Cheating the CA Smog Check

This is a serious offense, both for the vehicle owner and the cheating smog station. Not to mention, the act of obtaining a fraudulent smog inspection or smog check hurts our environment, and pollutes our air.

The risk and damage far outweigh the benefit of passing the smog test without repairs. The money it costs to cheat the smog test should be used to repair the failing vehicle. This will insure passing smog checks for years to come and be beneficially to you on the long run.

California requires smog checks every two years. Cheating is not the answer. Getting your vehicle properly repaired is.

Examples of Smog Check Fraud:

• Clean Piping - The illegal practice of obtaining an emissions sample from a passing vehicle as a substitute for the actual vehicle being tested.

• Tach Simulator - The illegal practice of using an ignition pulse simulator to trick the smog machine into believing a vehicle is operating at the proper and passing RPM.

• Manipulating Tests - Testing a vehicle improperly. i.e. overheated, underheated, over or under required dyno speeds, and fluctuating drive speeds during the smog test.

• Use of Additives - The illegal mixing of gasoline with ethanol or methanol to insure cleaner combustion. These additives used regularly will damage rubber components within the engine. Using additives to keep your engine clean is not illegal. Using them however to manipulate the smog test is.