2002 Chevy Prizm Re: Smog Check advice

VINCIA1

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
106,000 MILES

Greetings. I recently had a vehicle smog checked in California and the vehicle not only failed, but was classified as a "gross polluter." When my car failed I was shocked and failed to mention a crucial detail to the technician, and this is that the car had not been driven for seven months. The vehicle has had all of its scheduled preventive maintenance and the "check engine" light has never come on. It never overheats and has had a mechanical issue which required service.

I posted a question re: the lack of being driven to 2carpros. Com and whether that could affect the results of the smog. This car passed four years earlier with flying colors, and it was off the charts this time when it came to being classified as a gross polluter. The kind follow-up I received from the technician who responded said that the fact that the car was not driven for so long could certainly be a factor. He said that the gas deteriorates after a month and that varnish could build up in the fuel system. He recommended driving every day for a couple of weeks, and add "SeaFoam to the tank.

This seems very fair and I appreciated the response, and my question is related to the above. I drove the car to the point where the old gas in the tank was nearly all used (I drove until the "low gas" gauge on the dash lit up). I filled the tank with premium and drove many more (thirty or so) miles (city and freeway). I then took it to Jiffy Lube, where I have done all my previous routine maintenance, and got my oil changed and a new air filter. I informed the tecnician of my failed smog check and he informed me that everything was up to date and there was not another single thing I needed. At this point I am almost convinced it was simply the length of time undriven and that there is nothing that requires repair on my car. However, I do not want to lay down another $50.00 for a new smog to find that I am not quite there. Would it be recommended, based on the statements above, to drive a significant amount of additional miles before a new smog, and based on the old gas being used and a new tank of premium to go on, that I should still get some SeaFoam?

Any thoughts or direction on the above would be greatly appreciated.

And this is such a great service!

Thank you,
Vince

3 Replies

ZACKMAN

MECHANIC
4,202 POSTS

For Sea Foam to effectively work, you should put the chemical into a nearly empty tank, fill the tank up to completely full, drive the vehicle until the tank is empty before another fill-up.

My understanding is that you added Sea Foam to your old gas. If that is the case, I would add another can to your new full tank of gas, and drive it until the new tank of gas to almost empty before refueling. By then, you should no longer smell gas or see any type of smoke at the tailpipe. Then, you should be able to get another emission test.

Can you post the result of the emission test?

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Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 AT 11:35 PM

VINCIA1

MEMBER
8 POSTS

Zackman,

Even though the first technician advised the use of SeaFoam, I have not yet done this step.

As requested, I am attaching a scan of the emissions test.

Thanks!
Vince

PS If the scanned photo cannot be read due to being resized, it can be found here: http://web.me.com/vincia1/car/smog.html

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Monday, May 4th, 2009 AT 11:40 PM

ZACKMAN

MECHANIC
4,202 POSTS

After reading the smog test result, I concur with my fellow technician about bad gas. Bad gas will give the result that you are seeing in your vehicle.

Now that you have filled up with full tank of premium, go ahead and pour a can of Sea Foam into the tank, and drive the vehicle until the tank is almost empty again before re-fuel). You don't have to fill up with premium (you can, there's nothing wrong with that), 87 octane works just fine with your vehicle.

I do suggest though, as your vehicle has been grossly polluting, that you replace (or clean them - if they are less than a year old) the spark plugs and the fuel filter after emptying your tank full of premium gas mixed with Sea Foam.

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Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 AT 12:25 AM