I know this isn't exactly "Integra", but I figured since its an Integra engine, I might as well try. Anyway, I just brought my 1993 Civic to the CA State Ref to get certified and smogged and failed the sniffer tests. I also failed because of a missing EVAP Purge valve, which isn't on the JDM engines, but is on the USDM ones (If I passed the sniffer, I would have passed overall, however) . . I'll get one and hook it up. Anyway here's the details.

1997 JDM B18C (probably about 100K miles on it)
USDM P72 OBDI ECU
Stock DX Cat (has 180,000 miles on it)
RSR ExMag Catback
AEM Cold Air Intake for GSR
Ignition measured at 16 BTDC
Ran G2P fuel treatment 2 tanks before the test
Brand new Spark Plugs (Bosch +2 Platinum)
Tech said that the car was running slightly rich

Results:

MAX value | Measured Value

15mph (test done in 2nd gear)
engine RPM = 2018
CO2 = 14.3%
O2 = 0.3%
HC = 89 | 155 (Failed)
CO = .53 | .55 (Failed, barely)
NO = 708 | 1686 (Failed, miserably)

25mph (test done in 3rd gear)
engine RPM = 2307
CO2 = 14.7%
O2 = 0.0%
HC = 54 | 43(Passed)
CO = .51 | .12 (Passed)
NO = 746 | 198 (Passed, easily)

What doesn't make sense to me is the NOx value dropped considerably from 15mph to 25mph and its only 300rpm difference ???

Any suggestions of what to do to get this sucker to pass?

I don't understand why only 300 rpm makes such a huge difference in values. .


***UPDATE*** - Oct. 25, 2004 *********
Just got back from the State Ref Center. I passed and am now BAR Certified in the State of California with a JDM B18C! Since the first time I failed, I brought it to a Smog Center they ran all the tests and determined that all I needed was a new CAT. Got a new 2.25" Carsound CAT installed and they adjusted the timing to 13 BTDC, Pre-tested and it passed. The Smog Center also determined that my car doesn't even need the EVAP Purge Valve, which they installed and then took back off! The called the Referee and he OK'ed it.

So I drove it 1000 miles out to Arizona and back to visit the GF. While I was there, picked up another bottle of G2P fuel treatment. Ran it through a tank and dropped in the usual 91 Octane gas and went to the Referee Center. Only thing they noticed was I was 1 quart low on Oil.

Anyway here are the results for reference:


MAX value | Measured Value (last time) | Measured Value (w/ New CAT and 13 DBTDC)

15mph (test done in 2nd gear)
engine RPM = 2018 | 1933
CO2 = 14.3% | 14.8%
O2 = 0.3% | 0.0%
HC = 89 | 155 | 72
CO = .53 | .55 | .14
NO = 708 | 1686 | 420

25mph (test done in 3rd gear)
engine RPM = 2307 | 2240
CO2 = 14.7% | 14.8%
O2 = 0.0% | 0.0%
HC = 54 | 43 | 36
CO = .51 | .12 | .06
NO = 746 | 198 | 151


Just wanted to thank everyone for their help. Glad to know I have people like you guys around to help out.


Modified by Hapa88 at 8:55 PM 10/25/2004

 

I would just pay the extra $100-150 that some places charge to pass your car! I have a JDM b20 engine in my teg and I know for a fact it's not going to pass smog. My friend says he knows a place that will pass it for $150...and I need to do that soon because it needs to be done by sept 22! . Good luck!

 

well i'm pretty sure he wants to get the BAR sticker

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by aZnjCC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well i'm pretty sure he wants to get the BAR sticker</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes sir

 

bump for you.


btw, I assume you are using the jdm intake manifold right. Will you be just adding on the evap purge solenoid?

 

In the past problems like this are as simple as a clogged PCV valve $2.99 at auto parts stores. I would check that and make sure your running good gas. It seems like your running rich on the low end. My advice fill it with 93 octane or higher or add a good octane booster, change the oil ( I know this sounds stupid but for some reason it works ) and last replace the PVC filter. Good luck...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by adrenaline-racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In the past problems like this are as simple as a clogged PCV valve $2.99 at auto parts stores. I would check that and make sure your running good gas. It seems like your running rich on the low end. My advice fill it with 93 octane or higher or add a good octane booster, change the oil ( I know this sounds stupid but for some reason it works ) and last replace the PVC filter. Good luck... </TD></TR></TABLE>

little things like this make a difference as to passing and failing
also try a fuel system cleaner, and go through a whole tank, then go back to the sniffer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DCcliffjumper2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

little things like this make a difference as to passing and failing
also try a fuel system cleaner, and go through a whole tank, then go back to the sniffer. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Did the G2P (Guarenteed to Pass) fuel system cleaner about 1 tank before hand. I also changed the oil and filter 1 day before (Mobil 1 5w30).

 

i failed my smog too wit a stock Ls
my NOx were xtremly high
15mph
807/2023 is what i got
25mph
746/1983 is what i got

know how you feel man
well good luck
and keep me informed on how you passed
if you just take and use the udm im and exhaust manifold and clean the carbon outta your cat you should pass
well keep me informed
pz out

 

Way back in the day, I had a fairly new set of platinum plugs in my car, and it failed. The head mech at the dealer suggested I change the plugs and try again. He said platinum plugs were not good for emissions and Honda engines. I didn't see how, but for the cheap price of a set of plugs I did it and passed with no problems. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of platinum plugs, but they bit me in the *** once, so they don't go in the Teg now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wingswestrex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i failed my smog too wit a stock Ls
my NOx were xtremly high
15mph
807/2023 is what i got
25mph
746/1983 is what i got

know how you feel man
well good luck
and keep me informed on how you passed
if you just take and use the udm im and exhaust manifold and clean the carbon outta your cat you should pass
well keep me informed
pz out</TD></TR></TABLE>

Those readings there look like a bad cat.

