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Phil and Ginni Lyons
February 1, 2025
27 views

Bus Conversions - Staying Legal in California

Post by: windtrader: CARB, the Californai emissions police now regulate all heavy diesel vehicles in California. This includes our diesel powered bus conversions. If you own one in California, you already need to be registered and paid the fee to be in the CARB CTC program.

Your bus will be required to receive a pass on an emissions test called a snap or opacity test. Without this certificate, the DMW will hold registration as directed by CARB.  If not already up to speed on this, here is a link to the next webinar about this program as it applies directly to bus conversions registered in CA.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CARB/bulletins/3c81f7d

All bus conversions, NOT titled in California are free to visit here as usual as this applies to CA vehicles only.

Post by: muldoonman

Wonder how many 2-strokes with high mileage would pass the snap or opacity test? My 1991 8V92 TA with low miles was a clean runner but don't think it would even pass that test.

Post by: freds

Maybe the 2-strokes would pass with propane injection?

Post by: luvrbus

Snap tests are not much it has been in CA for years.  The California Highway Patrol (CHP) did those on the side of the highway for years.  They can pull an out of state RV over for too much smoke and give you a repair ticket. The ruling has people looking to buy throttle delays for the turbo 2-cycle engine they threw away years ago.  Arizona smog tests all 2-cycle Detroit Diesels in Maricopa County (Phoenix).  The DDEC 2 cycle has no problem passing a snap test the ECM takes the right foot out of the picture.

Post by: windtrader

Here are the opacity limits. Mine passed easily. Old buses are at 40%, I think I was around 7%.  

Post by: luvrbus

Phoenix is at 50%.  The tests are for revenue and tracking.  The old 2-strokes that fail are in need of help.  The snap test is a no load test and the old engines do not smoke much with no load.  CARB will figure that out and require a dyno test.  A few friends worried about it so I just closed the air gap on the governor.  It is a legal adjustment, but they don't have any power until you reset the air gap.

Post by: windtrader

Another way I heard that might work is just limiting the accelerator so it doesn't rev all the way up, so it is partial snap test. I have no idea if a tester needs to check all that out before running the test.

Post by: luvrbus

They cannot check the air gap, the N/A engines will pass the test fairly easy.  The turbo models can struggle with big injectors waiting for the turbo to spool up.  That is why so many are hooking the throttle delay back up when it is working.  They won't take the (full) fast throttle causing the smoke.

Post by: windtrader

Clifford, so we are saying the same thing?  The air gap is how much throttle is open?

Post by: Iceni John

California has just now rescinded, or at least temporarily shelved, its plans to ban the future sale (and use?) of diesel trucks and railway locomotives in CA.  This is due to the expected pushback from the incoming Trump regime.  Will this affect the present Clean Truck Check program or not?   I don't know how much this change will affect our older bus conversions.   We live in interesting times.

Post by: luvrbus

They pulled the request because the EPA never would approve it (after 3 years) because it would have been nationwide and not just CA.

Post by: bs4104

Don did you get a full year Compliance certificate from them?

Post by: windtrade

Hi Bruce, what I did as mandated, was register the bus in the CTC (Clean Truck Check) database and forked over 30 bucks that I suspect will never be refunded.  That put me in compliance until the registration renewal time comes around and then a passing  opacity/snap/acceleration test must be presented so DMV will issue the annual tag.

I'm not due for a while so I will just keep my ears open on what transpires.  I don't follow any social media that keeps up with the daily gyrations of CARB and the dance with the feds.

Post by: bs4104

Has anyone from CA been CARB tested?  What was the outcome?  DMV is now holding up current year licenses now as of the Jan 2025 renewals.

Post by: Dave5Cs

Read Windtrader’s previous post above, he has.

Post by: bs4104

I see his second post.  Don did you get a full year for your next testing date?

Post by: windtrader

Bruce, join the upcoming online seminar.  The link is in first post. I did the test so I know if my bus will pass when required and that time is at registration renewal time. That is when DMV will renew if they have a valid test as notified by CARB.

Post by: luvrbus

Bruce your N14 electronic Cummins will have no problem passing a snap test from CARB.  The only problem you may have is explaining why the bus has an N14 Cummins.  CARB can get nasty about engine changes without a paper trail where the old engine went.  Their dumb law of 2010 model engines and the 400,000 mile limit sucks.  We get a lot of buses and trucks passing through here going to other states to live out the rest of their lives.  I bought a nice Isuzu Diesel box truck from CA because of the miles limit deal.  As far as I know it doesn't apply to RVs yet.  It wouldn't surprise me if CARB adds more restrictions to RVs in the future though.

Post by: windtrader

Clifford, in a couple of days, the days of CARB's sharp fangs will get an adjustment. Grind them flat and if that doesn't work, pull them. Watch for the EV handcuffs come off too.

Post by: luvrbus

I don't know about that Don.  They have been around since 1967 or 68.  Reagan combined the two agencies to create CARB.  If I remember right, the board is mostly politicians.  I think they only have two from the public and the public members don't have a vote.  No telling what Newsom has appointed.

They are backtracking on the EV trucks.  Someone figured out trucks and trains haul goods into California too.  One has to give CARB credit as they did clean the air up in California   

Post by: lvmci

Camper Report

California Pauses Restrictions on Diesel Big Rigs

Post by: luvrbus

They don't have a choice.  It's going to take a lot of material to rebuild LA County after the fires.  The independent truckers can move it in half the time the big freight haulers would require.  Those people load and go, breaking a few rules along the way.

Post by: windtrader

Rebuilding LA is going to take YEARS. I lived the Bay Area for 30 years and the Oakland hills fire took out 3,500 structures.  It was a decade long effort to get it back to more/less full housing.  Some lots remained unbuilt for various reasons.

I think the state and counties have enough experience to share to speed things up.

Post by: luvrbus

You ever wonder what they are going to do with all the materials from the cleanup?  I bet the Mojave Desert becomes one giant landfill.  Nevada and Arizona have made it clear they don't want it.  I heard not only CARB, but the Contractors Licensing Board are making it easier for out of state contractors to help with the cleanup, with adjustment to fuel taxes.

BUT WAIT... THERE'S MORE!!!

Click on the link below to read additional comments that may have been added after we published this article. There may be many more comments with even more information that may be useful to you and your bus.

Forum content extracted by Phil Lyons, our Chief Forum Moderator. To read the rest of this discussion in the Forum, click this link:

https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=37380.0

Discussions like this take place on a daily basis in the Bus Conversion Magazine Online Discussion Forum.

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Article written by Phil and Ginni Lyons

Phil Lyons has been a Bus Nut and moderator of the BCM forum for many years. He and his wife Ginni live in the central highlands of Arizona.  Phil’s day job is in IT Security and Ginni is a retired Registered Nurse.

They are the proud parents and grandparents of daughters, granddaughters, and two spoiled dogs.

Phil and Ginni are part of a bluegrass/gospel trio called Copper Mountain StringAlong, are members of Bethel Baptist Church in Prescott Valley, and volunteer and serve in various capacities in the church and the community.

RVing has been part of their lives for over 35 years, and they both hope to enjoy the bus lifestyle for many more years.

You can contact Phil via email at

Phil@BusConversionMagazine.com

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