A brief introduction to Red Mountain Engineering
Situated in Irvine, California, Red Mountain Engineering Inc is a new addition to the growing list of our suppliers.
Some time ago we identified a need in the market for a portable diesel vehicle emission monitor, that is easy to handle, and can be used for both turbo and normally aspirated diesel vehicles. After an exhaustive internet search, we found Red Mountain Engineering.
Red Mountain Engineering manufactures the Smoke Check 1667 Diesel Emissions Tester, which complies with the specifications set out by the SAE J1667. The Smoke Check 1667 was also recently featured as part of an article on the New York Eco Police (see below).
Are there any approvals for the Smoke Check 1667?
The short answer is YES. The Smoke Check 1667 meets the latest SAE J1667 specification as set out by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
The EPA Office of Mobile Sources issued a Guidance to States on In-Use Smoke Test Procedure for Highway Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles in April 1997. The document provides guidance to the states on the use of the SAE Recommended Practice J1667, Snap Acceleration Smoke Test Procedure for Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles. J1667 was developed by a committee consisting of representatives from the trucking industry, engine manufacturers, smoke testing equipment manufacturers, and state and federal regulatory officials.
SAE J1667, which was issued in February 1996, enables the identification of emitters of excessive smoke. It recommends a smoke test method and instrument specifications and correction factors for ambient conditions, including altitude compensation.
The snap acceleration test, also known as the snap idle test, is performed on the vehicle while it is standing still and in neutral. The accelerator is depressed rapidly to the floor and held there until the engine reaches maximum governed speed. A smoke meter is positioned at the end of the tail pipe or exhaust stack, and the opacity of the smoke (i.e., the degree to which the smoke obscures a beam of light shining through it, expressed as a percent of light reduction, or percent opacity) is measured.
The test is quick, requires relatively inexpensive equipment, is easy to perform, and places no stress on the vehicle. Also, unlike other tests that require the vehicle to be in motion, the test does not require space for a straight, level, unobstructed path upon which the vehicle can move.
J1667 replaces an earlier SAE test, J1243, which does not provide for compensation, or correction, for ambient atmospheric conditions. These conditions can significantly affect the results of the test. Copies of J1667 can be obtained from the Society of Automotive Engineers.6