting those CATS HOT. Usually drive around a while and drive it right on the rollers. The 2011 numbers were higher but just put in fresh gas and oil change. No tune up but should have. Even still it passed with no issues.

I hate that they can lower the numbers to try and get older cars off the road. Really getting to hate this state.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll21/koolalbums_photos/90zr1smog.jpg