 

When I first moved to socal my Celica failed in the same way. New cat == problem solved.

 

if u register ur car up north cal here i can get somone to pass it for ya!

 

SEAFOAM will make you pass. SEAFOAM and a new Cat converter. 180,000 miles equals time to get replaced.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bobyahead &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">SEAFOAM will make you pass. SEAFOAM and a new Cat converter. 180,000 miles equals time to get replaced.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How do I use the SEAFOAM stuff and where does it go? Is it an engine treatment?

 

so does everyone agree that a new CAT would solve most of my problems? would a High Flow cat work? I don't want to shell out to purchase a High flow unit if its not going to lower the emissions enough to pass. . .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hapa88 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so does everyone agree that a new CAT would solve most of my problems? would a High Flow cat work? I don't want to shell out to purchase a High flow unit if its not going to lower the emissions enough to pass. . .</TD></TR></TABLE>
I won't guarantee it of course, but I think the cat is most likely your problem. I've heard of a few people complaining about emmissions on a HF-CAT, but that may vary from brand to brand. Have also heard good things about Random Technologies. Good luck

 

from the readings i say a "lazy" o2 sensor... IMO. the readings from the 15/50asm were alot higher, but at the 25/25asm much lower....of course, if it were the o2, then the MIL might go on.... the cat would give bad readings all around from my experience. you must have a reprogrammed ECU, because the check engine light would come on if the purge valve for the EVAP was not connected.... HTH.

if i knew what the exact cause, i would be Superman with x-ray vision.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hapa88 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so does everyone agree that a new CAT would solve most of my problems? would a High Flow cat work? I don't want to shell out to purchase a High flow unit if its not going to lower the emissions enough to pass. . .</TD></TR></TABLE>
i think so....not to mention that cat is bottlenecking your exhaust anyways. get a carsound cat, flows well and is legal

 

I bet all you need to do is replace your CAT.

Mine failed this summer.. about the same type of numbers as in your results.

Replaced my cat and everything is perfect!

I'm sure its your cat.

 

Ok, I went to a muffler shop and the guy there said that my CAT is probably ok. . . he didn't look at it, but said if it passed at 25 mph then its probably fine, its just not getting warm enough. . .

He also said that I should switch out my new Bosch Platinum +2 plugs and put back in the copper ones. I guess those cause more problems then they solve. This was interesting to me, since the car seems to drive smoother. . I guess I'll just get some NGK coppers, cuz they're cheap. . .

Also, I hear conflicting information about Octane. Some say use 87. Others say use 91 or even Race gas. Whats the deal? My friend says that 87 octane offers more combustion power per unit of gas than 91.
However higher octane gas usually has more "filler" added to it, therefore there is less gas to actually combust which ultimately means less emissions per unit of gas.

So does anyone actually KNOW? or is this just what everyone hears?

 

puta new cat in it. frm what it looks like, your cat is ok at high speed cause it gets a little hotter. but at low speed it stops working cause it cools down. i would firts puta new cat in then re-test.

 

another tip i've heard is to drive the hell out of your car on the way to the smog place (keep the revs up high) to get the cat really hot. never had to do it, though, so i can't speak from experience.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RynoDyno312 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">another tip i've heard is to drive the hell out of your car on the way to the smog place (keep the revs up high) to get the cat really hot. never had to do it, though, so i can't speak from experience.</TD></TR></TABLE>

this works, but only if they run the test right after, if you let the car sit there(even if its idling) it will cool back down.

 

***UPDATE*** - Oct. 25, 2004 *********
Just got back from the State Ref Center. I passed and am now BAR Certified in the State of California with a JDM B18C. Since the first time I failed, I brought it to a Smog Center they ran all the tests and determined that all I needed was a new CAT. Got a new 2.25" Carsound CAT installed and they adjusted the timing to 13 BTDC, Pre-tested and it passed. The Smog Center also determined that my car doesn't even need the EVAP Purge Valve, which they installed and then took back off! The called the Referee and he OK'ed it.

So I drove it 1000 miles out to Arizona and back to visit the GF. While I was there, picked up another bottle of G2P fuel treatment. Ran it through a tank and dropped in the usual 91 Octane gas and went to the Referee Center. Only thing they noticed was I was 1 quart low on Oil.

Anyway here are the results for reference:


MAX value | Measured Value (last time) | Measured Value (w/ New CAT and 13 DBTDC)

15mph (test done in 2nd gear)
engine RPM = 2018 | 1933
CO2 = 14.3% | 14.8%
O2 = 0.3% | 0.0%
HC = 89 | 155 | 72
CO = .53 | .55 | .14
NO = 708 | 1686 | 420

25mph (test done in 3rd gear)
engine RPM = 2307 | 2240
CO2 = 14.7% | 14.8%
O2 = 0.0% | 0.0%
HC = 54 | 43 | 36
CO = .51 | .12 | .06
NO = 746 | 198 | 151


Just wanted to thank everyone for their help. Glad to know I have people like you guys around to help out.