BOMB'ed Emissions

[Archive]

Here in the Peoples Republic of Utah, diesel powered light trucks must have an annual emissions test by a state emissions testing center. They actually put it on a chassis dyno and test opacity at 50 mph and wide-open-throttle. My stock 98 ISB tested 1. 6 at 50 mph and 4. 0 at WOT against a limit of 30. (Next time I'll take it in instead of sending my wife so I can see the torque/hp output. I asked her how it dyno'ed out and I got "THE LOOK". )

Here's my question: Have any of you with power upgrades had an emissions test? I'm particularly interested in hearing from someone with the 275 HP injectors who has had an emissions test? Based on my last test, I'm not even close to the limit and will probably be ok with the bigger injectors, but you know what happens when you assume.

John

 

[Archive]

Jnewkirk, I posted an almost identical question on 12-24-99 in the 12 Valve forum. I will repost it here... I guess #ad

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Topic: CLEAN Burning Cummins
1968 Hurst HEMI Dart
Member posted 12-24-1999 07:50 PM
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Just got back from my bi-annual emmissions test. I live in Connecticut. The diesel test\fail limits are the same for all model year diesel powered trucks & cars under 10,000 GVWR, from 1968 to present. {interesting].
They only test they do is particulate Opacity for diesel powered vehicles.

Opacity is defined in the fact sheet as:

" A special opacity meter passes a beam of ultraviolet light through the exhaust plume of the vehicle. The greater the density of the exhaust plume or cloud, the less light will pass through the sensor. The intensity of the light passing thru the exhaust plume is measured. This measurement is compared by the computer to a pre-determinded density scale. The exhaust plume of the vehicle is measured while the vehicle is operated on a dyno for approximately 30 seconds to simulate driving conditions. "

Here were my results:

Diesel Engines: OPACITY
Maximum Limit: 20. 0%
My test results: 0. 0----Pass

Truck has 96,000K miles!

Do any other members have a similar Emmissions testing program in their state?
And do engine modifications eg. cam plate, larger injectors, advanced timing,ect. make it more difficult to pass the test?

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1994 Dodge Ram SLT Cummins 5 speed 4x4,3. 54 gears, Scotty Air System,PIAA Platnum Super Whites,Optima red top batteries, manual trans filter,Turbo&Exhaust blanket,Magnaguard rear diff cover,Edelbrock IAS shocks,muffler removed,Borgeson steering shaft,Trailmaster steering stabilizers,Rancho upper & lower links,Polyurethane sway bar bushings,Skyjacker 2" leveling springs(front),Fabritech Stage II Traction Bars,Denman Coyote A/P LT305/85R16(36" Tall) tires on Stock Dodge Chrome 16x6. 5 wheels,Bushwacker Street Flares,Back-off saftey brake light,Bugflector II bug shield, Royal Purple ,Amsoil& Red line lubes throughout.

1970 Plymouth Cuda (under construction)
1968 Hurst HEMI® Dart , Nah its just a screen name ;-)

[This message has been edited by 1968 Hurst HEMI Dart (edited 12-27-1999). ]

[This message has been edited by 1968 Hurst HEMI Dart (edited 12-27-1999). ]

 

[Archive]

It is my understanding that as long as you confine your upgrades to injectors like the ones I recommend, you won't have a problem. If you add a lot of fuel like my Blue Box will do, you have a problem. I can turn my Blue Box off, problem solved. With a humongous camplate on a 12v, you may have a problem.

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3/4 ton, 5 sp, lsd, 2wd, qcab, guages, Scotty sys. Rhino liner, Newest Adjustable Blue Box hp enhancement
Diesel Dynamics Stage III injectors, boost module, wastegate elbow, X heavy duty clutch, Amsoil bypass filter system,
Turbo cover, Diesel Dynamics 4" exhaust (next) Possible Bully Dog propane system, Possible "P" pump retrofit,
Possible double intercoolers, Not included: D9 turbo housing,

 

[Archive]

'68HDD, during your emmisions test, how was it conducted? Steady speed, accelerating, or WOT? Obviously opacity (smoke) can increase with increased throttle, and I'm curious how hard your rig was being worked when the measurement was taken. Regardless, you must have a very clean burnin' Cummins to not get the meter off the 'zero' peg!



