Excess smoke ticket in L.A. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

westadamsvets · #1 12-13-2010, 03:07 PM

I just got a fix it ticket in Los Angeles for excess smoke from my 300td. I was going uphill and the cop was right behind me and pulled me over.
I argued that the smoke was normal to no avail.
Bottom line, is that I apparently have to go get my diesel smogged!
So what happens now, if I go to a smog check place, are they going to test the emissions?? The car is reasonably well maintained, but a 1979 diesel with a million miles is no Prius.
I don't want to get tagged as a 'gross polluter' or something like that. Anybody has any advice??

Stretch · #2 12-13-2010, 03:18 PM

I don't know about the smog checks in LA (see my location!) but I can say that a new air filter, new fuel filters, valve clearance check, and a timing chain stretch check would be the first things I look at (now that I know more than I did).

LUVMBDiesels · #3 12-13-2010, 03:20 PM

Also before the test lean out the ALDA to where it barely feeds any fuel under boost.

moon161 · #4 12-13-2010, 03:34 PM

Make sure it's shifting properly. An NA will overfuel and smoke when lugging and when wound out.

okyoureabeast · #5 12-13-2010, 03:58 PM

How bad is your smoking?

If I floor it sometimes I let off a healthy amount of smoke. Under normal conditions it isn't bad at all.

Aren't pre 1997 diesels exempt? Sounds like a cop with a poor understanding of the law.

SD300 · #6 12-13-2010, 04:02 PM

u can use pure veggie oil buy from safeway etc , as not easy to filter them in a hurry, i heard in some places they use Kerosene add oil 10% or so ( kero is real dry ) and your car will be much cleaner.
I use filt vege oil whenever i can get them.

SD300 · #7 12-13-2010, 04:02 PM

cops need to fill quota.

omegabenz · #8 12-13-2010, 04:03 PM

it is called an opacity test, it measures how much smoke your car makes. My former 83 300CD had no problem.

79Mercy · #9 12-13-2010, 04:19 PM

If you cant get out of the ticket i would make sure the injectors are spraying properly and that they are all balanced. Then check the injection timing and do a valve adjustment.

Its a NA 617 going up a hill, its going to smoke a decent amount anyways to be honest....

speednjay · #10 12-13-2010, 04:38 PM

i was under the understanding that 98 and under diesels were still excempt. all they did on mine was a visual and read the codes...basically making sure it wasnt running 1500 horsepower like alot of the bro trucks around here.

oldiesel · #11 12-13-2010, 04:47 PM

find some B-99 biodiesel it will run cleaner and quieter,and you should have no problem passing an opacity test if there is nothing else wrong with your engine. Don

SirNik84 · #12 12-13-2010, 04:52 PM

I think you need to talk to the DMV, your car is smog exempt. Pretty sure if you take your title (It should say smog exempt on it) to court the judge will throw this thing out. I think you got pulled over by an illinformed police man who didn't like the taste of carbon lol.

I may be wrong, but the people at DMV should be able to tell you whats up.

I remember the day my dad gave me the SD the lady said "Your dad gave you a Mercedes, thats nice! Oh and look its a diesel, no smog, so heres your tags, twice as nice"

ah-kay · #13 12-13-2010, 05:00 PM

The cop is expecting you to do a smog test on diesel but your car is pre-1998 which, in theory, is exempted. BUT you were pulled over and I think he wants your car checked irrespective of model year for excessive smoke.

The following is the DMV document on performing the test. check paragraph 1.3.4 for Visual Inspection. I think most diesels will pass unless it is spilling smoke 5-15 feet from the tail pipe. But it is subjective after all. On level road I think you may be OK.

my $.02

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARResources/05_Legislative/RegulatoryActions/Smog%20Check%20Manual%20w-diesel%208-09%20V3.pdf

Diesel911 · #14 12-13-2010, 05:04 PM

People are confusing exempt from a Emissions Test as being exempt from putting out too much smoke.
The Police or Highway Patrol can issue a citation for any Vehicle they believe is smoking too much.
I had an Officer writing me the same type of Ticket (in California) for a Gasser. I only lucked out because he got a call and did not finish writing the Citation.

If you can find the B-99 biodiesel that sounds like an excellent idea if you do it along with the other stuff that would cut down on the smoking.
This is also one of those instances where knowing what you compression is could be helpful.
You will pretty much have to tune-up everything that has to do with the Fuel burning.

If your compression is low about the only way I can think of to sort of cheat on that would be to install a switch to keep your Glow Plugs on for the period of what ever test you are going to have to go through.
That might supply enough extra heat burn the Fuel better.

Diesel911 · #15 12-13-2010, 05:11 PM

If I remember correctly in the below link the Marvel Mystery Oil raised the compression.

Marvel M oil results sticky rings
Original thread also has + response
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=258757&highlight=Marvel