Will 98' 12-valves be Smog-Exempt in California?

[Algae Eater]

This thread is powertrain related to my 12-valve since my engine may or may not have to be modified to make it pass a smog check here in CA in this coming year.

It is my understanding that older, mechanically injected diesels are exempt from smog checks period. And that as of 1998.5 there were NO more mechanically injected diesels being produced.

According to TDR's Frequently Asked Questions, the 1998.5 mid-year introduction of the 24-valve (and electronically-controlled injection) was a direct result of a new set of diesel emissions laws that went into effect on January 1st of 1998.

My question is: Since they'll be going by VIN number to identify which 1998 and newer diesels will need to be smogged, shouldn't the early 98 12-valves have a VIN number that's prior to their VIN starting point?

And is there any way for us to find out the VIN number starting point for Smog testing?

My truck has a build-date of 11/97. My engine was made earlier in 1997. Therefore, technically my 1998 is a 1997 that was just sold later as the next model year because of slight interior updates. I will argue this point with whoever I have to if/when it comes time for my truck to require smog checks semi-annually.

Paraphrased from TDR's FAQ's:
Every time Dodge introduced a mid-year engine change, (91.5, 98.5, 04.5) was due to emission legislation that was enacted on Jan 1st of that year.

So wouldn't the prior engine, (that existed just before that legislation was enacted) be exempt when that year becomes the starting point for smog checks?

EDIT:
Also I have a veggie oil kit installation that has a heap of visible fuel system components running throughout the truck (thermal-wrapped heat exchangers and fuel lines, under the hood, along passenger side frame rail and back in the 90 gallon WVO tank in bed) so I'm sure the visual inspection will be a bit of a laugh. I better find a good smog tech.

[illflem]

So wouldn't the prior engine, (that existed just before that legislation was enacted) be exempt when that year becomes the starting point for smog checks?

No, Calif can make it's rules on emissions any way they want.
Remember they took it all the way to the Supreme Court to establish the right.
If Calif is like any other state if you fail the smog test you basically get a fix it ticket with no fine that tells you what you need to do to pass.
If this is the case I would take my chances that they miss any mods.

[Algae Eater]

Found some very informative CA DMV resources:

This page has all DMV/BAR/CARB info:
Diesel Vehicle Smog Check Inspections Information
(there are three tabs on that page, each tab has multiple links.

Highly informative videos from a recent "Diesel Smog Workshop" put on by BAR/CARB:
Diesel Vehicle Smog Check Inspections Information
(they show a good few Cummins trucks in this video, smokey and not smokey.. and they use an 06 CR w/ a Bully Dog tuner making smoke to show a failure in the smoke "snap test".)

CA Diesel Smog FAQ:
http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResource...4-09_Final.pdf

Smogcheck Inspection Procedures Manual:
http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResource...08-09%20V3.pdf

List of Aftermarket parts and whether they need CARB approval or not:
http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResource...24_2009_gc.pdf
(note: non-OEM air intakes/filters & exhausts are exempt and won't cause failures)

Originally Posted by illflem

If Calif is like any other state if you fail the smog test you basically get a fix it ticket with no fine that tells you what you need to do to pass.
If this is the case I would take my chances that they miss any mods.

Well they're not going to miss my non-CARB approved alternative fuel system (my veggie-oil conversion) that runs throughout the engine compartment.

I'm hopeful that I can work around it somehow since my truck is basically a 97 for all intents and purposes.
They never mentioned mechanically-injected diesels and they spent most of their time outlining electronic performance gadgets (tuners & programmers).

I fear not for myself at this point, but for the hoards of people with electronic diesels in CA.

[Algae Eater]

Also, the list of Aftermarket Parts (linked in my last post) shows whether any a piece of "emissions related" gear is subject to CARB approval (or "E.O" for exemption order) or whether it's exempt.

It specifically says any alternative fuel systems are subject to CARB approval or require a CARB EO. This really sucks for me. I'm going to need to choose my Smog tech with caution.

But I'm still not convinced that my VIN is going to require a Smog for reg renewal.
I'm going to try and find out though.

