Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2013 09:23:55 -0700
Reply-To: Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Subject: Calif. Smog Fail and Catalytic Converter
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
On 2/16, I wrote about a fuel leak in my '84 Westy that led to
replacing the fuel lines and upgrading the aluminum injector
manifolds. Nice to have that fixed.
The next day, I renewed the registration on-line without even
noticing that it required a smog check. Every two years here in
California, I think.
The smog check led to a new catalytic converter, but first some background.
GoWesty installed a 2.3L waterboxer in 2009, four years ago. At that
time, they installed a later-model cooling system and replaced the
muffler and catalytic converter. But they kept the stock air and
fuel system and engine electronics.
Two years later, with 31,500 miles on the new engine, I stopped at
GoWesty on my way from the S.F. Bay Area to L.A., in part to have
them set up the engine to ensure it passed the smog test. At that
time, I believed this installation requires some special knack that
GoWesty would provide. (I now think it's not that hard, as I'll explain.)
They tuned the engine and did some other work, and recommended
Smitty's around the corner, where it passed the smog check just fine.
At the same time, GoWesty found a slight exhaust leak blowing on the
water pump, which was leaking again. But I needed to get to L.A. for
the weekend, and the leaks weren't urgent, so we agreed it'd be OK
for me to drive to L.A. for the weekend and return Monday.
On the way to L.A. and back, I was surprised to see the MPG going
down and down! Arriving back in Los Osos, I filled the tank and
calculated 12.9 MPG, down from an average of around 19.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/sbw/vanagon/log/1427188
GoWesty found the O2 sensor had failed, apparently just after the
smog check. Seems an unlikely coincidence, but, whatever. The MPG
went right back up to 17.8, and ten days later it turned in 20.5 MPG
over a 200-mile trip. Problem solved.
This month, when I realized a smog test was required, I phoned
Peninsula Automotive in Campbell to ask for a recommendation of a
test station. (I once went to a test station who couldn't figure out
how to test a Vanagon, so I like to go where they see Vanagons all the time.)
http://www.peninsulaautomotive.com/
Peninsula recommended Accurate Smog Check just across the freeway. I
drove down there after work on March 1 for a pre-test. They were
very efficient and friendly. They charged $30 for the pre-test.
http://www.accuratesmogcheck.com/
At this point, I had 43,650 miles on the 2.3L engine. The pre-test
failed due to high NO. This PDF has both the pre-test and the final
test last week:
http://sbw.org/westysmog2013.pdf
Accurate said it looked like the engine tuning was dialed in just
right, but the catalytic converter was shot. I drove over to
Peninsula and showed them the report, and they concurred that a new
cat was needed.
I was surprised, because I thought cats lasted longer. Four years
and 43,650 miles? I don't actually know. Anyway, they said a failed
O2 sensor can quickly cause early failure of a cat, so maybe that was it.
I was also surprised the other numbers were so good, because of my
impression that the tuning is tricky with the modified engine. But
that doesn't seem to be such a problem. The last tune-up was by Van
Cafe in Santa Cruz last October, after they found the engine was
running leaner than they prefer. I really liked the way it ran after
that tune-up: No more pinging going over the mountain on Highway 17
at full throttle, and the MPG wasn't affected. And six months later,
the other smog numbers were right where they should be.
Still, I didn't want to have Peninsula install a new cat without a
second (third?) opinion, so I emailed the report to Chris Myers at
GoWesty and asked him whether he agreed a new cat was needed and
whether the failed O2 sensor may be responsible.
Chris replied quickly to say yes, he agreed a cat was needed. He
didn't directly answer about the O2 sensor, but he did say, "The new
cats sold now have more platinum and can control NO better." "New"
since mine was installed in 2009, I assume. Chris pointed out their
price for the cat, $260 (plus about $15 shipping) including gaskets
and hardware. Their product page includes some commentary on the
quality of cats:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23533
Peninsula also said cats sold today are better than a few years ago.
Last week, I took the van to Peninsula to install the new cat. They
charged $325 for the cat, gaskets, and hardware. I try not to
quibble about price differences.
Peninsula finished the work quickly, and I drove back over to
Accurate to repeat the test. This time, it passed easily. They charged $65.
(In the two weeks between tests, Accurate had moved one door down
Curtner Avenue to a new, bigger facility. Apparently they've been
working on the move for almost a year!)
Like the work on the fuel leak, I learned a few things from this
experience. It has been a shock to spend all this money on the Westy
suddenly, but it gives me peace of mind to know my escape pod is
ready for the next earthquake or financial disaster, or just a sudden
need to chuck it all and get out of town.