Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

So, my 1995 ZR-1 should be arriving today and I've got to get it emissions tested before I can register it. I know that the car recently passed the California smog test...so it should be no problem. I'll ask the former owner what mode he had it in.

But for general knowledge, is one mode better than the other for keeping emissions low. Oregon requires the Hydrocarbons to be lower than 220ppm and the Carbon Monoxide to be lower than 1.0%.

Also, if valet mode is preferred...can I switch from one mode to the other while the car is running or does the car need to be shut off to switch it?

Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

My 95 was always emissions tested in valet mode in both California and now Japan. Japan is way stricter that even California with 12 different conditions for the test when being imported.

Valet mode to full power can be switched at any time, but certain conditions have to be met before full power can actually be activated. It would depend on how much throttle needs to be used in the testing if it would actually make a difference. I actually had Marc Haibeck burn me a chip just for emissions testing because I was having a hard time passing in Japan to sort of detune the car.


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Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

In Oregon, it's literally a sniffer in the tail pipe at idle. Nothing fancy.

Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

Depends on the road speeds the tests are done at. The stock chip activates the EGR valve above 17 mph if memory serves me. An active EGR is essential for achieving low NOX test readings. In Northern Virginia they do the low speed test at 15 mph which I was having a hard time passing a few years back. So I had Marc Haibeck lower the EGR activation point to 13 mph and easily passed NOX by 150 ppm.
Hydrocarbons should not be a problem provided the engine is in good tune and the cats are working properly.


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Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

Others have said bribery works very well!
:cheers:
Marty

Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

No road test in Oregon. You simply pull into a bay, let it idle and they do a sniffer in the tail pipe. My guess is since it passed in California recently, it will pass in either mode in Oregon.

I spoke with the previous owner and he said he did it in valet mode in California so I will do the same here. I'm gonna try and go today once the car is delivered.

Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

Car passed easily. Oregon requires the Hydrocarbons to be lower than 220ppm, it was at 13ppm. Carbon Monoxide must be lower than 1.0%, it was at 0.

Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

Did they measure NOX?
To clarify the road speed tests I mentioned are done on rollers at the smog station.


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Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

No. It's just a hydrocarbons and CO test.

Re: Emissions Testing - Valet or Full Mode
 

I recall that in Illinois, when they required testing of older cars, they used dyno type rollers so the car was running and being shifted. To pass testing, I always reinstalled a stock chip to reinstate the 1-4 skip shift. It turned out that (based on Marc's testing) when the car was shifted from second to third it spiked the HC counts so cars would fail. Using the skip shift feature to take it from first to fourth and the cars passed. Of course you had to warn the driver about it, and I always sat in the car while he "drove" on the rollers. --Bob