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Vaughn MacKenzie

1998 3/4T Quad Cab 4x4, 24-valve, 5-speed w/3. 54 rear, White over Driftwood, Fog Lamps, Air Dam, Agate leather with most options.
245/75/16 Kelley Safari MSRs on M/T Classics, DeeZee running boards, diamond tread bedrail & tailgate protector.
54,722 miles (12/27/99)

 

[Archive]

No testing (yet) for my ISB in Oregon. It will happen sooner or later.

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99 2500, QC, SLT, 4x4 ISB, 5sp, 3. 55lsd, Infiniti am/fm/cd, HDTcase, Tow mirrors, Tow Pack, Camper pack, NW Running Boards and Mud flaps, Front Mount Receiver, Tekonsha Brake Control and Husky Liners.

 

[Archive]

jnewkirk,

I am curious what their definition is for WOT? You and 1968 stated that they put the truck on a Dyno, but I have never heard of an emission testing facility having a real Dyno. They usually just have a set of rollers that do not put a load on your truck.

Are y'all confident about them having a Dyno. This would greatly increase the amount of emission testing that they can do on our diesel engines if they have a real Dyno.

Here in Arizona, they only have a set of rollers and run at 50-55 mph.

Later,
Tim

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94' 2500 4x4, std cab, 12v, 5spd, gauges, TST 230/605, 110k mi.
96' 2500 4x4, ext cab, 12v, 5spd, Cummins Exhaust brake, 50k mi, 8-10K horse trailer (wifes).
Phx, AZ

 

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FourBarR,

I wasn't there for the test, so I don't know what kind of equipment they have. All I can tell you is they produced an opacity reading for the WOT condition. I've been told by other diesel owners that the test techs will tell you horsepower/torque if you go talk to them during the test, so it sounds to me like they have a dyno. Next time (May 2000) I will check it out my self, hopefully with 275hp injectors installed.

John

 

[Archive]

Vaughn, I am pretty sure the Opacity % was measured at an even 30 mph. The non-english speaking tech ( I am just assuming this... he looked arabic or somthin #ad
) put the truck in first gear and started accelerating. The computer screen said "increase acceleration". He did and first gear was not enough. {I DON`T want to know how high the R`s were. With Silencer ring out & Scotty Air system, I thought the building was coming down with that turbo whine. #ad
) He went to 2nd gear and accerated, then computer screen said "Hold Speed". This I`m guessing was about 30 mph or so.

Fourbar, I think they call the "rollers" a dynometer in the handout. I don`t think its a true Dyno.

BTW: See who is Testing/Driving the truck in these emmision stations. Don`t let some Idiot who has never drivin a diesel, knows nothing about, jump in and do the testing, tach up the engine to its limits ect. Especially the 5 & 6 speed trucks. I almost started screaming at my "tester" #ad



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1994 Dodge Ram SLT Cummins 5 speed 4x4,3. 54 gears, Scotty Air System,PIAA Platnum Super Whites,Optima red top batteries, manual trans filter,Turbo&Exhaust blanket,Magnaguard rear diff cover,Edelbrock IAS shocks,muffler removed,Borgeson steering shaft,Trailmaster steering stabilizers,Rancho upper & lower links,Polyurethane sway bar bushings,Skyjacker 2" leveling springs(front),Fabritech Stage II Traction Bars,Denman Coyote A/P LT305/85R16(36" Tall) tires on Stock Dodge Chrome 16x6. 5 wheels,Bushwacker Street Flares,Back-off saftey brake light,Bugflector II bug shield, Royal Purple ,Amsoil& Red line lubes throughout.

1970 Plymouth Cuda (under construction)
1968 Hurst HEMI® Dart , Nah its just a screen name ;-)


[

[This message has been edited by 1968 Hurst HEMI Dart (edited 12-28-1999). ]

 

[Archive]

You ought to see the diesel emmissions test here on the Colo front range.

