I need to get a "test only" station smog check on my car.

Its got 170,000 miles on it so I slapped on new plugs, wires, condensor and rotor.

Its not running too bad now but after it sits for a file the check engine like comes on when you start it with a P306 code, a misfire on cylinder 6.

The plug on cylinder six gets a white as built up on it, which looks weird to me, I've seen a tan ash from oil comsumption but never a heavy white like this, all the other plugs look ok.

As long as you keep it hot the check engine light stays off and the P306 code doesn't get thrown, so I got it good and hot and tried to get it through smog. Unfortunately they let it sit for a while and i threw on the light and they detected the P306 code.

However it passed the emission test, on the sheet they gave me it says I failed the "Functional Test" because of the engine light, the P306 code and they also said my gas cap was bad.

Does anybody know if when I take it back, will they re-run the emission test again or will they only do a quick check on the engine light and the cap?

If they only do a quick check I can probably get it hot enough not to turn the light on after I clear it.

Thanks,

Paul T.

 

I don't have any problems when it comes to asking the smog station questions like yours. I just flat out ask them if it will be tested again.If you fail there is a program offered to help pay for repairs in order to get it to pass.I cant think of the name of it so ask the testing station if they know.Then of course there is the temporary window sticker you get from DMV that allows you to drive for a month or two.

 

Try maybe posting on the local board.

 

If it were me, I'd just take the bulb out, take it back so it passes then put it back in, especially since it passes the test. But that's just me.

 

Uh, that will not get you a pass, unless maybe Ozz1967 is the (soon to be fired) tech.

 

According to his post, his car passed everything, then that light came on and it failed for the "check engine light"....if the light hadn't come on, they never would have failed the car. So, no light, no fail.

 

One of the first things the tech checks is for proper operation of the SES light.

 

I was just going off what he said. If number 6 is misfiring, could be a bad injector. Plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor have been changed....not much else could cause the "white" unless it's super lean..I think. Going to have to research the what causes white plugs.

 

Yeah, I was right, that cylinder is running lean, that's what causes the white build up. I'd start with checking that injector to make sure it's good and not bad/plugged. Also, run a vacuum gauge on the car, a vacuum leak can caus a lean condition. As sticking valve could also cause it as well as too advanced timing however, since the rest seem fine, I'd lean to something on that individual cylinder causing the issue.

 

I can see what the problem is, I pulled out the new plug that had been put in cylinder 6 and its definitely getting oil fouled.

The oil is mostly on one side of the plug which I've seen it said means that is likely the valve guide seal or the valve guide itself, apparenty when the rings are bad you get oil all over the plug, not just on one side.

I think when the car is sitting after its been warm the oil is getting on the plug, which is why the code typically throws after the car has been sitting for a while and is refired.

In the short term I tried putting in a Bosch 4 electrode plug, hoping that if it gets fouled on one side it will fire to one of the other electrodes and so far its made it through a couple of restarts with no code, if this works I'll put another new one in right before the test.

In the long term I'll go ahead and replace the valve seals but I don't have time to do that this week and I only have 10 days left to get it smogged.

Here's what it did on the test, as you can see the HC is right on the edge, probably a combo of the oil getting into cylinder 6 and the pretty old cats.

15 MPH - HC-41 (max is 41) CO-0.16 (max is 0.53) NO-156 (max is 465)

25 MPH - HC-25 (max is 25) CO-0.12 (max is 0.65) NO-52 (max is 718)

Thanks for the suggestions fellas.

 

To close the loop on this problem, I was able to get the car to pass smog. The four prong plug helped for a while but eventually the 306 code came on again and I didn't want to risk that happening during the test so I bit the bullet and replaced the valve seals.

The car is running really well now, it fixed the miss in the cylinder and passed the smog test.

I was very happy that I didn't have to put new Cats on as now in Kalifornia they not only have tougher smog laws, you also have to use "special" Kalifornia Cats that cost more and are harder to get.