Help from CT diesels owners - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rickjordan · #1 12-26-2003, 10:00 AM

This is an emissions question for diesel owners that live in CT. I will be moving back to CT in the summer (June/July). Here in NJ diesels are exempt from any emission testing, they just get a "safety inspection". I have been going through the CT DMV site have learned that diesels get an "optical" test. I am not too concerned about my '87 TD, but my '83 TD does smoke at idle, but not that much. Of course "not much" is relative. How strict is CT on older diesels? Is this optical test (shinning light through the exhaust) done at idle, or under a load and at a certain speed. I know that back in the day if your gasoline car failed the idle test, they would get the car up to 30 mph (on the rollers) and take a second reading. How does the diesel test go.
While I am asking CT DMV related questions, what do I need to do to register 17 and 21 year old cars? In the past anything over 10 years old, from out of state, required a "safety inspection". If this is still true, where does this get done and what exactly are they looking for.? Thank you in advance.

JimSmith · #2 12-26-2003, 10:14 AM

rickjordan,

So far, I have not had to have the 1982 240D emissions inspected for over two years, so the new procedures are still a little unclear. If you register today, I do not think you will have to have the car emissions tested. They will mail you a notice to have it done when the system is back up and running, and they will identify a place to go for your Diesel. There was some kick-back scandal a few years ago and the whole system got shut down for a few years.

In the past the 240D, with 280,000 or so miles, had no trouble, and now, with 312,000 I think it runs better. The car does not smoke anymore (it was never a heavy smoker, but now it does not smoke at all). The switch to Delvac 1 has made a big difference in how the engine runs and starts, but I hope they don't look for oil leaks while they run the test. The rear seal is getting to the point where the EPA will get motivated to track me down soon.

A car out of state will be checked for all lights, e-brake, steering, and maybe a few other items, like tread life left on the tires. It is a superficial inspection. I have done this with two 190E's and the 300E in the past few years, with the last in September this year. No big deal unless the car is falling apart. If it looks and feels solid I think they just check off the blocks on their form.

Good luck with your move, Jim

rickjordan · #3 12-26-2003, 10:28 AM

Jim, thank you for the quick reply. For the safety insp., I would imagine that they check for rust holes in the floor boards and such. Mine are perfect, but I have usual rust at the trailing edge, towards the bottom of the rear fender lips. My father had the same proble in a Buick, in VA and they made him repair it. Their theory is that since the exhaust was on that side of the car, fumes could work thier way into the passenger compartment. This area is my only concern about the physical inspection of the '83.
So, switching to synthetic, particularlly Delvac 1, reduced your smoke. My smoke is not really blue, just light gray with just a touch of blue. Curently I have Delo 400 in the '83 and Mobil 1 15W-50 in the '87.
I am trying to get things in order with the cars because I will have enough going on without having to deal with failing vehicle insp.

JimSmith · #4 12-26-2003, 12:16 PM

rickjordan,

I do not think superficial rust will inspire the inspector to fail you. When I lived in Germany and you had your every other year TUV inspection, visible rust brought out the screwdriver that the inspector used to poke holes with - any holes equalled a failure. In CT if the car looks reasonably well maintained I do not think you will have any problems. A little surface rust will not cause a serious issue as long as the rest of the car looks good and the blinkers, brakes, emergency brake and so on are in good working order. My last two experiences were very superficial, one on a car from Maryland, and the other a Euro 190E 2.3-16 from California. The inspector never inspected the underside of either car. If it is clean, waxed, and all the stuff works so the car is safe, it should not be a problem.

The Delvac 1 cleaned up the black smoke I used to get at idle or under heavy throttle. I drove behind the car recently (daughter was driving and she revs the engine to near red line in every gear) while getting a Christmas tree and I swear, even in dusk with my headlights shining on the back of the car (I was driving behind it as I was not sure if the tree hanging out was Kosher and did not want to involve other innocents if it came out as she raced the car around - it didn't as we had it tied to the car pretty good) there was no smoke or smell to detect.

