Failed emissions today for the first time since I've had the car. Opacity reading was 34.5 ppm and the allowable level is 20. It's previous readings have all been real low below 10ppm so dont' know what the heck is up with that.

One thing I do know is I don't have the money to go down the rabbit hole of chasing injection pump issues or nozzle replaceemnt or whatever within the next month and a half if that is the problem. Real bummer.

Sure hope I dont have to wind up junking the car.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Darn! If you go to Western States Petroleum Products at 450 S 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007 and fill up the tank with B99 biodiesel, you should pass the test.

Disclaimer: running biodiesel might clean crud out of the fuel system and clog a filter or possibly soften rubber fuel hoses, but if you only run one tank of it and use it quickly, it should be fine.

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Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/

DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!


1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles

I hope you dont have to junk it.

Try some cetane booster and driving it like a madman right before you show up for the test. The hotter the car is the better...

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{2010 Mazda 3 266,000mi} - daily since new, Airlift suspension + some chunky sway-bars: fastest pass 17.7@77MPH
{1987 300SDL 256,000mi} - stock turbo @ 22lbs straight piped + a whole bunch of pre-turbo water/meth injection, 722.3 with increased line pressure, special sauce, and shift kit: fastest pass 16.5@82
{1992 964 Carrera 4 Frankenstein ??,???mi} - 993 forward dated, Speedster conversion, GT45 + E85: fastest pass 12.5@113

The car was run on bio by the previous owner. It's had fuel hoses converted to Viton already. In fact I think he may have filled up at Western States.

I might give that a try.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I may try that as well. Problem is that I have a bad rear end banging problem which I have yet to diagnose. I'm not sure a high speed run is feasible. I used to do that before all the previous tests but it feels like either the diff, or the flex joints or axel shafts, something! is about to let go.

I was hoping to get the thing thru emissions then work on the rear end during the course of the next year.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Is this just an idle test or do they run in on rollers? As the other member said about the bio diesel.


If you have been driving the same car and it had been passing previously when Fuel Injection Pumps wear they don't put out more fuel. So that is likely not the issue.


There is however valve timing (changed due to timing chain stretch and timing gear wear), Fuel Injection Pump timing and valve adjustment.


If had your issue and it have other cars to drive I would put it on non-operational so it would give me time to sort out. If you troubleshoot rushed the results are often poor.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Move to California. No smog check.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

They run it on rollers.

I could try another valve adjustment myself. The rest of the stuff no.

It may come to that if I can't get it thru before January when the tags expire.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Have someone else drive and follow behind the car so you can see what smoke is present. Then when you have fixed or done something do the same and see if it changed the smoke at all.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Drive Clean: https://www.driveclean.ca.gov/Search_and_Explore/Technologies_and_Fuel_Types/Biodiesel.php

"Using either blended or pure biodiesel in a diesel engine will generally reduce emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, and particulate matter. Emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a contributor to smog, can increase with the use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine and ARB is currently assessing strategies to reduce these emissions. The bio in biodiesel is renewable and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions depending on the source."

Note that the unburned or partially burned hydrocarbons would effect the opacity issue.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Well. I did a valve adjustement. Most of them were so tight I couldn't get the spacer in at all. Took it thru again today - at a different testing station - and it' passed. 2.9 PPM. Remarkable decrease from the 35 measured at the other place. I'm not convinced it was all down to a the valve adjustment. I think the other stations equipment was faulty, or the tech's were incompetent. I have to say given how much smoke was pouring out the back I don't see how it could have passed but anyway it's thru. So that's a relief. Now I have a year to tackle the rear end rebuild and possibly look more in depth at the motor. I want to do a compression test and then perhaps pull the injectors and maybe a rebuild. Pretty sure these are originals.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

That is good news; keep it running.