[Algae Eater]

I decided to call the BAR and speak to somebody to find out if 1998 12-valves will require smog checks. I got a guy who was a triple-certified ASE Diesel mechanic. He's worked on all kinds of diesels and runs his own diesel truck on B99 (B100 but "legal") and he seemed to not only know diesels, but know all the tricks people try to pull to pass smog checks.

He was quite informative and pretty much told me it goes strictly by model year and you cannot argue about build date or VIN.. or mechanical vs electronic injection. If they sold it as a 1998 model, it doesn't matter if it was built in 1997 or if it has mechanical injection, none of that will exemplify it from being checked.

They also want to see the vehicle looking completely stock. Airboxes and Exhaust are exempt, however CAT's (if your vehicle has any cat at all, mine shouldn't) need to be intact or it'll fail a visual inspection. Turbocharger will need to either be stock, CARB approved or look stock enough (not a huge single or twins obviously) to pass. That really sucks.

I pretty much figured that's what they were going to say, but I was trying to remain in denial as long as possible.

My veggie oil kit will 100% certainly fail the visual inspection unless I get miracle lucky and/or someone is having a good day when I go in and happens to appreciate alternative fuels.

Since my 12-valve's OBD port has no connection or relevance to my injection-management (emissions-related) interraction, they will bypass the OBD portion of the smog-test for my truck.

I will be tested solely on visual and visible smoke tests.

According to that CARB Aftermarket Parts List (I linked that .PDF in an above post) fuel pumps, like raptors & Airdogs will NOT require CARB approval and neither will additional fuel filters (including fuel separators and a few other fuel system components). So I can call the devices under my hood fuel filters, separators and pumps. Heaters specifically weren't discussed.

Anything of an air-system injection nature, (nitrous, propane, methanol, hydrogen etc...) will either fail or needs to be CARB Approved, or have a CARB EO# (exemption order number) to pass the visual inspection.

It's also confusing, because on the list of Aftermarket Parts, there's a Note at the bottom that says something like "these devices will not need to have the CARB EO approval check performed at the time of the smog test procedure."

It basically says these devices won't be considered legal for sale in CA, but the smog technician won't need to verify their CARB approval status in order to pass the vehicle.

The part that concerns and confuses me is that their instructional videos (and the guy on the phone I spoke to at BAR) basically tell me that any non-approved (with a sticker) part should cause a failure of visual inspection. That seems to contradict their documentation.

[grey diesel truck]

I hope they don't smog the 12 valves. that is one of the reasons i wanted a diesel. It wouldn't be that hard for me to switch mine back to stock because so far all i have done is straight pipe it but i really dont want to weld up the cat and muffler back up. I am pretty sure they will just have the computer controlled diesels for smog, but this is California and everything is illegal.

[HIVLTG]

Originally Posted by grey diesel truck

I hope they don't smog the 12 valves. that is one of the reasons i wanted a diesel. It wouldn't be that hard for me to switch mine back to stock because so far all i have done is straight pipe it but i really dont want to weld up the cat and muffler back up. I am pretty sure they will just have the computer controlled diesels for smog, but this is California and everything is illegal.

You will not have to smog your 96,however the CA model 12 valves 96-98 i believe all came with CAT's on them,24valves had resonators..

[grey diesel truck]

Originally Posted by HIVLTG

You will not have to smog your 96,however the CA model 12 valves 96-98 i believe all came with CAT's on them,24valves had resonators..

sweet thanks man. I pulled the cat and mufler off the first 2 weeks of owning it. I wish i had more money to get more parts for it though.

[illflem]

however the CA model 12 valves 96-98 i believe all came with CAT

All late '94 thru '98 12 valves came with a cat, not just Calif.

[HIVLTG]

Originally Posted by illflem

All late '94 thru '98 12 valves came with a cat, not just Calif.

Thank you sir..

[beave]

98 and new diesel will have to be smoged. Yes that means 98 12v's. I have a friend that works at a repair shop that smogs. And he owns a 98 12v and he will have to smog his truck.

[BossDog]

How does burning veggie affect the smoke?
I asked this before and no one replied- I thought you didn't get the cloud that you can get from diesel at the same settings?
Just curious...