For owners of diesel trucks, particularly those with the robust 6.7 Cummins engine, staying informed about emission regulations is crucial. New changes are on the horizon, especially concerning smog checks for diesel vehicles. Starting July 2023, California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) is implementing updated Smog Check requirements for 2007 and newer light-duty diesel vehicles. These updates focus on On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) readiness monitors and are designed to further reduce diesel emissions, impacting how your 6.7 Cummins will be assessed during a smog check.
Since 2010, diesel vehicles from model year 1998 onwards, with a gross vehicle weight rating under 14,001 pounds, have been part of the Smog Check Program. A key part of this inspection is evaluating the OBD II system. The system verifies that essential readiness monitors have run and are set. These monitors are essentially self-tests your vehicle performs to ensure its emission control system is functioning correctly. Previously, for 1998 to 2006 models, all readiness monitors needed to be set to pass. Recognizing the complexity of newer diesel exhaust systems introduced in 2007, vehicles from 2007 onwards were allowed up to two unset readiness monitors.
However, the standards are becoming stricter. From July 2023, the allowance for unset monitors for 2007 and newer light-duty diesels is significantly reduced. The new regulation will only permit the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and the Non-Methane Hydrocarbon Catalyst (NMHC) readiness monitors to be unset. This means that for your 6.7 Cummins, ensuring all other OBD2 monitors are ready will be essential to pass the smog check. Focusing on your 6.7 Cummins Obd2 Monitor status is now more important than ever. Any issues preventing monitors from setting, beyond the DPF and NMHC, could lead to a failed smog check.
It’s important to note that a small number of vehicles with design-related issues preventing them from meeting these new standards will be temporarily exempted. The BAR On-Board Diagnostic Inspection System is designed to automatically identify and exempt these vehicles during the Smog Check, without requiring any action from the inspector.
For detailed information regarding readiness standards for the OBD test and a list of exempted vehicles, you can consult the On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference webpage at www.bar.ca.gov. Understanding these changes, especially concerning your 6.7 Cummins OBD2 monitor, will help you stay compliant with the updated diesel smog check requirements and contribute to cleaner air.
