SMOG tips on passing...

[chuck d]

First what I want to ask is,
WHere should I set the timing for best smog results ? Advanced, retarded or neutral ?

ANd , I read here about 'seafoam' . That it can help, And that some have had problems with the engine after using it... Any info on that ?

AND, I had read in another forum (of another Japanese car) That denatured Alcohal, will help with passing smog. The stuff at Home depot that painters use. I used smaller can of it ( 32 oz ??) in with about 5 gal. of gas on my 83 EK1 last year and it passed. But I didn't test it before using the stuff, just went ahead and did it, so I don't know that it would not have passed without it.
It is supposed to be like MTBE additve in gas, helps to oxidize it and burn it better, probably helps with HC.
ANyone know anything about that, OR any other suggestions...

thank you Chuck d.

[Dr_Snooz]

Well you've definitely done your homework. Maybe you should be telling us how to pass smog. LOL. As a rule, you want to set the car to the factory settings to pass smog. You'd probably get better results by having a fresh tune up and oil change than by tinkering with timing. I would avoid Seafoam myself. It's good to have the combustion system clean, but I'm just not sold on using something real caustic and disruptive on an old car to achieve that. I'd sooner use a gentler compound over a longer period of time. This is just my opinion and others on here will say that Seafoam is the cat's pajamas so you'll have to make your own decision. The alcohol trick definitely sounds plausible but it could also lean out your mixture and put you over on Nox too.

More to the point, why are you so concerned about this? Is the car not running right? If so, you're best served by getting it running right and let the smog check take care of itself.