'02 7.3l emissions problem- runing rich

[FearTheDentist]

Hello! This is my first post here, hopefully y'all can help solve my issue!

I have an '02 F250 Super Duty which had to pass emissions here in Az for the first time this year, and unfortunately it failed. The emissions tech told me the vehicle was running rich, and thought maybe I had a chip in it.
The truck is not chipped, and has no performance mods of any sort. The only service issues the motor has had since I bought it were a bad camshaft position sensor and bad fuel pump (both of which were replaced of course). The engine does not throw any trouble codes.

I'd appreciate any suggestions about how to troubleshoot this, any common causes I could look into, or any other thoughts on the subject.

Thanks!

[strokermann]

does your truck have a cat on it. most of teh 7.3 didn't have a cat on it unless it was going to a stat were it was required. other then that there really isn't any emmsions on these things. call teh dealer ship and ask hey what has tro be done to these things to pass an emmsions test lol. i mean if they are going to make it mandatory for us to do emmssions you would think ford would be requried to fix teh problem not us because we bought the trucks when it wa snot required but that is a fat chance . only could ask. maybe you have a fuel injector putting out to much fuel. is it smoking any. clean teh airfilter fuel filter. just my 2 cents sorry for nagging.

[strokermann]

i just caled ford and he said look up your states local emssions laws and see if there are waivers for specfic year. and if you do have a cat to replace it and if you don't then that is were the waiver wold come into use. but other then that he said ther is no emmisions standars for our 7.3s good luck and let us know.

[Southpaw]

An 02 that came from the factory without a cat would have to be "grandfathered", wouldn't it? You can't ask a truck that was manufactured in a year that diesels had no emission requirments, to all of a sudden start passing emissions tests 5 years later (and stricter). That's insane, i'd be willing to bet money that your truck should not have to, and more importantly isn't expected to pass emissions.

good luck
chris

[Southpaw]

By the way,

[vitalidle]

Not sure if there is any truth to it or even if it applies to diesels but I heard if you unplugg the batteries the computer or pcm has to drive for so many miles to relearn emmission again? Sound plausible? Maybe that could be a reason if you know you have an emmissions test don't unplugg your batteries right before the test.

[Lord Tauk]

I agree, how can you be expected to pass emissions when the truck was designed and manufactured with no emission standards in mind aside from not blowing black smoke from the factory?

I think unplugging battery idea is just to clear codes. Older cars that don't have OBDII get the rollers and the tailpipe sniffer and the newer ones just get plugged in and scanned for codes - at least that is how it is here. No actual "emission" testing per-say, they just make sure you aren't driving around with an SES light.. which doesn't always necessarily mean an emission problem?

[2005F250]

For anyone that does have to take thier diesel to be emissioned. Run it hard and get it hot. That way it cleans out everything and you should pass. Example: My dad drives his truck like a man which means no smoke when he floor's it. Mom drives her truck like a grandma and when I get in it it poures out smoke for awhile. Trucks are the same year and engine (7.3).

[djsdiesel]

When I worked in a city that had emissions standards, on diesels they used an Opacity meter (light sensor used to measure smoke) They put it at the end of your tailpipe. When they tell you to rev your motor fast it will put out some black smoke which will make the opacity meter not able to see light. If you rev it slower it won't blow smoke and the meter can still see light.

So basically when I was at Ford and a customer would fail emissions, we told them to rev up the engine slower so that it didn't blow any black smoke.

This will work if they use an opacity meter if they actually use a sniffer then good luck, there aren't any emission standards on a 7.3l.

A stock 7.3l will blow a little black smoke if you mash the pedal to the floor in neutral.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Lord Tauk

I agree, how can you be expected to pass emissions when the truck was designed and manufactured with no emission standards in mind aside from not blowing black smoke from the factory?

I think unplugging battery idea is just to clear codes. Older cars that don't have OBDII get the rollers and the tailpipe sniffer and the newer ones just get plugged in and scanned for codes - at least that is how it is here. No actual "emission" testing per-say, they just make sure you aren't driving around with an SES light.. which doesn't always necessarily mean an emission problem?

Md. doesn't make you get your vehicles inspected every year, right?
Only once when you first register it?

chris