Ok, this is a long post. I find these forums to be part Technical help and part Therapy. Sorry I have not posted for a bit. Been very frustrated with myself. Soooo, last friday I did a few things to prepare for my next emission test. Picked up an new air filter $16, did a fast oil change $45 in synthetic oil and filter ( I had 8K on this oil change)and was preparing to drive the thing like I stole it to the next town and get an emissions test.
The oil change did not go well. Had a hard time getting the oil filter to seal up. Leaked on my drive way and tightened it up a bit more. Looked like it stopped leaking. So I jumped in the Jeep with a GPS to head off to Golden -- driving it like I stole it!! The goal was to heat up the exhaust and burn off any old fuel that might be in the exhaust system.
I made it a bout 1/2 a mile and the oil pressure light came on. I pondered if this was a previous problem or not (another long story), but decided to pull over and turn off the engine. Definitely one of my better decisions!!
Turns out in my hast, I did not notice the old oil filter had left it's rubber seal on the engine block. I put the second one right over it. When I revved the motor, it blew -- $40 of synthetic all over the engine and my neighborhood. CRAP!! So I ran my obese fat booty home to pick up 8 more quarts of diesel oil and change the oil on the side of the road. Not pretty. Since this was a hurried oil change, I was a bit scared to drive it all weekend till my family returned from a mid west college trip.
So I called another emission station - happens to have an diesel mechanic works there to fix things if necessary. So today I took it in for my second emissions test. For this test I went to the NAPA store and picked up some damned expensive GB244 diesel injector cleaner ($54). It treats 20-40 gallons. I poured it in and topped off the tank with 5 gallons. Then I proceeded to drive it like I stole it!. Keep the car in second gear and turned off OD for the occasional fast sections I did in third. My goal was to keep the RPMs up between 2.5-3.5K and heat up the exhaust + give the BG244 a chance to work.
Dropped it off for my second emissions test and gave them the long story. They were extra careful to make sure the ESP system was off and did the test on a 2 wheel dyno. No burning brake smell this time. Now the jeep passed with flying colors. My test came out at:
Opacity test
60 MPH 3%
45 MPH 3%
25 MPH 1%
idle 0%
So the total cost of the exercise was (itemized)
$55 First emissions test - Failed 64% Opacity
$145 See the dealer to tell me they can't change a light bulb on my dash -- It is a $700 cluster replace
$16 New air filter
$45 8 Quarts of Synthetic diesel oil and filter
$25 second oil change on side of the road with 8 quarts of standard diesel oil and filter
$54 BG244
$0 Driving the car like it was stolen
$60 Second emissions test - Passed with 3% Opacity - limit 35%.
$400 Grand total - probably 1/2 that if I was not so stupid. Uggg.
Thanks to everyone's help and support. One of the great things about this wonderful forum. I guess lessons learned:
1. Change your air filter before the emissions test
2. Put some injector cleaner in a week before the test
3. Have a fresh oil change
4. Drive it like you stole it to the emissions station.
Gee - can't wait for the next test in 2 years
