NO. I have only taken 2 days off in the last month, and my time is running out. The little hole in my EGR pipe has opened back up, so I NEED to find a new pipe, and I don't have a no-touch thermometer to give me some idea if the cat could be an issue as well.

Toasty, where did you get your exhaust done? I might want to do mine anyway just to be safe. I was certain I am not burning oil because I have never, under any circumstance, had any smoke or seen the oil level drop at all after I fixed a slow leak I had... until yesterday. No smoke still, but I was a little bit low (half a quart or so). It's time to change oil again too, but damn I have no time at all. Tomorrow I am taking off work. Someone, anyone call me if you are off tomorrow too, have any ideas, or know where I can find the pipe. (602) 628-4327. Thank you.

I wish I could be there to help out but my time has been consumed getting my truck ready for the winter snow run thats coming up in the next couple of weeks. And also trying to get some maintanance done to connie's montero.

So What exactly have you tried to fix since the origanal post? I know I had mentioned replacing the CAT along with others?

Dylan, I am ignorant on the function of the EGR tube. Does it carry pressure, vacuum or both, at times? If it's just pressure, can you wrap it with flexible muffler repair tape?

Also, Harbor Freight has nice pricing on non-contact thermometers.

John B.

You can go anywhere to get exhaust done. I went to D&L welding in Mesa.

EGR ...Exhaust Gas Recirculation ... The egr pumps alittle exhaust gases back into the combustion chamber to "cool" the chamber ....The cooling of the chamber reduces the NOx the chamber makes .... Modern smog motors at one end are trying to cool the fuel charge and on the other end trying to get the exhaust real hot (CAT) to burn any fuel that the combustion chamber did not burn ... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />...

I know ..I know ... Sounds strange hot exhaust gases "cooling" a cylinder...

The whole Cat and EGR systems in modern cars is a scam ...Theirs better ways to redos smog but those in charge would not make the big money ...

Do tell. I'm always interested in these kinds of things. I'm a conspiracy theorist at heart.

What I meant was, I know what EGR does. I don't know what direction of flow and pressure/vacuum forces are acting on that particular tube. If it's pressure only, it could be wrapped, and knowing how cleanly Dylan does mechanical work, I'd bet no one would even notice.

John B.

Its just Ex gases as in a tail pipe .. Its made of some goofy stainless steel do to the heating and cooling that goes on so it will last ...Mild steel I'm sure would last for some time and get the truck smoged .... Then plug the sucked off untill you get one ....If it were me...

Or

Move ... I'm happy to live were theirs no smog check ...Reading forums over the years and growing up in So Cali...I've come to see that having to have ones Toys smog checked REALY adds un-needed drama to ones world ..Sorry on the troubles ...

Dylan: Patch it!

John B.

John, clearly I am working too damn much as muffler tape never even occurred to me. Might be a pain in the ass trying to work it down into the ridges for a good seal but I am definitely going to give it a try. No one has seen an SR in the junk yard recently though, just in case?

As for the thermometers and having a good price, I guess that's an option, but I have been leaving the house at 7:30 in the morning, and not been getting back until 8:30 or so in the evening. There isn't one close enough to the shop for me to run out for a quick trip to pick one up either. Anyone passing through central Phoenix and willing to make a Harbor Freight run for me? What should approximate inlet and outlet side temperatures be anyway? Also, since EGR controls combustion temperatures, and I still have the persistent cold start-no idle situation, could whatever that is be affecting my NOX reading? Of course the engine was at full temperature before I got to the test, but I never have been able to figure that issue out, so I have no idea what the secondary effects may be.

Bloody hell.. I am with Haztoys on this one, emissions checks are complete garbage. I might be able to through a free beach house stay in if anyone can shoe-horn some time into their schedule...

P.S. About getting ready for the camping trip... I can DEFINITELY help out there... spare sleeping bags, pads, tents... I have a TON of stuff so if anyone needs anything, come on down. 3244 E Thomas.