Denver/Boulder guys - passed smog with a test pipe.
 

And - come to find out the car is running really rich (6.6%). Are the smog requirements pretty low here, or do these cars just run pretty clean? Are any of you guys running without any smog equipment, a test pipe, a good tune, and still able to pass smog?

I had to swap back to my original SC exhaust last year when I failed a road-side (even though I have collectors plates) and it was pretty strict. I couldn't be beyond 1.8 on CO.

Yeah, it also depends where you get tested. Up here in Boulder, they're very strict. I ended up creating a custom dual Cat system so that I can pass smog. Even with that, I usually have to adjust CIS so that it barely idles.

My goal is to run through the sniffers before my registration is due, that way they have me on record as passing. In that case, you can usually re-register online. Here's the web site for the MOBILE RAPID SCREEN

Here's the way to make sure you pass using the CO sniffers:

- Keep your vehicle properly and regularly maintained.
We cannot stress this enough. Proper vehicle maintenance is good for your vehicle and for our environment. Vehicles that are poorly maintained burn more gas, emit more pollution and wear out faster.

- Be sure your vehicle is properly warmed to operating temperature before you’re tested.
“Cold” vehicles emit higher levels of pollution than those at operating temperature. In general, 10-15 minutes of drive time will ensure proper warm-up.

- Make sure your rear license plate is clean and readable.
In order to recognize your vehicle, RapidScreen’s testing equipment must be able to read your license plate. Dirty or damaged plates, trailer hitches, bike racks and other obstructions can make your plate unreadable to our camera—resulting in an invalid reading.

- Accelerate moderately as you pass the testing van.
Moderate acceleration is required to produce the most representative sample of your vehicle’s exhaust emissions. Therefore, deceleration or heavy acceleration may result in an invalid reading.

- Drive by the testing vans on several occasions.
Since there are several variables that may contribute to an invalid reading, and because your vehicle must record two clean readings to pass RapidScreen, it’s a good idea to drive by the testing vans several times in the months prior to your registration renewal.

- Don’t drive past the same testing van multiple times in a day.
Only one reading per location, per day will qualify as valid. If you drive past the same testing van multiple times in a day, only the last reading will be kept. However, you may register two readings in one day if they are at two separate locations.

- Don’t wait until the month your emissions is due.
In order to allow sufficient time to analyze and process the RapidScreen data, any readings recorded within the final two months before your vehicle’s registration renewal is due will be too late to qualify.

Ah - I thought Boulder had the same smog requirements. Will definitely try and hit up those vans a few times a year. I know that's what I did with my S4.
Craig - I'll have to swing up there sometime so I can hear your exhaust. I like the idea of having cats just to keep the funky scent down, and so I don't have issues with emissions later on.

Yeah, the emissions might be the same, BUT the Boulder guys crawl through your car and don't "baby" the idle test to help you pass. Before the cats, I had a "cheater" muffler with a cat inline, and after three attempts in Boulder, I went to Broomfield. When I pulled in, I saw a 74 240Z in the parking lot, and a guy waves me over to the far bay. He says "I'll get ya through over here" and then for the mid-rpm test, kept the rpms just in the green, so that she'd burn less. After she passed, he said that the 240Z was his and that it helps not to run in the high part of the mid-rpm test.

Tom at CarQuip was the one who said that the Broomfield guys were old 911/vintage car guys, instead of the "pricks" in Boulder. haha he was right!

That's awesome! I went to the Littleton one, and there was nobody there. The three folks dealing with my car were at least 60, and in love with my car. So, not sure if they limped it through or not, but I'll have to remember that about the Broomfield station later on. Car guys helping car guys is always awesome.

You got lucky, I use that station as well and last time I went it was the usual cadre of parolees and weirdos. They were anything but gentle.

HA! I love that! "...usual cadre of parolees and weirdos."! That's a very apt description!

I can't stand having them in my car...It's like watching them kiss my girlfriend..

I tried to get a picture of the old lady that drive my car off the dyno. She was maybe 70, only a handful of teeth, and probably 5 ft tall at the most. My seats are pretty low already, and I'd bet her head wasn't much higher than the bottom of the window. Nervous was an understatement. I watched them fondle the car for a good 15 minutes before they came in to ask how to get the gas cap door open.

I had an interesting experience with the '58 356 at the one in Golden (44th). After futzun' around trying to get any reading at all, they finally had me move the car to the far side outside of the normal bays. This kid tried and tried to get a reading and after hearing him crunch the starter while the car was running, I finally noticed he didn't have the probe actually in the exhaust. the exhaust exits through funnels in the bottom of the bumper and when he inserted the probe, it just went into the funnel and past the exhaust exit. It took like an hour there. The car finally passed and I have the five year plates, but I hope I never have to go through that again. I've heard yes and no on older cars.

My poor car looked at me like a dog that got a very unpleasant enema and shots from a vet. Poor thing. What an awful experience...

Franny

I seen a story in the Denver Post a few weeks back where the the Colorado auditors office audited the emmissions testing folks and it was determined a waste of tax payer dollars

It was either 98% or 95% of all cars tested passed and it costs tax payers millions each year

So hopefully we will be done with this crap in the near future

I read the same article. If others want to read it, here it is.

Unfortunately I can't see them shutting down emission testing.

The silly thing is you don't even have to get it to pass. You just have to throw something like $700 at the car. I wonder how much is spent per year fixing emission stuff, the overall success rate, and the reduction in pollution?

Hmm the link didn't work above, but they answer some of your questions in the article.

The cost for the program far outweighs the income, and proves almost useless in improving air quality...at least for new cars. It's very likely to be reduced at the least. Probably won't affect older Porsche models though..

Link fails. Google: Denver post End of road for Colorado's emissions tests?

I'm hoping it gets killed off. And I think it actually might. It's a huge PITA. When you have 6, ok 7 cars...

Scott R - Did they actually make you go in and test after failing a drive by? Even with collector plates?

Never had a problem with no CAT. Guys don't notice it's missing. Mine has tested under "fastpass" criteria for the last 10 years with SSI's (no cat). Fastpass means it's emissions are so low they stop the test early.

I was told by one of the emissions monkeys that they are only looking for an O2 sensor (if fitted for that model year), not a cat.

They shut down our testing here in El Paso Co. years ago. I dont see it coming back, as I'm sure it would cost way to much money to get it started up again. :D

Remember, you live in reality. Boulder is 25 square miles surrounded by reality.