Allowable exhaust gases

[BHarvey]

I am trying to find (without luck) a table that shows the amount of allowable exhaust gases such as the ones listed on your emissions tests when you get your car tested.

Anyone know where to look?

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by BHarvey

I am trying to find (without luck) a table that shows the amount of allowable exhaust gases such as the ones listed on your emissions tests when you get your car tested.

Anyone know where to look?

You might start with the California Air Resources Board measurements. The index is terrible but the results are available online. As for a given set of emission standards, it should be somewhere in the EPA web site but I have no clue as to where. But I suspect the CARB states have a lower standard.

Bob Wilson

[BHarvey]

The reason I was wondering was I have been doing some tuning on my motorcycle and the HC was 160 ppm.

A friend told me his last emission test showed an allowable 220 ppm on the HC, but of course he has a cat, smog pump, and so forth on emission controls and he netted 130 ppm or so.

Seems like all that emissions crap is just that....

[Piwoslaw]

Not an official document, but may help:



New automotive emissions standards

[tjts1]

ACCELERATION SIMULATION MODE (ASM) TEST EMISSION STANDARDS AND GROSS POLLUTER STANDARDS

[Diesel_Dave]

What's your concern? Is it passing a certain inspection that's required by the locality that your vehicle is registered in?

Emissions regulations are pretty complicated in how they're structured. There are certain standards that manufacturers have to meet in order to sell a engine/vehicle in a certain region (usually by country). However, there are different standards for after the vehicle has been sold. Some locaties require no inspection whatsoever, so technically after it's sold off the lot, nothing matters. Some locatities require that, when inpected the "check engine" light is off (supposedly indicating that everything is in proper working order such that the emissions should theoretically be okay). Other localities require an inspection where the vehicle is actually run through some standard test cycle and the emissions are measured.

Your specific requirements will depend on what locality you're in. I know where I live in Indiana currently there are no inspections at all. I used to live in PA, where all counties had a general safety inspection, but only certain counties required an emissions check.

[jakobnev]

Assuming your Atlanta is in Georgia i found this:

Motorcycles, RVs, and motor homes do not require emissions testing.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by BHarvey

Seems like all that emissions crap is just that....

You're preaching to flock.
If you are getting real good fuel economy then your emmissions are likely well with in limits.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

You're preaching to flock.
If you are getting real good fuel economy then your emmissions are likely well with in limits.

Unless your catalytic converter is damaged or missing.

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

You're preaching to flock.
If you are getting real good fuel economy then your emmissions are likely well with in limits.

If you're talking about HC or CO, then I agree (because both are an indication of incomplete combustion).

Not true when you're talking about NOx. As a general rule, high NOx (pre-catalyst) and high efficiency go together.

Particulates (on a diesel) are a mixed bag. High engine-out smoke is like HC & CO--an indicator of inefficiency & unburned fuel. However, the addition of a diesel particualte filter (DPF) will hurt your overall fuel efficiency via higher back pressure and fuel used in filter regenerations. So low smoke generally means better efficiency, but ultra-low tailpipe smoke (via a DPF) will give you lower fuel efficiency.