Craig Oda wrote:
"Are you saying here that you moved the timing
from 5 degrees BTDC to TDC and your emissions improved?"

yes

Steve Delanty wrote:
"It's a common hot-rodder trick to retard the timing to pass NOx test.
It reduces the combustion temperature and pressure which reduces NOx."

I did it at the recommendation of a 30 year-VW/small engine mechanic and
since it worked so well it's just part of the annual drill come registration
time.

Bob Stevens

http://groups.msn.com/BobsPhotoShare
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tiico

----Original Message Follows----
From: Craig Oda <craigoda@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Craig Oda <craigoda@gmail.com>
To: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@hotmail.com>
CC: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Failed Emissions Check
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 16:33:12 -0700

This is interesting.  Are you saying here that you moved the timing
from 5 degrees BTDC to TDC and your emissions improved?   Why would
this improve emissions?  Did your emissions test for NOX as well as
HC?  Up until last year (I think), CA emissions did not test NOX, so
you could make the engine lean to burn up the HCs and still pass
emissions.  I'm wondering if this trick will still work when I take my
van in for SMOG testing next year.

-- Craig

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 15:30:28 -0600, Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@hotmail.com>
wrote:
 > Both W-boxer and TIICO emissions experience: I have failed emissions in
this
 > area in the past with both motors, went home and retarded the advance to
 > about "0", took it back and passed with flying colors. Back home and
advance
 > the timing to where it is recommended (5-6 w-boxer, 10-12 TIICO) and
done.
 >
 > Bob Stevens
 >
 > http://groups.msn.com/BobsPhotoShare
 > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tiico
 >
 >
 >
 > :::-----Original Message-----
 > :::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
Behalf
 > :::Of Melvin Mudgett-Price
 > :::Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 11:11 AM
 > :::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
 > :::Subject: Failed Emissions Check
 > :::
 > :::Took my van for its Ohio e-Check yesterday. The engine has 20,000 on a
 > :::rebuilt Boston Bob. It passed with flying colors 2 years ago. This
time
 > :::it failed on Nitrous Oxide emissions, they are supposed to be around
 > :::900, mine were 1,900.
 > :::
 > :::I called my regular mechanic (VW specialist) and he said there was
 > :::nothing he could do, when van's start failing their emissions test
 > :::that's usually the end for them. This sounds like total bs to me and I
 > :::don't know why he doesn't seem to want to even look at the van. Called
 > :::another VW shop and they said no problem, bring it in.
 > :::
 > :::Now to my question. What sort of things would cause the "NO" to be
high.
 > :::I would like have some idea not because the mechanic will try
bamboozle
 > :::me but because I don't like to be in the position where he could.
 > :::
 > :::Thanks
 > :::Melvin
 > :::83.5 Westy
 >