Date:         Mon, 3 Mar 2008 14:51:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Calif 2008 emissions fuel tank pressure testing? /NO
              Emissions Question
In-Reply-To:  <CAEOIPKOOCKNBBDDDMBPGENIFGAB.vw.doka@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 3/3/2008 2:28 PM VW Doka wrote:

 > They're testing the gas caps and the evap system.

Yeahbut -- the testimony seems to be mixed!

Michael Hart writes to say that "[t]he gas cap was tested off the van
using a pressure hose & attachment. There was no pressure test of the
gas tank."

BenT Syncro provides the following eyewitness account: "Just did 3 of my
vehicles in the past week. All required off tank test of the cap." From
his statement it's unclear they hooked the CARB-approved bicycle tire
pump to the filler neck and tried to inflate the fuel tank or not,
perhaps Mr Syncro can help us out here.

Donna Skarloken reports that, "My son just did his, barely a month ago,
and he did need a new fuel cap. We did the tank several years ago."
Can't tell whether the tank was pressurized but it seems to be implied.

VW Doka says that Volkscafe "...have done at least 6 fuel tank reseals
due to vehicles failing this test." That's pretty clear.

John Bange raises his right hand and swears that, "I had mine smogged
last month, and yes indeed, [pressurizing the fuel tank] was officially
part of the test."

Jim Akiba, while providing no testimony, does give an overview of the
whys and wherefores of the new testing. Thanks, Jim!

Meanwhile the Rt. Hon. Larry Alofs wonders aloud, "...how a tank can be
expected to hold pressure when it presumably vents thru the charcoal
canister to let the air out while being filled." I think that's a darn
good question! I know my 71 bay window couldn't hold pressure for a
second for that reason. I am less familiar with the hoses, tubing,
fittings, valves, bypasses, and vents of the 1.9l system.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR

On 3/3/2008 2:28 PM VW Doka wrote:

> Both.  They're testing the gas caps and the evap system.
>
> There's some light reading available here:
>
> http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/stdhome.asp
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Michael Elliott
> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 2:18 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Calif 2008 emissions fuel tank pressure testing? /NO
> Emissions Question
>
>
> I are cornfused -- is CA testing gas caps or fuel tanks? Seems like some
> folks have had one tested, others have had others tested.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
> On 3/3/2008 1:29 PM BenT Syncro wrote:
>
>> On 3/3/08, Michael Hart <mjhart853@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> I just had my '87 Westy SMOG tested in the SF Bay Area (2/23)
>>> As far as I remember, it was the same test procedure & equipment as 2
>>> years ago.
>>> The gas cap was tested off the van using a pressure hose & attachment.
>>> There
>>> was no pressure test of the gas tank. The machine used seemed several
>>> years old.
>>> This was at a 'SMOG Test Only' center, which they seem to send our old
>>> vans to every time now.
>>
>>
>> Just did 3 of my vehicles in the past week. All required off tank test of
>> the cap. I used the same non-locking cap for all three cars just be be on
>> the safe side. Ran into this issue last year. My locking cap gasket was
>> supposed to be a leakerper their test equipment. So as a serial &
>> multi-Vanagon owner, I keep a good known (newer) cap sitting around for
> this
>> purpose. I swap out my daily cap just before smog check time. Hasn't
> failed
>> me yet.
>>
>> On a separate note, I use the same cap for my Mercedes. Same cap, same
> fit.
>>
>> BenT
>