Let's make a game plan for the Upcoming new California 2010 SMOG

[nesdon]

Not to undermine my own argument, I actually believe the most significant change in the air quality came from the limitation of non transportation sources of VOC. The tons of acetone, benzine, toulene and other VOC that were coming into the basin from paint, printers, fiberglassing and all sorts of other sources was likely the main source of the burning eyes and lungs.

Then there was the use of backyard incinerators. Yikes. All that was gone in a decade, but it has been the transportation sources that have been the hardest.

No doubt the politics around the regulatory standards sometimes ignore good science. Most notably in the way total output is considered less than relative output for a given vehicle. I've never quite understood the focus on NOX, I think it may be an acid rain thing??

I think in many ways, we need to push for better science in all governmnet regulations. This area especially. I hope folks who know much more about it than us are active in Sacto and DC and will have their voices heard

[wxman]

Originally Posted by nesdon

...No doubt the politics around the regulatory standards sometimes ignore good science....

Yes, and this is what I find objectionable.

I think I've mentioned this before, but I find it curious that no outcry, not even a whimper that I know of, has resulted from a very recent EPA Final Rule on Locomotive emissions (their NOx emissions in particular). Based on modeling data they themselves published in their Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) supporting this Rule, ozone levels in Orange County, CA, will INCREASE an average of 5.5 ppb (all other parameters remaining constant) JUST from the lower NOx emissions from locomotives (NOx disbenefit) mandated by this rule when fully effective (see "Regulatory Impact Analysis: Control of Emissions of Air Pollution from Locomotive Engines and Marine Compression Ignition Engines Less than 30 Liters Per Cylinder", page 2-36, text: "...Note that 5 counties, Cook County (0.2 ppb) in Illinois; Lake County (0.1 ppb) in Indiana; and San Bernardino (0.1 ppb), Riverside (0.5 ppb) and Orange (5.5 ppb) counties in California are projected to experience increases in their ozone design values because of the NOx disbenefit that occurs in these VOC-limited areas...."). (emphasis added)

By the way, the NOx disbenefit has been mentioned in all other RIAs involving NOx emissions also.

EPA justifies this by insisting that overall ozone levels will decrease as a result of the Rule, which may or may not be true (a paper published very recently in the Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association casts some doubt on this). However, if I lived in Orange County, CA, I think I would object to being potentially exposed to significantly higher average ozone levels, regardless of what happens in other locations. And doesn't this violate the "environmental justice" policy of the federal government?

Again, there is no such thing as "VOC disbenefit" (with anthropogenic VOC emissions anyway), so why EPA continues to focus on NOx emissions is suspect.

[ibanix]

So I was able to re-register without an smog check. Did they cancel the required smog check?

[Johnnie Walker]

Originally Posted by ibanix

So I was able to re-register without an smog check. Did they cancel the required smog check?

It is not 2010 yet..

[Got Bearings?]

Originally Posted by Johnnie Walker

It is not 2010 yet..

Or maybe he was driving a Delorian....

[ibanix]

My sticker says "2010". It will be the year 2010 while this registration is valid.

"Smog being required for 2010" seems entirely appropriate to be for the year the registration is valid...

[Got Bearings?]

Originally Posted by ibanix

My sticker says "2010". It will be the year 2010 while this registration is valid.

"Smog being required for 2010" seems entirely appropriate to be for the year the registration is valid...

No, it's for registration DUE (paid) in 2010... good through 12 months going into 2011.

[tothemax]

Who is going first?

Would like to hear from someone with a modded car and their game plan to prepare.

P

[GoFaster]

Originally Posted by brucetmoose

I almost forgot they are testing cars here in NY also - until I read this.

I failed the NY test last year - but that was because NY State did NOT have my car properly registered! And why? Because of timing! I bought it b4 CARB, but it was so close to the cut line that the DOT officials wouldn't let them register it - so they just told them it was gas. Thus my diesel car failed the smog test for a gas car - gee, what a surpise there!

So now my car is properly registered - after 7 years!

Since my car is strict stock - I don't have to deal with any issues. But what if I want to throw on a larger turbo ? What if I chip tune it to get better mileage - and that screws it up ? What happens if my car suddenly starts to belch smog ? How do I pre-test for this ?

If you are going to get your car chipped, make sure that whatever program you are going to get, will pass the readiness requirements. If you are already checked and you have VAG-COM, you can double-check whether it handles readiness properly.

If you are going to make hardware changes, it gets trickier. Theoretically, everything needs a CARB EO number and that includes manifolds and turbochargers. Good luck with that. At least make sure all emission control hardware is present and operating properly ... keep the catalytic converter and EGR hardware and crankcase venting. If you do the installation in a manner so that the car looks stock under the hood and it passes all the readiness requirements then you have a fighting chance of the inspector opening the hood and saying "ya whatever" and closing it again.

I don't know if the Unitronics program that I have passes readiness, but Ontario hasn't gone down this road yet with diesels. All the emissions hardware is present and connected properly and it looks stock under the hood and the MIL is not lit, so it'll pass the "ya whatever" test.

[TomB]

I find it downright offensive that someone who has completely modified their vehicle altering their emissions being emitted comes here to seek the support of others on the issue.

RC mods, chipping, and injector changes need to meet the same certification as VW did before I will even consider them a responsible change.

