my smog thread

[4CYLPOWER92]

Good info

It's also important to know that NOx forms when the combustion temperatures reach 2200 to 2500 degrees F. A good way to lower those temps is to retard timming.

[jhondayaaj]

YES!, I passed smog today. I was hoping I wouldn't have to go to round 3!


Here are the initial #'s from Gary's last smog:

15mph test:
HC (PPM) max:118 meas:117 Close
CO(%) max:0.75 meas:0.21
NO (PPM) max:799 meas:123

25mph test:
HC (PPM) max:93 meas:60
CO(%) max:0.63 meas:0.13
NO (PPM) max:738 meas:52


My first smog attempt:
Adjusted timing and cleaned EGR port. (Did not warm up the car enough, drove for less then 10 mins!)

15mph test:
HC (PPM) max:118 meas:126 FAIL
CO(%) max:0.75 meas:0.25
NO (PPM) max:799 meas:185

25mph test:
HC (PPM) max:93 meas:78
CO(%) max:0.63 meas:0.13
NO (PPM) max:738 meas:87


My second and final attempt:
Changed air filter, spark plugs, adjusted timing, and adjusted valves. (Drove for at least 20 mins on the freeway at 80mph.)

15mph test:
HC (PPM) max:118 meas:117 Close
CO(%) max:0.75 meas:0.21
NO (PPM) max:799 meas:254

25mph test:
HC (PPM) max:93 meas:77
CO(%) max:0.63 meas:0.36
NO (PPM) max:738 meas:118


I'm glad I got this over with and can now get my registration!


After talking to the tech, he explained to me a few things:
The cat is responsible for your HC and CO #'s. He said to make sure that the car is hot enough, as it will help bring those #'s down. He also mentioned something about the temperture of the car and how the thermostat is affected, and yada yada yada, but by that point, I was tuning him out as I was ecstatic to have passed smog.

Spark plugs has the biggest affect on HC #'s. Example, hot vs. cold, and gapping! He said the first place you should check if that is the only measure barely over the limit is the plugs, as I was in this case. Clean air filters, adjusting timing, valve adjustments, etc. should be considered next. If your HC #'s are high, there is too much unburnt fuel.

Faulty O2 sensor affects your CO(%).

Low CO(%) and high NO #'s mean your leaning out, and there is not enough fuel.

And we all know that a dirty or defective egr will cause you to have high NO #'s.

I'm just happy to have passed smog!

good to hear you passed.

[bacal36]

ok sorry to bring up an old post but... I tried again to get a smog.

-JDM H22A '94
-JDM p13
-AEM short ram intake
-stock accord EGR
-stock JDM header
-15k on O2 Sensor.
-NEW miller direct replacement catalytic converter
-AEM filter NEW
-timing at +18deg
-Jesus cleaned my EGR 15k ago
-Jesus cleaned my EGR ports 15k ago
-91 octane gas
-synthetic 5W-30 NEW
-NGK Iridium Spark plugs NEW

speed 25mph
HC ppm: 476 limit 118
CO%: 10.48 limit 0.75
CO2%: 7.5
NO(x) ppm: 0 limit 799
P.E.F.: 0.493 zero required

speed 15mph
HC ppm: 468 limit 118
CO%: 10.55 limit 0.75
CO2%: 7.4
O2: 0
NO(x) ppm: 0 limit 799

Car is running rich from what I gather. Help please!

[4CYLPOWER92]

Only thing I can see is that your timming is pretty advanced. I'd get it back to 15 degrees BTDC or even retard it to 13 or 14. In fact your timming is out of spec by 1 degree. (must be +or - 2 degrees from 15)
Your NO is at zero? I've never seen that, interesting.
What is the P.E.F.? Some new test?

[jhondayaaj]

Only thing I can see is that your timming is pretty advanced. I'd get it back to 15 degrees BTDC or even retard it to 13 or 14. In fact your timming is out of spec by 1 degree. (must be +or - 2 degrees from 15)
Your NO is at zero? I've never seen that, interesting.
What is the P.E.F.? Some new test?

you beat me to it kane. timing is way too advanced. looks like your engine is running too hot. is the 02 sensor from a prelude h22 or accord f22??
I'm surprised the person doing the smog didn't set it back to spec.

[92ACCORD_CB7]

I just did my smog today and whats " NO (PPM) "

My readings for that was:

Test 15mph:
MAX = 791
AVG = 237
MEAS = 791

Test 25mph:
MAX = 730
AVG = 199
MEAS = 499

Dude I just made it on 15mph, hahaha.

