Still learning, good I’m sure in the long run, even tho this year it cost me extra $$$ with 6 SMOG tests & a new $300 (installed) CAT !
Learned that now, not all 3” CATS are Hi-Flow & that one should get the pre-testing done at the Test-only (don’t think they would do this a few years ago) as you can see the difference between 9-19-03 b & c.
For about 6 years I had an Excell 3” Super-CAT (no longer available) & then for the 1999 test it just got by on the HC reading. When it Failed in 01, without checking things out, I went across the street from the Pre-test to a Muffler Shop & had then install a new 3”, which passed (01b) but was a cheap, short, (about 6“ at the heat shield) not a High-flow one.
Then on 7-14-03, I’m not traveling the same route being off work, so I stop in at a real old shop, (had bought Fairlane parts from him 10 years ago) for a pre-test. Didn’t even put the LTD on the Dyno, just put it in gear with the brake on & gave it some RPM’s! Didn’t even have a PC print-out of the results. Just mumbled about it being marginal. Well, I was confident it would pass at the Test-only as the CAT was only 18 months old. So down the street I went to a Test-only station, failing Big Time, & labeled a “Gross Polluter”!
Well no wonder, of all things to happen, a Plug on the Vacuum Manifold at the 5 solenoids mounted on the drivers fender well had fallen out! So not only wasn’t the EGR operating, but no Air-Injection was getting to the CAT!
Got the Vac repluged & went for another Pre-test on 8-27-03. The 15 MPR HC was high, meaning(?) I needed a new CAT again. The high CO was a mystery as it had never been a problem before.
New CAT installed, this time a High Flow, 9” at the Shield (was told of a longer, cheaper one, but not Hi-flow, so beware) & on 9-19-03a it Passed! But wait, then I’m told that there’s a new Vac leak, the line to the Air Cleaner was off, & that it would make the readings lower. Well the Tester should have caught it before as it’s a real obvious piece of white plastic tubing sticking out from under the Air Cleaner. And the way he really checked for things with a Flashlight before. So, I said it needs to be re-tested (free) again.
But upon retesting, 9-19-03c, he was wrong, all the important readings went up, not down! Isn’t this fun!?
Went right over to the Test-only station & passed, but some readings were off between the 2 more than one would expect from calibrated equipment!
|
DATE |
MPR |
C02 |
O2 |
|
HC max |
HC meas |
|
CO max |
CO meas |
|
NO max |
NO meas |
|
|
10-21-99 |
15 |
14.8 |
0.13 |
|
158 |
157 |
|
0.82 |
0.21 |
|
1638 |
111 |
passed |
|
|
25 |
14.7 |
0.19 |
|
107 |
107 |
|
0.62 |
0.13 |
|
1438 |
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11-16-01a |
15 |
14.1 |
0.6 |
|
133 |
151 |
|
0.82 |
0.02 |
|
1146 |
1931 |
fail |
|
|
25 |
14.2 |
0.2 |
|
108 |
160 |
|
0.62 |
0.13 |
|
1006 |
244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11-16-01b |
15 |
15.1 |
0 |
|
133 |
22 |
|
0.82 |
0.03 |
|
1146 |
15 |
New
CAT |
|
|
25 |
15.0 |
0 |
|
108 |
19 |
|
0.62 |
0.04 |
|
1006 |
5 |
pass |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7-14-03 |
15 |
13.5 |
1.1 |
|
133 |
359 |
|
0.82 |
0.56 |
|
1125 |
1707 |
No
Vac for CatAir & EGR |
|
|
25 |
13.8 |
0.9 |
|
108 |
289 |
|
0.62 |
0.44 |
|
955 |
1581 |
fail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-27-03 |
15 |
12.8 |
1.17 |
|
133 |
186 |
|
0.82 |
1.58 |
|
1125 |
75 |
fixed
Vac |
|
|
25 |
13.7 |
.57 |
|
108 |
43 |
|
0.62 |
0.17 |
|
955 |
42 |
fail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9-19-03
a |
15 |
14.4 |
0.47 |
|
133 |
52 |
|
0.82 |
0.19 |
|
1125 |
33 |
New
CAT,pass |
|
|
25 |
14.4 |
0.43 |
|
108 |
29 |
|
0.62 |
0.25 |
|
955 |
30 |
New
Vac leak |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9-19-03
b |
15 |
14.5 |
0.49 |
|
133 |
47 |
|
0.82 |
0.12 |
|
1125 |
18 |
No
Vac leak |
|
|
25 |
14.2 |
0.67 |
|
108 |
25 |
|
0.62 |
0.14 |
|
955 |
27 |
passed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9-19-03
c |
15 |
13.2 |
1.6 |
|
133 |
38 |
|
0.82 |
0.02 |
|
1125 |
355 |
Test Only |
|
|
25 |
13.6 |
1.6 |
|
108 |
22 |
|
0.62 |
0.04 |
|
955 |
21 |
PASSED |
These were all done on a
“load” test with a roller dyno.
Notice that between 99 &
01, 3 of 6 MAX readings were lowered!
Mustangs & FORDs, Sept 98,
“How to get your Mustang to Pass a SMOG
Check“