fuel cells on DD in Ca legal?

[plug ugly]

can you run a fuel cell on a DD rig in Ca?

[Redheck]

One of the biggest hurdles is getting the fueling stations in place.

California has 23 stations in operation now clustered around Los Angeles and San Francisco, where most of the vehicles are used in fleets for various state agencies, public utilities, universities and private businesses

found this at http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/24/news/story01.html

[numtel]

Is he asking about that or the aftermarket fuel tank kind?

[Redheck]

Is he asking about that or the aftermarket fuel tank kind?

I tried looking that up too. Found some interesting reading, but nothing about the aftermarket fuel cells being street legal in CA.

No help here... sorry

[plug ugly]

yeah, Im talking about jazz, rci summit fuel cells, not alternative fuels. But thanks Alfred

[Slapahoe]

I was pretty sure you were talking about aftermarket tanks too.

I am positive that a cop wont be to happy about seeing your gas tank next to your open bottles of scotch, but I can assure you he's not gonna ticket you for it.

I have plenty of friends who DD their rigs and or use them as weekend vehicles and have never heard it from the man.

Also, unlike most states, we don't have inspections, so we deffinatly dont have to worry about it.

Why not go with the BTF cell as it uses the same mounting locations etc.?

[plug ugly]

what about with fuel injection and the filler neck. I thought you ha to keep the filler neck.

[Stic-o]

I've heard of the fuel cell thing being illeagal in cali too. I think it has something to do with smog though:rolleyes:

[chris408]

I have seen tons of diesel rigs with aux tanks in their truck beds...

[WHITE RHINO]

Yeah its not exactly smog legal unless you keep the stock filler, because you fail if you dont have the cap im trying to figure out a way to get past this mine is mounted in my bed and it has to be smogged by the end of dec

[welndmn]

Yes, you need the stock, no vented cap (or something else that will pass the test, has to hold a vaccum)
and you need the stock restrictor plate (thats inside the filler neck, so you can't put a big fill nossle in it, they are gauged for size).
I am unsure if it needs to be DOT approved tank (like most AUX bed tanks are) but then again, DOT cops are few and far between.

[Ford_KTM]

What if the vehicle does not need to pass smog, like say anthing older than 72. Then is is legal to run a fuel cell??

[tdavis]

It's a an older vehicle (ie, pre-1995), chances are you could switch it and no one would know better.

If it is a OBDII vehicle, you need to switch the pressure sensors.. or you'll get a SES light, which is an automatic smog check failure.

[TacomaJoe95]

It's a an older vehicle (ie, pre-1995), chances are you could switch it and no one would know better.

If it is a OBDII vehicle, you need to switch the pressure sensors.. or you'll get a SES light, which is an automatic smog check failure.

Your right on that. I dont know if they make a cell for an obdII vechicle. on older vechicles I believe you can run a fuel cell as long as it C.A.R.B. approved for that vechicle. Other wise you will have problems passing smog. And being in an enhanced area like sac they will catch that.

[TacomaJoe95]

What if the vehicle does not need to pass smog, like say anthing older than 72. Then is is legal to run a fuel cell??

1975 and older vechicles dont need to be smoged. So you can do what ever you want to them. You will only run into problems on anything newer.

[Trailer Guy]

Your right on that. I dont know if they make a cell for an obdII vechicle. on older vechicles I believe you can run a fuel cell as long as it C.A.R.B. approved for that vechicle. Other wise you will have problems passing smog. And being in an enhanced area like sac they will catch that.
Ok, did the old man, the smog guy, or a book tell you that.:flipoff2:

[VERTIGO]

Don't be a pussy and just run it. I Drove my sh!t around chico for years, got pulled over several times.... and i mean several! they got me for fenders, mudflaps, mudflaps in the front, side mirror, front plate, no horn, then too loud of a horn, windshield wipers, seatbelts, but never got me for altered frame, speedometer, odometer, altered steering, vin check, exhaust. I guess im just lucky, it's all about HOW you talk to the cop! If your nice and compliant and tell him just some weird story then your good. o and it helps when your rig looks like mad max or some millitary lookin thing, they tend to not mess with you as much. I've had many police tell me how cool my rig is and they all ask "what is that?" too funny when they have no idea, even when i tell them! Here is one of my more current pics!

