CA SMOG Fuel Cell

Hey Guys,
I'm gathering parts for a back half and I'm running into the issue about how to legally SMOG my truck with a fuel cell. I'm getting conflicting information about fuel cells in CA from post on different forums saying it won't pass the visual. Some say if I install the stock sending unit and it passes the evap test, I should be good.

I want to 3or 4 link the truck but if I want to keep the stock gas tank and keep it SMOG legal. My other option is to link it with a panhard bar.

So my questions to the guys with fuel cells in CA, how do I LEGALLY pass SMOG with fuel cell?

Thanks in advance.

 

I have been trying to decide the same thing as I want to back half my truck, but from all the info and the smog techs where I work say that it will not pass the visual. If all the emissions parts stay in the stock location and you have a smog tech that either does not check for the factory fuel tank or is cool then you might be able to get away with it from the research I have done at least.

 

I would go find a smog ref and run it by him/her.

they may even be willing/able to sign off on an exemption for you.

And sadly I can’t recommend one. I have had friends that say some suck and others are awesome. So if one says “no way no how” try another.

 

Yep

 

All my smog crap is still hooked up just like stock. No check engine light. I have a aftermarket fuel sending unit and external fuel pump. The smog CARB sticker that came with the supercharger. Gets me out of the visual problems.. or a few extra bucks to look the other way.

 

I like the direction your build seems to be heading !

 

You might get by if the cell isn’t obviously there. I haven’t had a tech do a visual on the tank. However, they do check the cap. The only visual I ever see is the engine bay and the cat. If you need to smog it and want the cell, you can probably get creative. For instance some kind of concealment for the cell and either fill it via the factory cap or T it in. It’s not ideal, but you may have to fudge it a little. You will need to retain all the return and evaporate plumbing or you will throw a code.
One other option would be to go far enough to make it a special build vehicle. That would be it’s own set of challenges though.

 

I posted this over on DezertRangers and forgot to post it on here.

"I spoke with my regular STAR cert. SMOG guy yesterday. I told him what I was doing for suspension and I need to replace my gas tank with a different GAS TANK to accommodate the 4 link. I showed him pictures of other prerunners that had similar set ups. I made it clear that I was going to either buy or have a GAS TANK made, not a fuel cell. I didn't even say fuel cell because that's not what I'm going to be installing. He said that if all the evap stuff and charcoal canister is installed just how it would be stock, he doesn't care and that he doesn't even look at the gas tank."

From what I gather from reading and speaking with other people, I should be OK. I'll conceal the tank as best as I can, just leaving the stock cap exposed.


@CPS-65 My SMOG guy did say that he doesn't look at the tank, I guess it's not part of the visual.

 

Awesome! You know you have to post picture when it's done, right? You may check, but I thought they either tested or inspected the gas cap. It's been a while so I'm a little fuzzy on how that went down or if it even applies to all years (my daughter's car doesn't have a gas cap, it's a quick fill kind of thing) or applies at all any longer.
The thing about car guys is when the state creates some nonsense, we bitch a little then figure out how to get where we want to be anyway. Anyone who has ever had anything to do with racing understands that. Oh, a rule change? Challenge accepted.

 

Most definitely I'll be posting pics! So they do test the cap to make sure its working properly. Everything will get hooked up like how it should be but with a different tank.

 

From California's list of nonsense:

1. Verify your gas cap is installed and sealed properly. If your gas cap is missing this is a smog check failure. The gas cap keeps hyrdo-carbon emissions from escaping in to the atmosphere and is a requirement to pass the smog check.

During the smog test your vehicles gas cap and filler neck will also be inspected. They will have to be of proper fit and design. The gas cap must be able to hold pressure at factory specifications and the filler neck must not be altered to accept leaded gas. This test is to ensure the vehicle is not polluting fuel tank fumes through the filler neck or using the wrong type of fuel. Most vehicles pass this portion of the smog test.

The test is conducted by the smog machine. You will notice the smog technician remove your car's gas cap and attach it to a gas cap receptacle on the smog machine. The smog machine will then pressurize the system and record if pressure is lost through the gas cap. A small amount of loss is allowed. If your vehicle's gas cap appears to be broken, does not fit properly, or has a broken or missing seal, it may fail the test.

What upsets consumers is that failing the gas cap test alone will cause the vehicle to fail the entire emissions test inspection. Even after all exhaust emissions pass successfully and no visual faults are found your vehicle will not pass the smog check.

The good side is the State of California will allow a vehicle owner to purchase a new gas cap from the smog station during the smog test. This allows the smog technician to continue the smog test, without having to fail the vehicle. The vehicle owner also has the choice of purchasing a new gas cap at a future date, however this would require the smog technician to fail the vehicle at the time of inspection. After a new cap is purchased a new smog inspection must be performed.

NOTE: A vehicle may fail the gas cap test, yet see no Check Engine light failure. The parameters required to pass the gas cap test and the parameters required to trigger the check engine light are not the same.

Loose Gas Cap Turning On the Check Engine Light - Late model vehicles have failed the emissions test due to a loose gas cap. Note however that a loose gas cap will trigger on the check engine light and you should not have your car inspected with the check engine light illuminated. The simple fault of not properly tightening the gas cap after filling up at a gas station has caused vehicles to fail the smog test.

This system works as such... the on board emissions computer runs a series of tests checking all major emissions systems and their components. The EVAP system is on the list. The computer runs a test on the EVAP system for vacuum. Note this is a very similar test to the LPFET test (which is discussed in section E of this page) which will be administered by the smog station, except it is done by your vehicle's emissions computer. A loose gas cap will not allow the EVAP system to hold proper vacuum indicating either broken EVAP vacuum lines and/or disconnected connections, or a loose gas cap.

 

Ok well I have some new news ……… The fuel pump on a 2016 + Tacoma’s is 3 wire brushless and the computer regulates fuel pressure with the pump. There are currently no other fuel pumps that won’t set off a check engine light. So if your designing a fuel cell or fuel tank ….. design it with stock pump….you can use an aftermarket sending unit. But after this experiment. I’m dumping the sending unit and just using the faithful stock set up…

 

I know lots of European cars are using brushless pumps and companies like torqbyte build modules to adapt them into cars that aren’t using them. Looks like fuelab has a 3 wire pump with a similar looking connector. I’m sure stuff is out there but finding a compatible pump is going to take time.

 

Wow nice find Justin. I think someone needs to buy 1 and see. I agree it will take time.

 

are you making your own cell? Or is this one you bought with a bladder in it already?

 

I had Solo Motorsports design engineer and order it with bladders. Had another fabrocation guy install it. 32 gallons I love it ….

 

I just called Solo for a price. I'm still waiting to hear back but can I ask what you paid?

 

IMO your best bet is to go with a 3-link plus panhard bar setup & retain the factory gas tank. I had a GMC w/ this setup and it rode like a dream on/off road without the stress of "what if the SMOG tech is a dick"

 

I thought about a panhard bar but I want to back half the truck but I'm a little less concerned about it now since I talked to Bobby at Solo Motosports. As long as all the evap stuff is there and passes the sniff test for the gas cap, I'll be good. Also, Solo is going to make a tank for my Tacoma. I guess they've built several in the past and they have all the CAD for it. 32 gallons.

 

For the sniff test, does the filler neck & gas cap need to remain in the stock location?