has anyone ever smogged a jdm b18b? test resaults

ASSISTANCE Stock Engine-Bay Components
1

okay so today i took my car in to get it smogged and it failed horribly.

whats done,
jdm b18b,
stock catalyst,
stock intake
stock headers
auto trans ECU(manual car)
no muffler.

2 years ago i took my car in to get it smogged and it passed with flying colors
had the stock b18a1 and catalyst with an aftermarket muffler.
if anyone knows how to read this, this is the numbers from 2 years ago.

test at 15mph(1836rpms):
%CO2 measured at 14.6, %02 measured at .05
HC(PPM) max 121, measured at 45.
CO(%) max 0.76 measured at .18
NO(PPM) max 807 measured at 255
all numbers above passed.

test at 25mph(2044rpms):
%CO2 measured at 14.5, %02 measured at 0.4
HC(PPM) max 96 measured at 42
CO(%) max 0.65 measured at 0.20
NO(PPM) max 746 measured at 314
all numbers above passed.

Todays smog test results with the jdm b18b and a cat. that has been off since '08 and put back on friday.

test at 15mph(1909rpms):
%CO2 measured at 13.3, %02 measured at 2.1
HC(PPM) max 93 measured at 29
CO(%) max 0.54 measured at 0.04
NO(PPM) max 807 measured at 2395
all numbers pass except NO(PPM) which is nox i believe.

test at 25mph(2128rpms):
%CO2 measured at 13.7, %02 measured at 1.5
HC(PPM) max 67 measured at 21
CO(%) max 0.45 measured at 0.03
NO(PPM) max 522 measured at 1828
all numbers pass except NO(PPM).

my question, would the slight increase in compression from the jdm b18b make that big of a jump on the NO(PPM)?
255 to 2395 at 15mph
or
314 to 1828 at 25mph.

or are these numbers showing up because of a bad catalyst?
the smog guy told me it can either be my cat. or a change in the compression within the motor causing those numbers.

im wondering how my cat can have gone bad if it was sitting in the garage for 2 years.
im also hoping that the engine isnt the problem for not passing smog.

if anyone has any insight on this please speak. I need to get this figured out asap.
if i dont get this fixed by dec. 1st my car will be non op. until i fix it. lol

thanks ahead of time.
-karlo

2

The JDM motor dose have higher compression but this dose (IMO) sound like a bad cat.

3

Yeah I’d say it’s a bad cat. If you don’t wanna replace the cat there is a way to cheat the test if there using a sniffer (the thing they put in the exhaust to measure what’s coming out). Not sure if that’s how Cali works or how’s it’s done. If they use a sniffer just say so and I’ll give you the cheat sheet.

4

yah they use a “sniffer” what would you have to do to pass it without replacing the cat?

5

im thinking its the cat aswell, but id never know until i actually replace the cat. But i want to know for sure if its the cat or the engine.

6

I would say cat as a friend had bought a car two years ago brand new cat then had to smog this year an no go it was because they pass a law or something to were cali needs a different cat as it test for something esls now that what the smog an muffler place told us

7

I noticed your NO is really high try this…

*New cat (this might the main cause)

*Clean your EGR valve

*If your engine has stock compression, use 87 gas which is the recommended for the b18b

*Check your timming seems like its really advanced

*Oil change

Other basics

*Coolant flush
*Seafoam

Since you are in CA make sure you get a 3-way cat

sources:
ASE/EPA certified smog tech

8

Run it down to 1/8 tank
Pour in 2-3 bottles of rubbing alcohol
Go drive around for a little while and then have it tested again

The theory behind it is the more pure the fuel being burned, the less gases it puts out therefore it cuts everything down to inside the limit.

I’ve done it many many times on cars that have not tested within the limits. It has worked every time for me

9

[QUOTE=tacvbo;2182596]I noticed your NO is really high try this…

*New cat (this might the main cause)

*Clean your EGR valve

*If your engine has stock compression, use 87 gas which is the recommended for the b18b

*Check your timming seems like its really advanced

*Oil change

Other basics

*Coolant flush
*Seafoam

Since you are in CA make sure you get a 3-way cat

sources:
ASE/EPA certified smog tech[/QUOTE]

our cars dont come equipped with egr valves, my timing is right at 15. im running 89 octane so far in my car. I seafoamed my car about 2 months ago same with the oil change.
next time i try it, ill go with 87 octane. The engine is a stock jdm b18b(obd1).

10

[QUOTE=DAtIntegra35;2182604]Run it down to 1/8 tank
Pour in 2-3 bottles of rubbing alcohol
Go drive around for a little while and then have it tested again

The theory behind it is the more pure the fuel being burned, the less gases it puts out therefore it cuts everything down to inside the limit.

I’ve done it many many times on cars that have not tested within the limits. It has worked every time for me[/QUOTE]

would running rubbing alcohol bring it down 2000 points in the NO section?

11

So from what everyone is saying, it is most likey my catalytic converter failing?
and it is NOT because of the slight increase in compression the b18b has over the usdm b18a1?

im just worried that its the motor that is not allowing the car to pass.
im wishing that its just a bad catalyst.

because like i stated, i had the stock cat. removed and put away in the garage for almost 2 years. I put it back on and my car fails smog.(same cat passed smog 2 years ago on the b18a1)
would having the cat. out in the open and NOT in use make it go bad and defective?

-karlo

12

does your cat have a number stamped on it all the new ones do was told they are different? an the auto have an egr on them still I think he said that cause you said you were running a auto ecu? not sure but that might be a problem dont know tho

13

Yes you do if you have an automatic. The EGR valve is located on the intake manifold.

14

He said he is running an automatic computer on a 5 speed set up. It is entirely possible that is a cause of some of the problems right there.

15

mm i see, okay, because on the test paper it says “EGR functional N/A” “EGR VISUAL N/A” but im assuming its because my car is manual then.

16

so now i have 2 problems, im just going to minus the engine as being a problem.

Either the CAT. is bad or its because of the auto ecu.

now from this new info, im pretty sure its because of my ECU, anyone else agree?
because like i said earlier, my cat was good 2 years ago from the other smog and i havnt used it since then, except for today.

another question, if i get the ECU chipped for manual, does that eliminate the EGR sensor or whatever it is in the basemap?