[outlaw.308]

My cousin had a fuel cell in his Ford Ranger. He bought it that way, and I never knew of him having a problem with smog, or any authority. It had a filler neck that came up next to the bedsides, too.

edit: and the above rig is badass!

[numtel]

Don't be a pussy and just run it. I Drove my sh!t around chico for years, got pulled over several times.... and i mean several! they got me for fenders, mudflaps, mudflaps in the front, side mirror, front plate, no horn, then too loud of a horn, windshield wipers, seatbelts, but never got me for altered frame, speedometer, odometer, altered steering, vin check, exhaust. I guess im just lucky, it's all about HOW you talk to the cop! If your nice and compliant and tell him just some weird story then your good. o and it helps when your rig looks like mad max or some millitary lookin thing, they tend to not mess with you as much. I've had many police tell me how cool my rig is and they all ask "what is that?" too funny when they have no idea, even when i tell them! Here is one of my more current pics!

You obviously didn't drive it around like that without a windshield right?:eek: I've got all of the things you have mentioned wrong with my cruiser and have never been pulled over up here. I'm sure the mudflaps are in my future though...:(

[vikingsven]

Anyone know if swapping in a OEM tank from another make and model vehicle would sneak past the smog nazis? (ie: a Ford tank into a toyota 4Runner)

[VERTIGO]

I've got a jeep windshield that bolts right on.

[plug ugly]

its not a question of being a pussy and worrying abut cops, i hardly think they would care or notice a fuel cell. i care about smoggin the thing and being ablt to run it on the street

[Stic-o]

Anyone know if swapping in a OEM tank from another make and model vehicle would sneak past the smog nazis? (ie: a Ford tank into a toyota 4Runner)

You should be able to get away with it. As long it's not newer and throws codes. I plan to swap out my stock Explorer tank (mid ship) for a aux f-series tank (behind axle) next year. Hopefully I'll have no codes get in the way.:rolleyes:

[TacomaJoe95]

Ok, did the old man, the smog guy, or a book tell you that.:flipoff2:

No fawker I came up with that all by my self.:flipoff:

[Pavemen]

here is the simple explanation, to me on a smogged rig its not legal without an EO

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/replace.htm

[pepe]

I believe the problem is that the stock fuel tank is considered an emissions control part. In other words it is part of the smog system and therefore if you replace it with a aftermarket part it must have a CARB # to be smog leagle.

[JeepinDoug]

I've passed smog, both visual and sniffer, with a Summit drag cell in my 83 CJ5. I made a whole write up and list of parts with explanations for them.
Search my screenname in CJOffroad.com cause I ain't gonna try to explain it all now.
Fawk it, here it is;
http://www.cjoffroad.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3184&SearchTerms=cell

[adampfisters]

I have a cell in the tub of my Jeep, my pressure releif, vapor, etc is hooked up properly. You can not pass smog without a gas cap test where they actually hook up your gas cap to make sure it does not leak. I do not know of any fuel cells that run a regular gas cap? I do know of a fellow wheeler that will help you out. I have passed smog (kindof) but have never been questioned about the cell from cops. Most cops do not know all of the laws for example - I got pulled over for mud flaps the other week and he never said anything about my trail ready's (which are about the most obvious bead lock out there). All of this stated simply - find a way to use a regular gas cap or find a friend that will let you by at a smog shop (all is electronic now but they can just test a gas cap from any vehicle)

[hurleygo3]

i just passed smog with a fuel cell in a 2000 tj, all i did was take the rubber filler neck from the stock tank and hose clamp it on the fuel cell. he was more worried about the aftermarket intake and filter.

[Black Betty]

you could just leave the stock filler there not connected to anything. then the filler would be in the right place, besides they just take the cap off to test it. you could use your fuel cell with what ever cap/filler combo you want.