Southern California Mobile Diesel Smoke Check

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

INSPECTIONS/TESTS:

• Inspections performed at CHP weigh stations, roadside locations and fleet facilities
  
  
• Applies to California interstate and international heavy-duty vehicles
  
  
• The new SAE J1667 snap-acceleration test 
  (a.k.a. “snap-idle” test)
  
  
• Vehicles with visible smoke more likely to be inspected

SMOKE OPACITY STANDARDS	CITATIONS / PENALTIES
40% opacity for 1991 and newer engines	$0 NOV if repaired in 45 days
55% opacity for pre-1991 engines	$300 first citation if repaired within 45 days
Notice of Violation (NOV): Pre-1991 vehicles only	$800 first citation if not repaired within 45 days
Fix-It” ticket for opacity between 55% and 69%" Only one permitted in a 12-month period	$1,800 subsequent citations in 12 month period

The anti-smoke inspection

The inspection team selects a vehicle for the test and directs it to a special inspection lane where the wheels are chocked for safety. The driver is instructed to rapidly depress the accelerator several times with the transmission in neutral, until maximum governed speed is reached. These clean-out procedures will clear soot build-up in the system prior to the test and ensure that the vehicle’s engine is in the proper mechanical condition.

RPM recordings:

The inspector records the vehicle’s RPM on idle and at maximum governed speeds.

The snap-acceleration tests:

The inspector positions a smoke sensing meter just above, or places a probe just inside, the vehicle’s smoke stack. The driver then rapidly accelerates the engine with the transmission in neutral. The meter measures the opacity of the smoke being emitted. The driver is then instructed to repeat the snap-acceleration test three times.

The visual inspection:

Next the inspector looks under the hood to check for visible signs of tampering and records engine data.