Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

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Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

July 17, 2012, 10:38:22 pm

In Colorado an emissions test on a dynamometer is required to get your yearly tags. Took Big Agnes in today and she passed with flying colors! Asked the tech if there is a horsepower rating during the test. He said yep I'll let you know. The 6V92 is rated at 350hp. Tech said at the wheel he was seeing maximum horsepower at a little over 300. Highest he saw was 307. That sounds about right to me but thought I check what you guys think.

see ya
ken

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #1 – July 18, 2012, 01:03:08 am

Dynamometer testing is hard on drive tires as they usually overheat, sometimes damaging them.

Engine horsepower is consumed in air compressor, alternator, transmission, drive shaft, differential, axles, etc, so horsepower at tires is always less than what engine is producing.

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #2 – July 18, 2012, 07:43:06 am

Quote from: kenhat – July 17, 2012, 10:38:22 pm

In Colorado an emissions test on a dynamometer is required to get your yearly tags.
see ya
ken

What are they trying to prove with the dyno test, any idea? That's got to be an expensive sticker.

Chuck

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #3 – July 18, 2012, 10:03:21 am

Under BAR 97, the smog checks in California are about to change. Noticed that they are going to check tire air pressure also. Diesels will be inspected. Nevada and Arizona have dynos for diesels. From what I understand, they look for any smoke at speeds up to 40 mph. Don't think there is an extra charge for big diesels. Only a guess, but I think they are looking for chipped diesel PUs. Some here put out clouds of smoke.

If you live a dozen or so rural counties in California, no smog check is required.

307 HP at the rear wheels is impressive!

Pierce

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #4 – July 18, 2012, 10:27:38 am

307 HP is extra impressive given the age of the engine, especially. It'd be interesting to know what it's making at the crank, gotta be close to 400 wouldn't you think? I'll bet it sounded sweet loaded down and pinned.

Lots of those programmers for diesel pickups have a setting for "smoke" so you can ROLL COAL and display your I.Q. at the same time.

Good to know at least the inspection is for obvious particulates rather than mandating every engine meet some modern standard. I guess it was the Feds, maybe it was a state mandate in Ca., but they did a big buyout of older diesels from commercial fishing boats. Punched a hole in the block and gave a credit for a new engine. Lots of those punched engines wound up in service elsewhere. Probably not what they had in mind.

Chuck

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #5 – July 18, 2012, 10:34:20 am

@Barry Didn't think about the stress on the tires. A yearly test is a pain in the butt. Since we are full time now having to be in CO every July would be a problem. I'm pretty sure we'll be registered in South Dakota next year.

I'm kinda sad about that. I've lived in Colorado since 86'. The CO tag is a easy way to let people know our heritage.

@Chuck By motorhome standards the test isn't bad. It was $103. There are several shops in Denver competing for the emissions business. I saw prices from $85 up to $180 in the area. Tax on my 20 year old coach were $3. Registration was $190.

@Chuck2 Denver does have a pollution problem. It's located in the Platte Valley and nestled up to the front range. Whenever there is a thermal inversion the air is trapped. In the 80's during the winter it looked pretty nasty sometimes. The infamous "brown cloud". Most of it was dirt kicked up into the air from the sand they use on the streets during snowstorms. The cities now have a large fleet of street sweepers to get the sand off the road as soon as the snow melts. My guess is they are checking for particulates in the exhaust and are trying to keep the worst offenders off the road. They even have portable testers that they set up next to the entrance ramps that check emissions on the fly as you accelerate onto the highway. Forcing an emissions test every year is a little much IMHO. Would think every other year would be fine. I do have to admit that the program has been a success. In the last 10 years the brown cloud has only appeared a couple of times and for a much shorter duration.

see ya
ken

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #6 – July 18, 2012, 10:58:18 am

Diesels don't usually loose much power with age. Any loss of compression may be more than made up with increased clearances in piston to wall, rod and main clearance so less parasitic drag. Hence the old racing addage, "they are the fastest just before they blow". With less parasitic drag, MPG figures frequently increase with age. Since diesels rarely burn valves, they usually don't have any low or dead cylinders unless they have been using the wrong oil (high ash content in a 2-cycle diesel), etc.

Pierce

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #7 – July 18, 2012, 11:23:20 am

We just went through emissions here in Tucson. The requirement here is every year for the motorhome (1999) but with the cars, we are given the option of paying for two years. We are restricted to one particular test site (all are state run) as it's the only one that can handle large rigs. Hence, we run into commercial trucks, fire engines and big trucks. Our cost is $12.25.

We drive onto the rollers which is an unnerving experience. You have to accelerate and crash onto the roller. Getting out, they advise you to accelerate while holding the brake. Then, when it jerks free, you are heading for what looks like a six foot wide barn door! Actually, probably a foot on each side. The dyno test result is "opacity." The standard listed on my receipt is 30.0 and our result was 5.0. They also do a fuel cap test. The technician just gives it a spin to hear the clicks (don't ask me!).

I used to have a 67 Ford pickup and every year I would sweat it out. To pass, I would install plugs, change the oil and filters, retard the ignition, lean out the carb, raise the idle and, the coup de grace, add one gallon of alcohol to a full tank. Usually pass with flying colors although one year it took three tries.
jor

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #8 – July 18, 2012, 11:55:42 am

Vancouver British Columbia (Canada) has been doing car emmisions for 20 yrs and now are closing that down as it now not a problem ($48 for 2 yrs) and shifting over to Deisel Trucks. Luckily where we live we are exempt from this testing. It took a lot of bad engines off the road but did give a lot of work to the garages close by.
John H

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Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

July 17, 2012, 10:38:22 pm

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #1 – July 18, 2012, 01:03:08 am

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #2 – July 18, 2012, 07:43:06 am

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #3 – July 18, 2012, 10:03:21 am

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #4 – July 18, 2012, 10:27:38 am

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #5 – July 18, 2012, 10:34:20 am

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #6 – July 18, 2012, 10:58:18 am

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #7 – July 18, 2012, 11:23:20 am

Re: Big Agnes's Breathalyzer Test

Reply #8 – July 18, 2012, 11:55:42 am

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