Taking my truck to emissions today, Need help!

[wldcat10]

Ok I'm taking my '70 to emissions today after I get out of work. I need some help or suggestions on what I should do before heading over there. Last time I took it, it failed the Carbon Monoxide part, it passed the rest. I have heard to run it for about 30 miles or on the highway so that the engine can get hot. I think last time it was my fault because I was in a hurry to get it done and went straight from my house to emissions (5-6 miles away from my house) and it failed. I have never failed to pass emissions except this last time! I was really surprised and po'd! So is there anything else I should do other than run it for 30+ miles to get it hot? I always put 87 in my truck, Should I put in higher grade of gas? Should I drop in a bottle of one of those gas treatment or "guranteed to pass emissions" into the tank? Any help/tips are greatly appreciated!

[lil hoodlum]

This may not be much help but we have emission testing here too. Being that my truck is older than 25 years it is exempt from testing but I used to have an 1986 Mazda 626 that had to pass testing. It failed one time and the testing guy said I could replace the gas cap and it might help. I went across the street to Oreilys and bought a new gas cap. They retested and oddly enough it passed. So every year after that I replaced the gas cap.

You may also try changing the oil and replacing the spark plugs and wires. But I also heard the same thing about getting the engine nice and hot before testing. I guess it gives the motor time to "burn" off some the crud in the internals???

Good luck!

Keith

[CaptRMW]

Take your timing light with you and on your way down just out of sight of the emission station and retard the timing 5 or 8 degrees or however much you can and still have enough power to pull itself. Good luck, Roger

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by wldcat10

Ok I'm taking my '70 to emissions today after I get out of work. I need some help or suggestions on what I should do before heading over there. Last time I took it, it failed the Carbon Monoxide part, it passed the rest. I have heard to run it for about 30 miles or on the highway so that the engine can get hot. I think last time it was my fault because I was in a hurry to get it done and went straight from my house to emissions (5-6 miles away from my house) and it failed. I have never failed to pass emissions except this last time! I was really surprised and po'd! So is there anything else I should do other than run it for 30+ miles to get it hot? I always put 87 in my truck, Should I put in higher grade of gas? Should I drop in a bottle of one of those gas treatment or "guranteed to pass emissions" into the tank? Any help/tips are greatly appreciated!

I thought anything 35 years or older didn't need to pass emisions, or is that different inb every State?
Here in California, there's no worries.

[justtime520]

Lean out the carb a little and put a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the tank and fill it up. Thats how i got my truck to pass when i had worn rings. Just took emissions two weeks ago, made sure the carb was tuned right and passed with flying colors<----- new engine this year that doesnt smoke.

[jlane_87]

Were you able to pass? I'm just up in Tempe and have taken two of these trucks through emissions in the last few years. Both trucks failed the first time. Just in case you failed the first time around:

As has been said, getting it up to operating temp is important, but you also don't want it to get too hot. On the K10 I had, I had to take it in near summer time when it was already getting hot and it failed. All I did to make it pass was go back in the morning when it was a little cooler outside, shorter lines, and kept the hood open while waiting in line. My understanding from my uncle who is a mechanic is that from sitting in line so long in the heat, the gas was boiling in the carb allowing unmetered fuel to burn. But since its still cool out right now, you probably won't have that problem.

I also failed when I first bought my C10 I have now. The motor was worn out, smoking all over the place, and not running that great. So I replaced the plugs, wires, adjusted the timing, and found that I had a vacuum leak from the power brake booster, causing me to fail the idle test. Put a new booster on there and it passed even though it filled the whole building up with smoke.

[wldcat10]

Originally Posted by justtime520

Lean out the carb a little and put a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the tank and fill it up. Thats how i got my truck to pass when i had worn rings. Just took emissions two weeks ago, made sure the carb was tuned right and passed with flying colors<----- new engine this year that doesnt smoke.

What size bottle/ amount of rubbing alcohol do I need to put in the gas tank before I fill it up? What grade gas should I fill it up with?
Posted via Mobile Device

[lakeroadster]

When I bought my 65 I had to get it e-checked prior to transferring registration. It flunked 1st round. The emissions guy here in Colorado suggested changing the oil to fully synthetic and installing a new set of plugs. Be sure though to get a synthetic that has the additives you need for your flat tappet cam. I used Mobil One 15W-50 and some new Champion plugs.

It passed second time around......

If you ask me it's all bull$hit..., but my advice to you is don't worry so much. Just play the game and keep smiling. They got a job to do, and you want to get through it, it's all good

Good Luck!

John

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by wldcat10

What size bottle/ amount of rubbing alcohol do I need to put in the gas tank before I fill it up? What grade gas should I fill it up with?
Posted via Mobile Device

I had never heard of the alcohol thing till I read this thread, so I wasn't sure if it was BS or what. Well I read up on it and it's legit. I read on another forum about this and this was the preferred method:

1. Get a gallon of denatured alcohol from hardware store
2. Run the gas tank near empty
3. After warming up the engine thoroughly go to a gas station that sells decent gas (chevron or whatever is quality gas)
4. Dump in the gallon of alcohol
5. Add about 3-4 gallons of 87 octane
6. Go straight to emissions station, hopefully pass test
7. Go straight back to gas station and fill up with premium gas.

The consensus was that for emission purposes 87 octane is best for complete combustion and that you want to dilute out the alcohol (by filling up the tank afterward) as soon as possible to reduce chances of deteriorating rubber fuel lines and/or gaskets in the carb. Also they said the denatured is better than the rubbing alcohol because it has lower water content. Lastly, members reported better success when outside temps were lower (more air means leaner mix) and when the engine was fully warmed (so choke is off). Hope this helps some people beat the sniffer!

