Questions about upcoming SMOG check

[DarkArrow]

This probably doesn't help too many people, but thought I'd throw in my experience here.

I have a simple setup of the eqt standard vortex with stock dp. Quick switch of the tmap/put sensors and flash the cobb stg 2 tune (has EO number). Did a drive cycle to get readiness monitors set, which I verified with OBDEleven prior to getting smogged. Passed. Only obvious visible mods are engine mounts, ecs pcv hose, and mst inlet tube. Anything with an aftermarket label has been painted matte black. Tech didn't mention anything during visual.

Even though there's posts about passing with aftermarket tunes, I saw enough posts on other car forums about people failing due to aftermarket tune on other car forums to not risk it. Car runs okay with the vortex and Autotech hpfp to drive enough for the drive cycles, obviously not mashing on the car.

 

[DaRock1459]

This is helpful as I'd like to go a similar route (upgraded turbo, stock dp) since I'm up for inspections next April. Do you recall if they pulled your plastic engine cover off? I was considering going MPI, but also understand that each Smog inspection place is different.

 

[Cuzoe]

This is helpful as I'd like to go a similar route (upgraded turbo, stock dp) since I'm up for inspections next April. Do you recall if they pulled your plastic engine cover off? I was considering going MPI, but also understand that each Smog inspection place is different.

Genuine question... can they pull off the plastic engine cover? I could understand if you had some sort of "aftermarket looking" full under hood shroud (although some cars basically have that) and they asked to see what's beneath. But the cover on our cars looks like the plane simple stock cover that most cars have. My inclination would be to push back on them pulling anything off my car.

What does a smog station do here...

 

[DarkArrow]

This is helpful as I'd like to go a similar route (upgraded turbo, stock dp) since I'm up for inspections next April. Do you recall if they pulled your plastic engine cover off? I was considering going MPI, but also understand that each Smog inspection place is different.

While I wasn't hovering over his shoulder as he inspected the engine bay, I was about 15 feet away and I didn't notice him touching anything. It was mainly just a flashlight and mirror in the engine bay and under the car. Without obvious modifications (I still have stock airbox and no wildly colored items on the car) there's probably little to no reason to remove plastic covers to be extremely thorough. He was mainly focused on the downpipe, verifying the cats. My guess is for liability reasons, they try their best to not touch anything in the off chance they damage something. We all know how brittle plastic can become in the engine bay.

For MPI, doesn't the OEM lower engine cover block the fuel rail? I'd say if you can find either the Euro VW OEM rail or at least a black one and somehow hide any logo on it, it would look pretty much stock. Use Tesa tape on any wiring so it looks factory and make sure to route the wiring cleanly. I don't think an average tech would notice. That being said, I'm not sure how much extra power you'd get out of MPI with a factory DP.

Genuine question... can they pull off the plastic engine cover? I could understand if you had some sort of "aftermarket looking" full under hood shroud (although some cars basically have that) and they asked to see what's beneath. But the cover on our cars looks like the plane simple stock cover that most cars have. My inclination would be to push back on them pulling anything off my car.

What does a smog station do here...
View attachment 308308

My neighbor's Volvo's engine bay looks like that. I'm in the middle of moving, but if I bump into him, I'll ask him if he's ever watched his car getting smogged.

 

[DaRock1459]

You're likely right about MPI with factory DP. At the end of the day, I'd like to have stage 2 power levels (at minimum) without having to deal with a downpipe.

 

[Chogokin]

Genuine question... can they pull off the plastic engine cover? I could understand if you had some sort of "aftermarket looking" full under hood shroud (although some cars basically have that) and they asked to see what's beneath. But the cover on our cars looks like the plane simple stock cover that most cars have. My inclination would be to push back on them pulling anything off my car.

What does a smog station do here...
View attachment 308308

If there is no visual...I bet a lot of cars would pass. There are shops that'll put a mirror under the car. Here in CA...I think if you have a car that's newer than 2000...you just get the sniffer up the poopchute. I have to smog my GTI for the first time in July 2025.

My GTI has an EQT stage two and a Wagner downpipe. I have a Vibrant straight spacer...there are no codes...and the readiness monitors are all set.

