All you Texas diesel diehards...

[oilslick]

How tough is the state emissions test for the diesels? I may be moving to TX in the next few weeks and we don't have inspections here so I was wanting to get my MB's prepared or get ready to sell them off.

Kevin

[SW]

What emmissions test? Diesels only have to pass safety inspection.

[leathermang]

Can't say for sure all over the state.......
but Austin ( Travis and Williamson Counties ) just added an emmision test... and it does not cover diesels or cars over 25 years old....
so mine would not be covered even if I lived in those counties...
I don't know if those areas which already have the test.. like Houston... have different criteria... but some Texas Gov site should have that information...

OK,, here it is...

http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/air/ms/vim.html

Kevin , is this a permanent move ? mind saying what part of the state ? We won't hunt you down if you behave yourself...

[jcyuhn]

Safety inspection only for diesels in Texas. No emissions testing for oil burners. It's one of the nice things about driving diesel here. Only $12/year instead of $40 for the inspection sticker. (Much of the state doesn't have the full emissions test for cars either, depends on the county in which the car is registered. The big cities all have it...)

- JimY

[oilslick]

Anybody know anything about Pasadena, TX?

Kevin

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by oilslick

Anybody know anything about Pasadena, TX?

Kevin

Blue collar town, surrounded by refineries, about 10 miles outside of Houston.
-Joe

[oilslick]

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

Blue collar town, surrounded by refineries, about 10 miles outside of Houston.
-Joe

IS that good or bad? Do you know what the schools are like? How far to the coast?

Kevin

[Diesel4me]

Originally Posted by oilslick

Anybody know anything about Pasadena, TX?

Kevin

We call it Stinkadena...When you drive through the area you realize why. Channelview smells the same way. I agree with Joe, find a nice suburb and commute to work, you don't want to live in Pasadena or any of the immediate surrounding cities (Deer Park, LaPorte, Channelview, Galena Park, City of South Houston).

I would try to find something closer than Silverlake or Pearland though. Clear Lake is nice and is close to good entertainment and the coast, and NASA, and way closer to Pasadena than Pearland. Also, Clear Lake area is a bit more established and the property values are very stable there.

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by Diesel4me

I would try to find something closer than Silverlake or Pearland though. Clear Lake is nice and is close to good entertainment and the coast, and NASA, and way closer to Pasadena than Pearland. Also, Clear Lake area is a bit more established and the property values are very stable there.

If you're commuting to Pasadena, then Clear Lake is the place to go, but if you're commuting to downtown Houston, then Pearland is closer, about 14 miles south of downtown Houston whereas Clear Lake is more like 22. There's also some well established communities in SW Houston, like certain pockets of Westbury, and Meyerland. It depends on what your budget is really.
-Joe

[RockinWagin]

Originally Posted by oilslick

Anybody know anything about Pasadena, TX?

Kevin

It smells good

[RUN-EM]

Be sure to get the tractor tire (prounced TAR) flower planter located just so inna front yard, so's your drive by friends can get a good view of the broken TV/refrigerator onna front porch. Course, that's if you're really bucks up.....some can only afford one or the other as porch decoration. And dew take care when ya mow the lawn fer th first few times, cause that is where us'n store our spare cars, car parts, broken chairs, etc....an no tellin what U'll find. And don't make fun of your neighbors sheets in the windows for drapes... at least they used the pastel uns.

Be sure to get the latest copy of "How to talk Texan" cause you may need it. Seriously, Reverend, no offense intended. Just most of Texas has a live and let live attitude....see the posts on diesel inspections.....nothing in most areas 'cept safety inspection for $ 12.50 or so.

And by the way.....WELCOME TO TEXAS!!

Regards

Run-em

[Lycoming-8]

Pasadena is home to a lot of chemical plants, and possibly a refinery or two. This is the source of the stink and also the potential danger of living there. Based on the highly industrial nature of the area, you can see why the residential quality is likely not to be the best. By the way several of the chemical plants have had severe explosions and fires in the not too distant past.

[Hit Man X]

Worst case, PM me and I can get you taken care of... I had to "get" my F150 to pass as the NOx levels are too high at idle. Dead cat or EGR I'm sure, haven't really had time to inspect it. I know the stock injectors are about dead so they will need a full rebuild here soon also.

Up in DFW they only get the ol' safety and you're out the door.

I grew up in Pasadena and now live in Deer Park. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's a pretty simple place that's quiet. Unless you like yuppy rich SNOBS, (had to take my stab since everyone else did ) I wouldn't suggest places like silverlake. Pearland used to be a nice place to live, but then it started growing and is a lot like silverlake now. My Parents still live in Pasadena. Don't believe all you hear about it smelling. It really depends on where you are and what time of year it is. The culprit of the majority of the smell is a paper plant and a Goodyear. In the past 6-8 years the paper plant has downsized, so the smell is going away. The plant is on the north end of the "older" part of town, so the only time it's bad is during the winter which is only about 3 or 4 weeks long here. BTW. What church. Chances are I know where it is. Is it a new church? I know of a few that are being built right now.

You asked if the schools are good. It depends on what school. Some are better than others. PM me on what schools specifically and I'll tell you if I know. Overall I'd say the district isn't really what it used to be, but some schools are still good.

As far as chemical plants go, yes, this is a blue collar working town. Pasadena is home to one of the largest ports (if not THE largest) in the World. Safety is a priority at all of them. The recent explosions that were mentioned were in Texas City which is about an hour southeast of Pasadena.

You asked about the coast. Galveston is approx 50 miles away. Do a google search and I'm sure you will find all the information you want on all the surounding areas.

Oh yeah, Pasadena is in Harris county. One of the toughest counties for emisions. But there is no sniff test for diesels. Only a safety inspection that's $12. All they really do is honk the horn, flip on the windshild wipers and make sure the turn signals work.

PM me when you find out what church and I'll let you know what it's like in that area.

cmichalik

[sublettm]

Don't mind the smell down there in Pasadena...most say it is the smell of money. About once a month, there seems to be an "incident" in one of the plants around that area and they impose a shelter in place for the area. As with most places, there is good and bad about the area.