by PhreakdOut » Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:46 pm
What you have is sulfurdioxide (SO2) coming from your exhaust. Recenly, Toyota had some issues with the factory loading of precious metals on the converter substrate that actually promoted the formation of this. Toyota made some special converter substrates for a field fix on the 04+ vehicles.
In your case, having a 2K Camry, I'm not aware of Toyota going that far back for a fix converter.
The actual source of the sulfur is from your fuel. Sulfur commonly exists with oil and is difficult to refine out. Cheaper gasoline may have a higher sulfur content than others.
FYI: The government regulates sulfur content in gas since it is not burned in the combustion process. It passes on to the exhuast, forms into SO2 (sulfur dioxide) and then ends up in the air. If it forms with water (also a bi-product formed in your converter) the SO2 + H20 forms into H2SO4 which is sulfuric acid - aka acid rain)
Changing converters (to one with a different loading) may or may not solve your problem. An expensive gamble. Changing fuel will attack the problem. It will take around 500 miles to burn out the sulfur in your converter after changing fuels. Give it time.
To my knowledge, you can still pass a smog test even with a high SO2 level. Check with your smog board's webpage or previous results to see what emissions are measured.
-- The Phreak
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