Hey I have an 88 Trans Am with a stock 305 TBI. I have Replaced the airfiler, PCV valve, all the sparkplugs and put in 20w 50 oil before running it thru the E test using PREMIUM GAS and taking it in hot after burning it up the 401 and back. Here are the numbers it came out with.

ASM 2525
HC ppm 101 The limit is 55 [X]FAIL[X]
CO% 0.08 The limit is 0.31 PASS
NO ppm 226 The limit is 612 PASS
RPM 1174 Valid
Dilution 13.3 Valid


Curb Idle
Hc ppm 195 The limit is 200 PASS
CO% 0.48 The limit is 1.00 PASS
NO ppm N/A N/A N/A
RPM 518 Valid
Dilution 7.1 Valid

Then we replaced the catilac convertor and changed the oil agin and took it in cold. (To see how much a difference it would make). Here are the numbers it came out with.

ASM 2525
HC ppm 221 The limit is 55 [X]FAIL[X]
CO% 0.39 The limit is 0.31 [X]FAIL[X]
NO ppm 362 The limit is 612 PASS
RPM 1150 Valid
Dilution 12.1 Valid

Curb Idle
Hc ppm 182 The limit is 200 PASS
CO% 0.12 The limit is 1.00 PASS
NO ppm N/A N/A N/A
RPM 659 Valid
Dilution 11.9 Valid

So after sitting and thinking awhile about what could be the problem I think it might be the valve seals so I have gone ahead and bought a set of OE valve seals. Why I picked the valve seals is because when you start up the car there is a bit of blue smoke after its sat for a few hours and gone cold. I think its oil dripping down into the cylinder from the valves, because of cracked valve seals and the oil is being ignited on start up. It also only produces this blue smoke when I first start it. It dosent continue as its runing or even when I stomp on it. The reason I thnk it failed the first time was the valve seals. I think the reason it fell on its face the second time, was a combination of valve seals and the car being cold. But im only 18 so I dont know for sure, so I thought I would ask for other peoples opinions.

Thanks For The Help

 

The secret to passing is to have the motor hot - like you did in your first test.

Everything else looks fine and you didn't mention throwing any codes, so having changed the cat, take it in hot and you should be golden!!

 

so what was the problem? Bad EGR?

 

I failed once because the vacuum line for the EGR was not connected. You can't really begin to imagine the difference it makes until you try and test without EGR working.

 

I hate California's Emissions Tests...