Hey guys

So I went to get my truck smogged. The smog guy said that the truck is missing the emission sticker under the hood and he “had to look it up in his book”. He said they are tightening emissions and that not having a sticker could fail in the future. I never had this issue before in all the years I owned it. I looked up where to get the sticker but it seems they can just print a sticker of you send them a PDF or pic of one. And my truck is a 2001 F350 7.3 diesel manual transmission 4x4. My 1999 F250 has the underhood sticker but it’s a different year altogether. My 2001 the hood section is bare no glue residue and doesn’t even look like there was a sticker there. Can I go to the dealer to get that sticker? I found a few pics online but I don’t know if it’s the right sticker.


Please no “just move out of that state and you never have to worry about it” responses. It doesn’t help my situation.

And thank you for any insight

 

Tell the "smog guy" in whatever state you're in to show you in writing (from the proper authority having jurisdiction) where the absence of that sticker is a concern, either now or in the future.

 

I said it probably fell off as the truck is original never in a accident where the hood may of been replaced. Is this something that’s a issue. All he said it could be. I just looked it up in the book. So I’m thinking if you “looked it up in the book” I don’t see how this is a issue. Truck is all stock no modifications to anything. Never had a issue and nobody ever said anything. And I’ve been to multiple smog stations over the years.
not sure if the dude was just on a power trip or annoyed cause he had to open a book to verify whatever he needed verification of. I’ll go t the dealer maybe they can order the sticker so I can stick it under the hood. I can have one made if it comes to that becoming a issue in the future
thanks

 

Well there are two separate stickers out there, so lets start with that; there is the under hood VECI smog sticker, And there is the sticker that is in the actual valve cover.

Many of the Super duties do NOT have a VECI sticker as they were manufactured at a time when it was not a requirement for vehicles over a certain weight unless in certain states. My 99 is also missing this sticker.

ex: VECI Sticker


The other sticker is an emission equipment control label, and is typically on the passenger side valve cover for the 7.3 motor. This sticker lists, among other things, what emission equipment the truck was built with.

ex: emission control sticker



From what I recall when I lived in CA and went through this fiasco after importing an out of state truck, the lack if a sticker is NOT a contributing factor to passing or failing, as there are many reasonable causes for one of these to be absent. The CARB maintains a database for smog techs that is considered the ultimate authority as to how to determine what smog equipment should be on a vehicle. This guide may not always be 100% accurate for ALL vehicles manufactured in a certain time period but it is what the CARB has approved and what you are stuck with. For instance if the guide says your truck has a catalytic converter you had better have one or you will not pass. The exception is if there is a VECI or Emission Equipment sticker that says otherwise a smog tech MAY use that as a was to determine the requirements for your vehicle. I know there is a way to obtain a VECI sticker from ford but you need a good parts guy. As for the Emission Control sticker from international I have no idea on how to get a replacement.

The state is constantly changing and amending the rules so they may have adopted more stringent requirements now regarding the sticker vs when I went through this in 2016. Based upon my understanding you should have no problems and most likely have at least the sticker on the valve cover, it may just be covered in gunk. It sounds like the tech was either just annoyed to have to look up the information or being overly cautious; which considering the games the CARB plays with a smog techs license and ability to continue to make an income I could understand.

Hope that helps some, and good luck. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

He was referring to the hood VECI sticker. The hood is original and I KNOW for a fact it’s never been changed or tampered with. I never noticed the sticker not being there but I don’t think it ever was. There is not even a mark or indication there was ever a sticker placed there as there is not even glue residue. I’ve never had a issue smog testing before and the guy passed it. I’m not sure if he just pulled the “issue” out of his butt for whatever reason or maybe he thought it was a test. Who knows with CARB. I’m sure they make these techs jump through hoops. It’s just weird after 19 years of never having a issue all of the sudden it was a “issue” with this guy. The valve cover sticker is there on the valve civer. Like I said I don’t tamper with my vehicles. I’ll swing by the ford dealer and see what they say. Ma6be they didn’t put the stickers on duallies?

thanks for the 8nfo.

 

@Njstern87 What an awesome post. Reps sent.

The emissions label that the smog tech should be looking for is on the passenger side valve cover of the engine, below the oil fill spigot, similar to the red colored label Nick posted above. The colors of Navistar labels are not always red... mine is green, and I've seen some that are orange, and even light blue.

