Diesel Pickup Smog Equipment

Most customers buying cars don't ever think about smog beyond making sure the car has passed smog before the complete their purchase. But there are quite a few diesel truck customers that want specific years or models because of the smog rules involved with them.

The "Holy Grail" of trucks for someone that wants to sup up their truck is diesel 1997 and back. Finding a 97 or older truck that hasn't gone through hell already is tough and so they demand a premium price tag. The reason customers are looking for those older diesel trucks is because they are smog exempt. So you could beef it up as much as you like and never have to worry about failing smog.

The list of emissions equipment added to trucks keeps getting longer. It started with the catalytic converter. In 2002 the EPA added the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system. The EGR was added to Ford in 2003, GM in 2004 and Dodge in 2008. The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) was added to all diesel pickups for model year 2008. The newest addition is the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) which was added to Ford and GM in 2011 and Dodge in 2013.

The main complaint with the addition of the emissions equipment is that it reduces engine efficiency and fuel economy while adding additional costs and maintenance requirements. Pickups have gotten so much more comfortable in recent years that less customers are willing to trade the lower comfort level of the older pickups for the more relaxed smog rules.

Although not legal in California, there are aftermarket products for removing and getting around the emissions equipment. In most counties in California a smog check is required every two years to ensure that people do not try to work around the emissions standards.

For more detailed information about the different rules and standards feel free to contact me directly at robertp@sunrisemotors.com or 530-385-0055