I just got my car tested for emissions

[shocksyde]

What the hell is this? They didn't attach the hose to my exhaust and run the car or anything. So, what's the point?

 

[Mermaidman]

Possibly because a common leak of pollutants is at the gas cap. A loose gas cap illuminates the check engine light, doesn't it?

You could be evil and report the station to the state :evil:

 

[shocksyde]

I should've been clearer. I know why they checked the gas cap. I don't know why they didn't check my exhuast.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Last time I got a car smogged they put it up on rollers and everything.

 

[SilthDraeth]

Originally posted by: shocksyde
I should've been clearer. I know why they checked the gas cap. I don't know why they didn't check my exhuast.

Your car's exhaust pipe is just for looks. Your gas cap is where your car actually releases exhaust. Any unburnt gas is supposed to become condensation and help refill your gas tank, this way you burn more gas, instead of releasing it into the atmosphere where it will turn into acid rain.

All they do during that test is make sure that no unburnt gas is leaving your gas cap.


😀

 

[Zenmervolt]

How old is the car?

Here in WA, cars 4 years old or newer do not need to have the exhaust tested, they just check your exhaust cap and off you go. Maybe it's similar in Maryland?

ZV

 

[programmer]

In Virginia at least, they hook everything up to a computer and the test is tied to the VIN of the car. No way to pass it without actually running the test(s). -- I should add to that the computer prints out the emissions pass/fail certificate with all the test details and has some details in the paper to prevent forgeries or copying. You need to take (or mail) that printout to the DMV to get your registration renewed.

What state are you in? How old is the car? etc..

 

[shocksyde]

Car is a 99 Nissan Altima.

The computer printout I was given said "Pass", as well as "N/A" under all the tests listed (besides the gas cap test, which was a "Pass")

So they definately did not test my car for emissions except to make sure the gas cap was ensuring a good seal on my gas tank.

I really don't get the point...

EDIT: I'll also note that out of the ~10 cars ahead of me, I noticed they all got the same treatment as me: No exhaust test.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The reason for it is because the amount of emmissions coming out of a car's tail pipe are now low enough that evaporated hydrocarbons have become signifigant.

...oh yeah, and the last time I had to take a smog test (the '87 Volvo), the gas cap was the only thing that failed. California has I believe a 6 year exemption.

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The reason for it is because the amount of emmissions coming out of a car's tail pipe are now low enough that evaporated hydrocarbons have become signifigant.

...oh yeah, and the last time I had to take a smog test (the '87 Volvo), the gas cap was the only thing that failed. California has I believe a 6 year exemption.

Meaning they'll let it fail for 6 years before they make you fix it?

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: shocksyde
Car is a 99 Nissan Altima.

The computer printout I was given said "Pass", as well as "N/A" under all the tests listed (besides the gas cap test, which was a "Pass")

So they definately did not test my car for emissions except to make sure the gas cap was ensuring a good seal on my gas tank.

I really don't get the point...

EDIT: I'll also note that out of the ~10 cars ahead of me, I noticed they all got the same treatment as me: No exhaust test.

What state do you live in first off...

The regulations are different based on the state.

Second, on cars with OBD-II or higher they don't do an exhaust check or dyno the car they plug a wire underneath the dashboard and that's it. It probably happened so fast you don't even know. That is probably cars made after 95.

In Maryland cars that are made before like 80 something do an idle test where they stay parked and just run though different RPMS with a hose connected.

OBD-II is much more sophisticated then OBD-I. The emission testing is done on your car in real time so if the SES (Service engine soon light) is on it's assumed you failed emissions testing. If they do a smog test (with the hose) anyway regardless if you have a OBD-I or II system it is highly likely it will fail HC, NOx or COx if the SES light is on. That is why most places won't even test you vehicle if the SES light is on. I'm sure statistically it was calculated that it is not even nessesary connecting a cable or doing a smog test on cars with OBD-II or higher.

At least that is my thinking.

 

[shocksyde]

Ahhhhh! That makes sense. I'm in MD by the way.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: shocksyde

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The reason for it is because the amount of emmissions coming out of a car's tail pipe are now low enough that evaporated hydrocarbons have become signifigant.

...oh yeah, and the last time I had to take a smog test (the '87 Volvo), the gas cap was the only thing that failed. California has I believe a 6 year exemption.

Meaning they'll let it fail for 6 years before they make you fix it?

No, they don't test cars 6 years and younger. Just charge a Smog Abatement fee. They basically assume since the car is pretty new, that it hasn't broken yet.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
What state do you live in first off...

The regulations are different based on the state.

Second, on cars with OBD-II or higher they don't do an exhaust check or dyno the car they plug a wire underneath the dashboard and that's it. It probably happened so fast you don't even know. That is probably cars made after 95.

In Maryland cars that are made before like 80 something do an idle test where they stay parked and just run though different RPMS with a hose connected.

OBD-II is much more sophisticated then OBD-I. The emission testing is done on your car in real time so if the SES (Service engine soon light) is on it's assumed you failed emissions testing. If they do a smog test (with the hose) anyway regardless if you have a OBD-I or II system it is highly likely it will fail HC, NOx or COx if the SES light is on. That is why most places won't even test you vehicle if the SES light is on. I'm sure statistically it was calculated that it is not even nessesary connecting a cable or doing a smog test on cars with OBD-II or higher.

At least that is my thinking.

In California, having a check engine light (CEL) is considered a fail. Smog places won't bother doing the rest of the tests because they already know it doesn't matter.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

In California, having a check engine light (CEL) is considered a fail. Smog places won't bother doing the rest of the tests because they already know it doesn't matter.

Which is why you yank the bulb to the CEL and put some test gas in the tank:evil:

juuuust kidding of course.