[Blk EX Coupe]

I just did my smog today and whats " NO (PPM) "

My readings for that was:

Test 15mph:
MAX = 791
AVG = 237
MEAS = 791

Test 25mph:
MAX = 730
AVG = 199
MEAS = 499

Dude I just made it on 15mph, hahaha.

NO = Nitrogen Oxide
PPM = Parts per million

[92ACCORD_CB7]

NO = Nitrogen Oxide
PPM = Parts per million

I see, and how would I get this number lowered? Clean my EGR?

[bacal36]

Ok to clarify. I went to a test only station. My friend has a hookup for me to get smogged and pass, but I want to try this the legal way first.

We hooked up the car to the smog dyno, and he just ran a test smog for me so nothing gets on the record.

The numbers I posted was what the car is putting out.

Only thing I can see is that your timming is pretty advanced. I'd get it back to 15 degrees BTDC or even retard it to 13 or 14. In fact your timming is out of spec by 1 degree. (must be +or - 2 degrees from 15)
Your NO is at zero? I've never seen that, interesting.
What is the P.E.F.? Some new test?

I dont know what the PEF is, but it was on the spec sheet I got so I posted it. The NO numbers got me too It is a new cat on there so I thought hey its doing it job! I've never learned how to do timing, but I guess I can start.

you beat me to it kane. timing is way too advanced. looks like your engine is running too hot. is the 02 sensor from a prelude h22 or accord f22??
I'm surprised the person doing the smog didn't set it back to spec.

The o2 sensor is from my f22. It was fairly new like less than 2k miles when i swapped out so I re-used it. The smog tech just said the car was running way to rich and if I continue to run rich I will burn up the catalytic converter.

[timmy0tool]

yeah usually you would need to retard the timing to get it to burn cleaner. also make sure to have the cat really hot! remember in my post the smog guy revved my car and held it at 3k for a minute before starting the test.

[bacal36]

yeah usually you would need to retard the timing to get it to burn cleaner. also make sure to have the cat really hot! remember in my post the smog guy revved my car and held it at 3k for a minute before starting the test.

Would retarding the timing help with the fuel mixture, and help run it more lean? I think it does, maybe Im just having a monday brain block!

[jhondayaaj]

Would retarding the timing help with the fuel mixture, and help run it more lean? I think it does, maybe Im just having a monday brain block!

no, put a o2 sensor from a prelude h22. the f22 and h22 are different ones and different readings. and I would just leave the timing at 15 btdc and remember to do a valve adj too. is there any exhaust leaks?? sometimes putting iridium plugs may make it worse. I prefer going with just platinums with the h22's.

[4CYLPOWER92]

Would retarding the timing help with the fuel mixture, and help run it more lean? I think it does, maybe Im just having a monday brain block!

Having your timming right ensures that the fuel mixture gets ignited at the right time, when compression is highest which enables a more complete burn.

[TheNextEpisode]

Two years ago, when I smogged my car, the technician said it was cleaner than some of the 2005 model year cars they tested. I had just installed a new cat and had swapped the F22 back in to get passed smog.


Two hours ago, when I smogged my car, I failed miserably.

15mph test:
HC (PPM) max:118 meas:98
CO(%) max:0.75 meas:0.55
NO (PPM) max:799 meas:2239 <-

25mph test:
HC (PPM) max:93 meas:51
CO(%) max:0.63 meas:0.60 <-
NO (PPM) max:738 meas:1927 <-

I warmed up the car with about 10 minutes of city driving and 10 minutes of highway driving. I was proud of my car being clean, too. Gross polluter status is a serious blow to my car-confidence.


My cat is 2.5-3 years old, and as much as I don't want to change it, it's looking like I'm going to have to. Even if I did pass on the HC/CO, albeit barely passed, I don't like the idea of polluting at close to the maximum limitations. Furthermore, I haven't cleaned out the EGR ports. Looks like I'll have something to do for the rest of the night.

Specs:
-F22a1, with stock ECU
-stock intake
-stock EGR
-DC CARB legal header
-magnaflow/carsound cat
-fresh air/fuel filters
-timing at 16 degrees
-dirty EGR


Here's the kicker, my smog is due by tomorrow @ 5 pm.

So, whatever I do, I'll have to do it quickly.
I've heard that its safest to do a break in run of about 100 miles for new catalytic converters. Any naysayers or second opinions?

[Blk EX Coupe]

Here's the kicker, my smog is due by tomorrow @ 5 pm.

Just go to the DMV and pay the registration and ask for an extension to get your smog done. They'll give you a little sticker to put on the car for now until you actually smog.