In 10 years of training with the CARB on diesel emissions, I have never encountered any stipulation that a diesel emissions control label be placed on the hood, cowl, rad support, fender, firewall, grille, or other part of the vehicle in which the diesel engine is installed.

On the other hand, all diesel engines in California, whether in a truck, a tractor, a generator, an air compressor, a bulldozer, a bobcat, or a pickup... are REQUIRED to have an emissions control label on the engine itself, that identifies the diesel engine "Family Number", which is the EPA identifier for permitting that engine to operate as originally equipped with the emissions equipment also identified on that label. I have had to contact International, PACCAR, and Ford for replacement emissions labels. The process is quite controlled. In the old days (prior to 2012), I could pick up an ordered and vin verified label at the dealership and install it myself. Now, the truck is required to be brought into the dealership, and a dealer tech must install the label, and of course, we have to pay for all that service (several hundred dollars at Peterbilt dealer).

I am not trained on gasoline engine emissions, so I cannot speak to gas engine labeling requirements.

 

With the presence of the valve cover sticker you are golden, tech was having an off day.

 

Calif has cracked way down the past few years on emission inspections because of all the guys that were "cheating" the system.

Wife's '04 Chevy.
Used to be plug in to the computer and if no codes, all was good.
Then it became the CAI I installed didn't have a CARB sticker on it. So I bought one off Ebay and stuck it on. Good to go.
Next inspection, number on CAI is not for this truck. I needed a letter from K&N stating the filter is good and the CARB number is correct. Luckily I still had the stock set up and just put it back on. Passed.
Next the CATS went out so I bought a set and put them on. Cleared the codes. Thought all was good till the next inspection when the guy crawled under the truck. Cats won't pass as they do not have the CARB number embossed on them.
Go to get new cats and my exhaust guy needs the number off the air box. Said it should be XYZ. Get the number and it's ZYX number. So we had to look it up. Only one manufacture makes cats for that engine number and it took me a while to find them. New cats on and now it passes because it has the correct number.
Here's the kicker. 5.3 motor, same as any other '04 truck. Difference is I have the tow package which has a larger air box and different axle gears. because of that, it is in a different engine group. So CARB took it upon their selves to make a new number for the cats and only one company is authorized to make them.
CARB is a bunch of BS. Just out for money for them and not worried about the environment.
Had a '90 Chevy truck. Everything I did to the engine systems had a sticker that stated not for use on highways in calif. But I still put them on. Motor made more power than stock. Went to have it smogged and the exhaust was cleaner than when it was brand new. Go figure.

 

My wife’s Infiniti had the cats go out. I found a place that sold them for $650 each side as they are the integrated into the exhaust manifold type. These are the stamped CARB EO number. The dealer wanted $1200 EACH cat and $1200 each side for labor and the core was $200 each if I wanted to keep my parts. So altogether $5200 in repair work. I found the cats for 1300 ( lol crazy $1300 ). Downloaded the factory service manual and read the procedure.

I have a 4 post lift at home as I do my own work and I said this is a piece of cake. Literally took me 4 hours on a Saturday morning to remove everything and 4 hours on a Sunday to bolt it all back in. Her QX56 has been running great ever since and that was about 1.5 years ago. Passed smog fine.
I did a bit a month worth of research and called the state. The lady told me of the section I the website where you type in the info and it tells you what company makes the legal CARB approved cats. I really w dear what exactly makes a CARB approved cat different than a non CARB approved one. Build? Materials? Additional testing?

I really want to thank everyone who responded to my question. It was appreciated.

 

You want to know what actually makes it a CARB approved part?
MONEY! Bottom line.
The company building the part has to pay CARB to test their product and stamp it approved. Otherwise it's not approved.
and the fees are outrageous. Lots of companies cant afford it so that's why they sell parts that say " Not for highway use in California".
when I bought a Holley Sniper Fuel injection system for my '73 Smog exempte Blazer from Summit, they wouldnt sell it to me because I live in Calif. Had to tell them it was going on a '63 to get them to sell it to me.

 

well....money was a given considering the cost. I mean you’re talking double the cost of the non CARB compliant part vs CARB compliant. I figured someone ls paying stacks Benjamins to get that certification.
I was telling my boss the story and he said that’s why I drive cars that are old and don’t require smog. He would rather put 40k in rebuilding something that will never be smogged and drive that. Right now he’s driving a 70 Ford Ranchero with a 351.