For light duty diesels (like ours) its a 60mph to 40mph "lug down" test. In other words they strap (with big a** chains) your truck to a chassis dyno run it up to 60mph, then with it running full throttle they increase the dyno load until it "lugs" the engine down to 40mph. Brutal. Really is a good simulation of pulling a big load up a steep mtn. pass.

My stock 12V, was between 5% and 9% opacity (limit is 20% I think, or possibly 30, I forget) at the three measurement points (60,50,40 mph). And gave rear wheel HP of 170 and 384 ft-lbs.

I'm oscillating between a TST plate OR propane on deciding how to BOMB my truck (warantee expires in 9 more mo. ) Propane would be nice because you can turn it off for emmission test. For TST maybe I could plug the bleed hole in the boost pickoff elbow thus limiting max boost to stock level.

Oh yeah, I gotta make an emmissions appointment at least 2 weeks in advance and take an hour off work to get it done. There's only one test facility in town, and they've only got one dyno. It costs $50.
If ya want to pay $50 you can get a dyno run any time you want, provided you've made an appointment. They also do semi-tractor, dump trucks, you name it at the same facility. There are 2 or 3 other test modes for the big rigs in addition to lug down, "snap idle" is another.

Anyone had any experience with a TST plate and a "lug down" emmission test?????

 

[Archive]

briand,

What will happen if you have a TST upgrade. I can just see the look on the testers face when he puts it at 60mph and tries to pull it down to 40mph and the engine just keeps pulling. I guess the dyno can handle our power if they also test tractor rigs, but it will definitely pull harder. Also, what about the EGTs if your truck's upgrade has the power to push the EGTs too high. I would definitely be in the truck when they are testing if you are not stock.

Also, the "snap-idle" test is stomping the accelerator pedal from idle. This would cause my TST upgraded truck to blow black smoke very bad. The AFC would have to be tightened down before this test.

I have to admit, that I worry about this kind of test and these after-market upgrades. We all know that most of these after-market upgrades are better than stock because the EPA is not watching over their shoulders.

Later,
Tim

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94' 2500 4x4, std cab, 12v, 5spd, gauges, TST 230/605, 110k mi.
96' 2500 4x4, ext cab, 12v, 5spd, Cummins Exhaust brake, 50k mi, 8-10K horse trailer (wifes).
Phx, AZ



[This message has been edited by FourBarR (edited 12-29-1999). ]

 

[Archive]

jnewkirk,
I am also from Utah. That dyno you speak of is only designed to put a load on the engine. It will not generate h. p. and torque figures. My truck also passes easily at stock. I am confident that 275 h. p. injectors will not effect the test by much. When money permits, I will purchase the new Van Atkins box. One reason I would choose that box is because of the simplicity of R&R.

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98 SWB QC ISB A/T Metallic Red w/ tan cloth interior Monroe Gas Magnums Armor Tuff spray in bed liner Goodyear Wrangler ATS 285/75r/16

 

[Archive]

New Mexico = Diesel testing exempt!

\\BF//

 

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Doc, Thanks for the RPM tip. I got another from Dennis. I was in a bad mood the night I posted "Mad at the tester"... #ad

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Subj: rpms on a diesel
Date: 12/29/99 11:30:41 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: dmccormick@fnal.gov (Dennis McCormick)
To: briley6258@aol.com

You don't have to worry about the redline on a diesel except in one
case. Normally you can throw a rock on the pedal and run a few (or a lot
of) tanks of fuel through it with no problems. The mechanical pump on
the older trucks and the computer controlled pumps on the newer ones do
the rpm limiting automatically. There is no way to reach dangerous rpms
using only the accelerator pedal. The only time you have to consider
reaching dangerous rpms is if you are gearing down on a grade with a
load.

