What’s with the new STAR smog check in CA?

[Bad_dude]

So I got my car registration renewal notice today. It says I need to take it to a STAR test station. I know it’s much more stringent but what are the differences?
What’s the best way to prepare to make sure your car pass it? My CB and Corolla have always pass without cheating and preparation. Since it’s much stricter, how would a car that always pass before fail this time with the STAR station?
So I found the smog check back in 2007 when I got the car and it passed with flying colors. I don’t get it, I did lots of maintenance and it got much worse than before I even did all of the cleaning up. What the heck guys?

-New plugs, NGK or Denso.
-New Denso wires.
-Clean EGR ports and EGR valves.
-Fram Air Hog air filter.
-Replaced some hoses.
-Cap and rotor.
-Valve adjustments.
-Fixed the distributor O-ring leak.
-Replaced valve cover.
-New battery.
-Replace alternator with new brush kit.
-New tires.
-Seafoam.
-Switched to synthetic oil.
-New Denso O2 sensor.
-Alarm.
-Fuel filter, twice replaced but with the O’reilly, not OEM.
-Timing is on both base and ignition.
-Idle dead on at 750rpm.
-New Honda Tranny fluid.
-New Honda Power steering fluid.
-After market Autozone PCV valve.
And a few more things I can’t remember.

So which one of these items above that might have caused the HC and Nox to go up so much higher? Air filter or fuel filter, or synthetic oil? Valve adjustments? After market PCV valve?

The only thing that are difference between the test in 2007 vs. the ones in 2009 and 2011 are the stations and the after market PCV valve and Air hog air filter. The station used in 2007 is further. So I was thinking maybe the cat was not hot enough with the nearer station used in 2009 and 2011.

Thanks.

[IMG]http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/Bad_dude_bucket/90Accord2007Smog_zps7d63ee2a.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/Bad_dude_bucket/90Accord2009Smog_zpsb90463ae.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/Bad_dude_bucket/Smog%20Test/90Accord04_27_2011Smog_zps7c1e7fbf.jpg[/IMG] :ohmy:

Topic

[Mathieu]

Well you catalist clog whit post computtion oil. Each time you use you car, the catalyst platinum mesh will grab burn oil from the combustion chamber. So , you can use Luas injector clener that clean your injector and combustion. You can also use Lucas 2 and 1 Uper cylinder lubricant include injector cleaner.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR2KjnIXYNw[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5icTmYItwiE[/video]

[Mathieu]

I apreciated you are the perfect driver that now every thing to maintaint his car for decade. All you have done is good and you will reduce you gas comsumption per mile.

[Bad_dude]

The thing that really bothers me is all that maintenance and the car gotten worse in terms of smog tests. I think it has to do with the stations I go to. My neighbor has a 91 and it’s in the worse shape I have ever seen a CB7 and it passed at the STAR station today. Under his hood, it’s like a car at the junkyard. But he recently got a new after market cat. Mine should not be of any issue I would hope.

[Mathieu]

A clean up is always good. In California, you have new catalyst whit more platinum in It. So It’s more espensive. As well all people want to change It’s catalyst to meet the governement standart. So the price is even higher. So, try to clean the cat whit Lucas cleaner first. It’s less expensive then 600 us $ + the instalation fee. Because you need to weld the cat on the exauft pipe. A welder plus the right wire (steel or stainless steel) and CO2 gas for MIG welder cost 1000 us $ minimum. So up tp you.

[Bad_dude]

Are we talking about Lucas fuel injected cleaner? How is it different than Seafoam? I have used Seafoam and not much carbon came out of the exhaust. I am not so sure I want to try Scotty’s way with Lacquer thinner or with the detergent soak.
I have used Regane for high mileage cars and redline fuel system cleaner. Now the last time I replaced my spark plugs they were real clean. I had NGK platinum. Now I have the Denso Platinum.
See the picture below. I replace the air hog air filter with a paper one today. I also replace the PCV gasket and put back the OEM PCV valve. The tube was not clogged. When I pull the valve cover off to adjust the valves recently, it was really clean. Now could adjusting the valve cause the smog results to be worse?

[quote=”Plasmide56″ post=57384]A clean up is always good. In California, you have new catalyst whit more platinum in It. So It’s more espensive. As well all people want to change It’s catalyst to meet the governement standart. So the price is even higher. So, try to clean the cat whit Lucas cleaner first. It’s less expensive then 600 us $ + the instalation fee. Because you need to weld the cat on the exauft pipe. A welder plus the right wire (steel or stainless steel) and CO2 gas for MIG welder cost 1000 us $ minimum. So up tp you.[/quote]

[Mathieu]

I did not know you use additive already. It’s made a good job as I saw the picture. Ajusting the valve will be the cherry on a sunday. It’s will give you the little biteincrease.

[Bad_dude]

Could you explain the Valve adjustment bit? Cherry on a Sunday? A little bit of performance increase you mean? Would that increase the smog output?
Thanks.

[quote=”Plasmide56″ post=57455]I did not know you use additive already. It’s made a good job as I saw the picture. Ajusting the valve will be the cherry on a sunday. It’s will give you the little biteincrease.[/quote]

[Mathieu]

See the end video about the explanation
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G_Nq2orpfo[/video]

I picj the expletion cherry on top from Eric at the end of this video
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLdgivYwUiQ[/video]

[Bad_dude]

ok. So I smog the car today. Passed easily. So how do I reduce my CO% to below the average?

[Mathieu]

Did you clean your catalyst converter or you did nothing before the test ? banana:

[Bad_dude]

I clean the IACV and throttle body. As usual, it was not that dirty.
I changed the oil, coolant, run a bottle of Lucas deep fuel system clean, ditch the Fram air hog. That’s it. I don’t know how to clean the cat. I thought it had to be replaced if needed, how do you clean it? I didn’t think those videos were too safe for my car. Lol.

[Mathieu]

I think so. The best thing was to clean cat in a laudry solution for 24 after you cut bot end and weld it again. But It’s a real big job to do It.
At the end, you pass the test and all people that read this topic will know what to do. That It is cool. B)

[Bill]

Have you ever changed the ignition timing or replaced the timing belt? Over advanced timing will raise HC and NOx levels.

[Bad_dude]

My timing has always been dead on at 15 degrees advance from TDC. The timing belt was replaced by the original owner at 107K miles. The car only has 157K miles on it. It’s recommend to replace at 90K miles. So I got some time to go yet.
The think the last 2 times I smog, that near by shop rushed it and they did not warm it up for 2 minutes like other shops. So this time I returned to this shop which is a bit further so my cat is all warmed up and ready to go. The nearby shop is only about 5 minutes away. Also changing the coolant and oil makes a huge difference.

[quote=”wysetech” post=59686]Have you ever changed the ignition timing or replaced the timing belt? Over advanced timing will raise HC and NOx levels.[/quote]

[Bill]

I’m an Emission tech and the igniton timing is the first thing i check even on cars where it’s not adjustable. Some people advance the timing or don’t use the correct procedure for the car/engine to get better power and economy. I have seen people set the timing with a streached timing belt and don’t reset it again after a belt replacement.

Do what you want but i thought it was worth mentioning.

[Author]

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