Those breaking the law and polluting the air that WE ALL breath are plain rude. The standards have merit and work.

Anyone who was in California in pre 1982 knows EXACTLY how well. The new standards imposed in 1982 cleaned up the air and the CARB has been trying to keep up with the battle ever since.

Funny how VW came up with solutions to drop the NOx emissions when challenged by the CARB standard. They now brag about the "Clean Diesel" that resulted from this FORCED technology development.

[TomB]

Originally Posted by DieselCruz

I'm not worried aboutany actual emissions measurement because I run B99 exclusively (unless it is unavailable). But, I'm not completely sure that B99 wont trip any of the thresholds they are measuring for...

As a B100 user and supporter for 7 years, I must point out that your NOx emissions will EXCEED that produced by a dino diesel running engine.

[Got Bearings?]

Originally Posted by TomB

I find it downright offensive that someone who has completely modified their vehicle altering their emissions being emitted comes here to seek the support of others on the issue.

RC mods, chipping, and injector changes need to meet the same certification as VW did before I will even consider them a responsible change.

Those breaking the law and polluting the air that WE ALL breath are plain rude. The standards have merit and work.

Anyone who was in California in pre 1982 knows EXACTLY how well. The new standards imposed in 1982 cleaned up the air and the CARB has been trying to keep up with the battle ever since.

Funny how VW came up with solutions to drop the NOx emissions when challenged by the CARB standard. They now brag about the "Clean Diesel" that resulted from this FORCED technology development.

I find it offensive that CARB exists at all. They force companies to pay tens of thousands of dollars to test and certify "emissions compliant" parts... effectively only letting the big companies "play" and screwing the the small shops/manufacturers because they don't have deep pockets.. and in the end, the consumer gets screwed because there's less competition and then have passed down the CARB costs to the end user.

Isn't what's important is what comes out of the tailpipe? Who cares if a part doesn't have CARB E.O. # on it. If it passes, then it passes. We don't need CARB to tell us that this part or that part is OK. I know many people that have built performance engines to run clean despite not having CARB certified parts and some emissions components defeated. Hell, a buddy of mine has built an awesome street motor, knocking on 11's at the track and runs CLEANER than what the car did brand new. Even the smog tech couldn't believe it and ran the car TWICE!!! And he doesn't have a single CARB certified part on it.

If someone wants to modify their car... let them! If they can't pass a smog test, then it's on the owner to get it to pass. Just because it has a CARB EO# on it, doesn't mean it's going to pass automatically either.

CARB exists to rape the public all in the name of "clean air." They are a JOKE!

[GoFaster]

I agree that the "exemption order" process is misdirected. If certain systems are present that there is no substitute function for (evaporative, for example) and the tailpipe emissions as measured in the dyno test are within the limits, it should be passed regardless of "exemption orders". But, that's not the way it is.

[Farfromovin]

TomB- Have you seen my soapbox, I'm missing my soapbox I post here from time to time because I may get orders to CA in 2011. What do you have to do with CA anyway? We understand you must despise all of us, that's fine. Stay out of our thread now. Buh bye :-)

Got Bearings- I 100% agree with you. If you modify your car you should modify it in a responsible way. Responsible, to me, means it can pass the actual emissions tests, not have a bunch of CARB E.O. #'s... If I want to put a turbo the size of a NB on a trailer behind my Golf and run straight pipes with injectors the size of garden hoses, who cares as long as it passes the sniffer levels?

Originally Posted by Got Bearings?

I find it offensive that CARB exists at all. They force companies to pay tens of thousands of dollars to test and certify "emissions compliant" parts... effectively only letting the big companies "play" and screwing the the small shops/manufacturers because they don't have deep pockets.. and in the end, the consumer gets screwed because there's less competition and then have passed down the CARB costs to the end user.
Isn't what's important is what comes out of the tailpipe? Who cares if a part doesn't have CARB E.O. # on it. If it passes, then it passes. We don't need CARB to tell us that this part or that part is OK. I know many people that have built performance engines to run clean despite not having CARB certified parts and some emissions components defeated. Hell, a buddy of mine has built an awesome street motor, knocking on 11's at the track and runs CLEANER than what the car did brand new. Even the smog tech couldn't believe it and ran the car TWICE!!! And he doesn't have a single CARB certified part on it.
If someone wants to modify their car... let them! If they can't pass a smog test, then it's on the owner to get it to pass. Just because it has a CARB EO# on it, doesn't mean it's going to pass automatically either.
CARB exists to rape the public all in the name of "clean air." They are a JOKE!

[tothemax]

I really like your TDI Fest Avatar

Only a couple months till we see how this testing really gets applied.

Hopefully some modded TDI's will post their real experience in January.

Originally Posted by Farfromovin

TomB- Have you seen my soapbox, I'm missing my soapbox I post here from time to time because I may get orders to CA in 2011. What do you have to do with CA anyway? We understand you must despise all of us, that's fine. Stay out of our thread now. Buh bye :-)

Got Bearings- I 100% agree with you. If you modify your car you should modify it in a responsible way. Responsible, to me, means it can pass the actual emissions tests, not have a bunch of CARB E.O. #'s... If I want to put a turbo the size of a NB on a trailer behind my Golf and run straight pipes with injectors the size of garden hoses, who cares as long as it passes the sniffer levels?