 

[Archive]

Do any of these inspectors look under the truck at the cat?? I am in Montana right now(no testing at all), but plan on moving to Colorado fairly soon. I would like to remove my cat... Yes, I know it is illegal... But the other day when I was changing my oil, after driving it around and getting it warm, and then shutting it down, I felt the exhaust components. The section behind the Cat was cool to the touch. The Cat was almost untouchable!! I need to decrease EGT and this seems the best and easiest route (till i am caught).

Jack

Kind of sounds like that country song
"heres your sign" don't it??

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52,500 miles 22Dec99

1997 Red 4x4, 5 spd, 3. 54 rear, Older slide in camper, Trails West 2 horse slant trailer, K&N air, 255. 85. 16 Big O XT, Banks Stinger Plus(minus exhaust), 4" BD exhaust (minus the muffler), A pillar gauge mounts, after market overload springs, shelf-it overhead storage, CB overhead with cord hanging down like the BIG trucks

 

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I live in MA and our legislature, in its infinite wisdom,has just passed an extensive plan to test everything post 1984. I had planned on throwing a paycheck or 2 to TJE in the spring but don't want to go through the BS if my 24v can't pass the standards. What to do??? I'm not even sure what the standards are! I wonder if they do?

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98. 5 24v, 2500SLT 4x4, Black/chrome,grizzly nerfs, 5spd
3. 54 265/16s, turbo ring removed, K&N air filter, Putco S/S bed rails. "Stock as a clock", but ready to get BOMBed

 

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I realize I'm not on the correct page here, as I own a 94 Ram/Cummins, however I wanted to address this issue concerning the IM test here in Utah, and particularly in Davis County.
They do use a Dyno, that has the capability to "load" the engine. They tie the truck down, run the engine up to a rear wheel speed of 50 MPH in direct drive(out of overdrive)then proceed to "load" the engine to 40 % of its rated horsepower! They then read the opacity level. When I had mine tested it was just that, a test, as my son-in-law worked there and we wanted to see what the engine did as I had just installed the Dr. 's stage II P7100 pump.

The limits at that time were 80 % opacity. Mine read 1. 4 %!

I also drive a Cummins powered School Bus, and the County comes to the bus shop each year to test the buses. However, they do not "load" the engine at all. They simply run the engine up to the Rev limiter and hold the engine speed there for 30 seconds, then they read the opacity level. My bus normaly reads around 35 %!

In the 8 years of driving the bus, I have only seen one fail, and that was a detroit 60 series V-8!

Have a "Happy new year" everyone!

Wayne
amsoilman

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94'SLT 4X4 AT/White in color. Factory Tow Hooks & Running Boards. Amsoil By-Pass filter, Amsoil Air cleaner,and all fluids are Amsoil. Optima "Red Top" batteries.
BD exhaust Brake, BD Torque Lock, BD Torque Converter, Dr. Performance Stage II Injection Pump. Mag-Hytec Diff Cover,Mag-Hytec Transmission Pan, Isspro Pyro, Boost,Oil temp Gauges mounted in 3 Gauge post mount. One gauge monitors Engine Oil, Trans, Diff. Temps.

 

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Thanks for the Davis County info Amsoilman. I suspect I will be visiting the Kaysville testing center sometime in January.

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Jim... ... KF7IS
'99 Cummins w/Dodge QC, SB, 5sp, 4X4 Loaded, 265/75 BFGs on 16/8 AR 5 Spoke Chrome Wheels, Xenon Flares,Chrome Stepbar, Rhino Guard, Amethyst Pearl... just git'in started

 

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horseman, Even though my 94 has a cat, they did not even check for one.

On the test report, in the " Equipment Inspection" line, under Catalytic Converter a big N/A is printed.

 

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Hmmmm... . N/A for cat - - (no more white meat). Means it don't exist on your truck in your state BUT the feds know its there sooooo do u or dont u? That will b the ques of the year (thank gods its a short year)!!!!

\\BF//

 

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Exactly my thoughts too Ben. The EPA must have wanted it , but your state does not require it... . I dunno #ad


A while back in the TDR Bob Patton said "little would be gained by removing it"