New Part of Smog Test Starts December 1, 2007

Fuel Evaporative Testing Starts December 1, 2007

Beginning December 1, 2007 the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) will mandate that 1976 thru 1995 model year vehicles be tested for low pressure fuel evaporative emissions (LPFET) as part of the statewide Smog Check Program.

This additional test will check the integrity of the fuel evaporative system from the fuel tank to the evaporative canister on the vapor capture side of the system.

This is how it works:
A special cap is used in place of the vehicle's gas cap. The fuel capture hose at the fuel evaporative canister is either pinched off or removed from the canister and plugged.

Nitrogen is introduced into the gas tank and the vapor capture system via the special gas cap on the fuel tank filler neck.

It is then pressurized to one-half pound psi. This is all connected to and monitored by a special computerized tester, The tester determines if there is a pressure drop indicating a leak in the vapor capture part of the evaporative system.

The LPFET test will verify only that there is a leak in the vapor capture system. If a leak is detected, the vehicle will fail the Smog Check. The vehicle owner will likely have to pay a diagnostic fee to determine the location of the leak. It is possible there could be more than one leak.

The state postponed the November 1, 2007 start date, apparently so that enough Smog Check stations had the special $3000 equipment.

Consumers can expect the cost of a Smog Check to increase.

Some 1976 - 1995 vehicles are exempt from the test. This includes:

• Vehicles not originally equipped, and not required by state or federal law to be equipped, with a fuel evaporative control system.
• Vehicles with two or more fully operational fuel tanks.
• Vehicles powered exclusively by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid natural gas (LNG) or liquid petroleum gas (LPG).
  
• Vehicles for which there are no filler neck adapters.
• Vehicles in their original factory configuration, with a fuel evaporative canister and fuel vapor hoses that are not accessible or would require the partial dismantling of the vehicle in order to gain access to them for testing.
  

Why is the state picking on the 1976-1995 model year vehicles? Because 1996 and newer vehicles already have a fuel evaporative system monitor on the vehicle. If a problem with this system occurs, the "Check Engine" light or "Service Engine Soon" light will illuminate.

This is likely to cause consternation, concern and calamity among the driving public and will be a challenging PR problem for your neighborhood smog shop.

More to come,
Thanks,
Bob