 

[Cuzoe]

If there is no visual...I bet a lot of cars would pass. There are shops that'll put a mirror under the car. Here in CA...I think if you have a car that's newer than 2000...you just get the sniffer up the poopchute. I have to smog my GTI for the first time in July 2025.

My GTI has an EQT stage two and a Wagner downpipe. I have a Vibrant straight spacer...there are no codes...and the readiness monitors are all set.

I'm in SoCal and thus far, 3 smog checks, on my 2015 TDI they (the one place I've gone) have never used a mirror or sniffer. The guy pops the hood and looks around for something less than a minute, then connects to OBD.

 

[Chogokin]

I think you're right. No sniffer. Just the OBD scan. The guy that did the smog on my dad's Jetta slid a mirror under the car.

 

[Cuzoe]

I'll keep going to the same place, haha. Although my TDI may accidentally become registered in another state, since my father and I share a name .

I say that as if I have any desire to do anything that would lead to not passing smog... spoiler, I have no such desires or plans.

 

[nosmirk]

IIRC, the mirror is used when there is a 2nd cat or the main cat is between the axles (Prius)

 

[Unison8]

Thanks to everyone that provided input/story on this thread.

First time smogging (2017 gti)

With everything that I read on this thread, I put my stock downpipe back on, flashed back to stock tune (unitronic - stg 2). Have a carb exempt neuspeed intake and front mount intercooler, made sure to have my stickers and papers from the carb website.

Drove around on stock tune for 2 days and went to a random low volume smog inspection station. Whole process literally took 10 minutes (maybe less). Gave the guy my carb papers and he was like ummm ok. Really didn't do a visual and didn't care much about my papers.

This weekend I'm going back to stg 2/downpipe.....i could seriously do this every 2 years. Wasn't a big issue.

Again thank you all.

 

[DaRock1459]

Adding my experience. I passed with the following: OEM intake and stock downpipe, and Cobb stage 1 file (and included CARB EO Sticker).

 

[plastermaster]

I looked over most of the pages on this thread and there seems to be different experiences with passing or not, but also everyone's mods are different.

Next year I will need my first CA smog test on my 2018 Golf with an APR stage 1 tune. I have no other mods. The APR stage 1 tune has an EO number for the 1.8L Golf but only for 2015-2017. When I ordered the tune I stopped looking after I read 50 state smog legal, and missed the part where I needed to check for my specific car.

So, do I possibly find a station that will pass it?
or, are all stations bound by the actual procedure (hooking up to the OBD) and therefore forced to fail?
and therefore must have my ECU flashed back to stock?

 

[ksurl]

I looked over most of the pages on this thread and there seems to be different experiences with passing or not, but also everyone's mods are different.

Next year I will need my first CA smog test on my 2018 Golf with an APR stage 1 tune. I have no other mods. The APR stage 1 tune has an EO number for the 1.8L Golf but only for 2015-2017. When I ordered the tune I stopped looking after I read 50 state smog legal, and missed the part where I needed to check for my specific car.

So, do I possibly find a station that will pass it?
or, are all stations bound by the actual procedure (hooking up to the OBD) and therefore forced to fail?
and therefore must have my ECU flashed back to stock?

Like you said, depends how strict the shop is. If they follow it to the letter, then your car will fail since the eo does not include 2018 and newer cars. And it’s been 7 years so it is unlikely apr will get approved at this point. The only other tunes I know has a eo for 2018 is IE and 034. Not sure about 1.8 but they do for the 2.0.

You can either have a shop flash you back to stock or ask apr if they will transfer your tune to your account so you can buy a diy tuner device they now sell. Then you can quickly swap for smog and put the tune back after.

And before anyone mentions cobb, yes they have eo also but their ots tunes are very mild compared to the others.

 

[plastermaster]

Interesting idea about the DIY option. The possibility to do this requires a purchase which isn't yet available in CA, but approval is pending. I found this on the APR site:

This part is legal under the provisions of EPA’s Tampering Policy dated November 23rd, 2020. The company has reasonable basis (test results) to verify that this product allows the vehicle to operate within legal emissions standards and is therefore legal to be sold for on-street use in all states that accept the legal provisions of the Clean Air Act and the EPA Tampering Policy. This product is NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Testing with the California Air Resources Board, in order to achieve 50-state compliance, is pending with CARB. Once testing is complete with California, and an E.O. number is issued, this product will be updated to 50-state legal status.