Frankly, that sort of advice makes absolutely no sense to me.  Higher octane
allows a car to run at a higher compression ratio without pinging.  But, if
the vehicle isn't pinging, what's the point of running High Octane, and what
could that possibly do to help a vehicle with a high idle CO pass the smog
test?  What's the logic here?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
---------------------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Brassaw" <sendmeanemail@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: 82 Failed CA Smog Test- help!

> I've had several mechanics tell me to run a couple of tanks of High
> Octane before getting smoged.  Also, when was the last time a new Cat
> was put on--it might be time.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of S.Harrison
> Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 9:03 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: 82 Failed CA Smog Test- help!
>
> I passed all aspects of the test but the CO% at idle -- I was at 5.56%,
> with
> a maximum allowable of 2.00. The CO% at 2500 RPM measurement was fine,
> about
> 0.62%.