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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:06 PM
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7.3 smog

Ok, so I just purchased a 2002 7.3 4x4 dually in Washington. Runs great! Drove it all the way home to California avg 18 mpg. No check engine lights. Did a service on it ( im a diesel mechanic for caterpillar) cost me $1,000 to register it. Was told to get stickers and plates that I would need a smog. No problem, truck is bone stock. I mean Stock an it failed the snap test twice! The places said there was too much black smoke and it hovered for too long......my Brian hurts from trying to figure this out! First test they took it against the governor so I didn't think much about it until second test failed. No smoke while idle, runs great plenty of power , no misses, no hard starting, no programmers that I see or any evidence. Stock exhaust , did not have a cat... I know it's out of state but computers. Should not be different ..... It has a stock fuel return spring but I'm considering a sticky IPR causing the injectors to over fuel when punching the throttle. I have a apt next week to get the computer reflashed but It's driving me nuts, any ideas? Thanks guys
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:11 PM
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Move out of California
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:28 PM
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Look for boost or exhaust leaks, but that fuel economy hints at no issues there. I take it you have an OBDII scanner?
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:33 PM
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What is your opacity reading? What is allowed? In AZ the opacity standard is 40%.
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:43 PM
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I know! the reason i bought the truck is because i could not find anything wrong with it. checked all my innercooler boots for leaks.the scanner i have at my apartment is a cheapy and wont read the truck. tomorrow ill be at my dads house where i have my snap-on scanner and i can axcess live data and see whats going on. as far as opacity im not shur. the test here go likethis: 1) does it visualy look stock 2)does it smoke at idle? and blowby out oil cap? 3) 3 snap test are performed, 2 have to pass. a snap test is where the guy romps the throttle 3x and looks at the smoke and the cloud can be 5-15ft but has to dissipate within 3 seconds......rocket science i know
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:43 PM
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Interesting....
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:46 PM
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So if the severity of the black cloud is based on that test guys opinion find out when his day off is. Haha
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:50 PM
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im trying to transfer out!
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:54 PM
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thats why i went to 2 diffrent shops, the second guy tried it before even smogging it and didnt charge me (which was the best part of the day) ha. it fires right up and no smoke when first fires up... im seriously considering buying another fuel return spring and cutting it off and install a gauge and manualy back off my fuel pressure where she'l run but wont smoke. theres a will theres a way
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 11:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 7995fordguy
Ok, so I just purchased a 2002 7.3 4x4 dually in Washington. Runs great! Drove it all the way home to California avg 18 mpg. No check engine lights. Did a service on it ( im a diesel mechanic for caterpillar) cost me $1,000 to register it. Was told to get stickers and plates that I would need a smog. No problem, truck is bone stock. I mean Stock an it failed the snap test twice! The places said there was too much black smoke and it hovered for too long......my Brian hurts from trying to figure this out! First test they took it against the governor so I didn't think much about it until second test failed. No smoke while idle, runs great plenty of power , no misses, no hard starting, no programmers that I see or any evidence. Stock exhaust , did not have a cat... I know it's out of state but computers. Should not be different ..... It has a stock fuel return spring but I'm considering a sticky IPR causing the injectors to over fuel when punching the throttle. I have a apt next week to get the computer reflashed but It's driving me nuts, any ideas? Thanks guys
To me that sounds like your PCM has a tune on it. If they can see smoke on the snap test, you should be able to see the smoke when you romp on it. If you do not see smoke after the reflash you should be fine for smog. Boost leaks could cause smoke but then you'd have nothing like plenty of power. Don't go goofing on the fuel pressure, that is not the problem. See diagram below.

I smogged mine a few weeks ago, $100, no questions asked. Can you say racket?
 
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 11:29 PM
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i know, i need to be patient and wait for the reflash next week. i hate waiting, i want my plates and tags already. Ima roll it in the shop tomorrow before work and check and clean the ebv line and sensor just to check but with my fuel mileage it does not make sense
 
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Calculate MPG by hand. The overhead display is called the lie-o-meter for a reason. And tunes usually inflate the MPG shown there.

If you have access to a good scanner check out Rich's Autoenginuity threads, plenty of what to look at.

The HEUI system is different, but it's still diesel.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 12:14 AM
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O the lie o meter mpg doesn't work. I filled up and drove all the way through Oregon and filled up again
 
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 12:17 AM
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The lie o meter doesn't work, I calculated it manually driving through oregon
 
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 12:37 AM
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It is supposed to be a SNAP test, what the hell are they doing taking it to the governor. Find another smog station. I have an '02 and they did not come with cats. That thing should fly through the smog test, sounds like the tester is an idiot.
 
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