Good luck, Jim

84300DT · #5 12-26-2003, 04:58 PM

rick when i got my car tested for emissions in CT the only time it flunked was with an absolutely tight valve which was corrected by a valve adjustment. there was a lot of smoke!
then it re-tested hardly showing anything on the scale..!
that is to say the limits are very high for the opacity test. the second people that performed the diesel test i would also say hardly knew what they were doing anyhow, lol.
they put it on a dyno and run it up to about 30mph and take a reading.
for the safety test it is as jim has described and the good part is that you only do it once when you first register the car. as long as the registration remains the same then no more safety tests are required by the good state of CT (sofar...

rickjordan · #6 12-26-2003, 06:10 PM

Thank you for the replies. So basicly as long as the car doesn't look like a beater, all will be good. For my '83, at 30 mph, there are only "whisps" of gray coming out from the tail pipe. Before we do move on up that way, I will have my mechanic down here give the car a once over. Maybe an injection pump timing check is in order.

84300DT · #7 12-26-2003, 06:39 PM

rick the last time when i saw your wagon , it looked like you could put it into the showroom of Mercedes of Greenwich and it wouldn't
look out of place!!

you should not have any problem passing it though the CT inspection.

JerryBro · #8 12-26-2003, 06:47 PM

I just had my 84 emission checked, passed without a problem. I have the cold deisel smoke, and if I floor it at night I can see smoke in the mirror, but i passed the spec by a factor of 5. Give it the old Italian tune up, run some Power Service thru and it shuld be ok.

CT safety inspections are looking for unsafe vehicles. The look for rust thru holes, frame damage, brakes, etc, etc,...

Welcome back.

Jerry

rickjordan · #9 12-26-2003, 06:59 PM

84300DT, thank you for the compliment. I do have some rust on the driver's door that are unfortunately in the bottom corners. From the inside of the door with the door panel removed, you can't see it. I have also some rust that has started to bubble up from under the window seal for the rear window, at the bottom.

84300DT · #10 12-26-2003, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickjordan
84300DT, thank you for the compliment. I do have some rust on the driver's door that are unfortunately in the bottom corners. From the inside of the door with the door panel removed, you can't see it. I have also some rust that has started to bubble up from under the window seal for the rear window, at the bottom.

rick
sounds that your 'rust' is for sure fixable and is in the 'usual'
areas, mine has the same as yours and much much more lol..

those areas will not grab the attention of the Ct inspection.

will be looking out for you now at the new england gtg's

best season's greetings
bob in mass. now (formerly CT)

michakaveli · #11 12-27-2003, 01:16 AM

Anyone have any info or recommendations to which INDY to go to for the emissions inspections in central Connecticut?

My notice came up for my '97 and I'm kinda lost with the emmisions BS. They give you a list of places to go but I don't trust any of th eplaces near me. And unfortunately I don't think my INDY does the emmisions testing.

What do they do. I don't want some grease monkey screwing around...

rickjordan · #12 12-27-2003, 07:29 PM

Bob, Where abouts in Mass are you now? Where are the NE get togethers being held?

JerryBro · #13 12-28-2003, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by michakaveli
Anyone have any info or recommendations to which INDY to go to for the emissions inspections in central Connecticut?

My notice came up for my '97 and I'm kinda lost with the emmisions BS. They give you a list of places to go but I don't trust any of th eplaces near me. And unfortunately I don't think my INDY does the emmisions testing.

What do they do. I don't want some grease monkey screwing around...

There is a web site, ctemissions.com I think. There are only 50 or so approved diesel inspections in the state, and you get to choose.

Jerry

84300DT · #14 12-28-2003, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickjordan
Bob, Where abouts in Mass are you now? Where are the NE get togethers being held?

i'm on the north shore (northeast of boston) - new england gtg's
have lately been held in rhode island and ct... but the next one is still to be decided (see other threads)

Pete Burton · #15 12-30-2003, 01:11 PM

CT no longer does safety inspections on vehicles less than 25 years old. I registered a Chevy truck last year which has lost more steel to rust than most compact cars ever had new. The diesel emissions used to be only an opacity test (optically measured smoke) but I think they do a real test now. The good part is that if you fail, you get a month to fix it on a free retest and the standards on older vehicles are not too tough. Just don't let your insurance lapse, as they'll fine you $100, threaten to revoke your right to register anything else, hold your 1st born in escrow or snip off one of your ....