PS: One tip I have to add is that before you get tested change out your air filter and make sure the choke is opening up all the way, also regular maintenance items help out too (plugs, wires, oil & filter, fuel filter, etc.)

[barryvanhook]

Originally Posted by wwotr

I thought anything 35 years or older didn't need to pass emisions, or is that different inb every State?
Here in California, there's no worries.

AZ is tougher ... anything from 1967 or newer must be smogged annually (unless is really new, then the time is longer). If you have collector insurance, you avoid the sniffer.

Barry

[barryvanhook]

Originally Posted by barryvanhook

AZ is tougher ... anything from 1967 or newer must be smogged annually (unless is really new, then the time is longer). If you have collector insurance, you avoid the sniffer.

Barry

Ooops ... my mistake ... make that every 2 years. I was thinking about my bike.

Barry

[69sixpackbee]

Originally Posted by barryvanhook

Ooops ... my mistake ... make that every 2 years. I was thinking about my bike.

Barry

SMog check on a bike!!!!
WTF is next. hanging a cat on your poopchute exit to de-tune flatulence??
Absurd....

[kq4pc]

Just wanted to comment on a bottle of rubbing alchol,have used it,it works. Bobby

[billsc30]

Originally Posted by wwotr

I thought anything 35 years or older didn't need to pass emisions, or is that different inb every State?
Here in California, there's no worries.

here in arizona, everything from 1967 and newer has to go through.

[billsc30]

Originally Posted by wldcat10

Ok I'm taking my '70 to emissions today after I get out of work. I need some help or suggestions on what I should do before heading over there. Last time I took it, it failed the Carbon Monoxide part, it passed the rest. I have heard to run it for about 30 miles or on the highway so that the engine can get hot. I think last time it was my fault because I was in a hurry to get it done and went straight from my house to emissions (5-6 miles away from my house) and it failed. I have never failed to pass emissions except this last time! I was really surprised and po'd! So is there anything else I should do other than run it for 30+ miles to get it hot? I always put 87 in my truck, Should I put in higher grade of gas? Should I drop in a bottle of one of those gas treatment or "guranteed to pass emissions" into the tank? Any help/tips are greatly appreciated!

Try running seafoam through it. That has always worked for me. You can get it at autozone napa just about anywhere. are you running a thermostat ? that makes a big difference too. I know out here there's alot of guys that don't and find out that it doesn't do what they think it does. That's apache junction for ya though. anyway, try leaning her out a little and add the seafoam to a full tank. you should float on through.

[Gobbles]

Methyl hydrate can help, it takes moisture out of your gas. Also, put some "clean" fuel in. Up here its called Husky or Mowhawk gas, it is a greener gas, can't remember why but it burns nicer.

[69sixpackbee]

I thought living in Cali sucks but you guys are getting hosed...
Throw a cat on it (with flanges) and then take it off after the test.
That'll work. It got to the point that I was tired of buying another cheapie ($350.00) cat converter for the "new" test in Cali so I got an old one and gutted it to run around for two years and right before I go for my check I bolt it in. Keeps from getting degraded and having to cough up another 3+ bills for another.
And besides, it just runs better

[Riveted1]

BTW, while this may not go into effect, and it may not help the OP this time around, a new bill is in front of the AZ Senate that would exempt vehicles older than 25 yrs. old from emissions testing.

Senate Bill HB 1324

[jwgeorge]

Yep, Good old AZ, I lived in Tucson for 10 years and fought with my 77 F-250 every flippin' time! The last time I left the vaccuum line to the PVC disconnected and it flew right through emissions. The vacuum leak brings fresh air into the system and helps I guess. I've done the alcohol trick to the point where I was running more than 50% denatured alcohol and it dang near vapor-locked constantly. I don't recommend alcohol. Try the vacuum line trick, pull the biggest vacuum line off, not the one to the brake booster, and let it rest close to where you pulled it so they don't notice it.
Usually late in the day during a warm/hot day the techs at the station don't care they just want to get it over with. Thanks Texas for the rolling 25-year exemption!

[special-K]

That's crazy that a 67-72 has to be tested in AZ. When I lived out there it seemed like it was anything goes (30 or so years ago) and back in Maryland the laws were tight. Now it's the other way.
On my later stuff,when I'm concerned I put some racing fuel in. I had a '99 ZR1 and when it needed cats (3),I torched them out and it still passed.

[todd99]

WTF? I've lived in Arizona for over a year now, both my vehicles are registered here and this is the first I've heard of smog'ing. I checked the DMV website and you guys are right. How did I manage to get registration and insurance without a smog?

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by todd99

WTF? I've lived in Arizona for over a year now, both my vehicles are registered here and this is the first I've heard of smog'ing. I checked the DMV website and you guys are right. How did I manage to get registration and insurance without a smog?

it varies by location within the state. my dad lives in havasu and no emissions check is required there.
Posted via Mobile Device

[CCCC]

Yavapai County - and some others - are exempt. Maricopa and Pima are required, and maybe Coconino.

[todd99]

Oh, I'm in Prescott. Is it by county?

[Beat68CST]

Pretty sure it's the most strict in Maricopa county.


But, nothin like 5 gallons of VP110 to get her to pass and run like a champ!


Anyone ever try sprayin WD 40 in the exhaust right before you pull in?