jarmar

When I ordered my truck the dealer in Carson City, NV put in a special code for a truck which will be registered in California (YCF Emissions-Border States Calif).

Is there any physical difference in the engines or is the sticker the only difference?

jr

TexasZach

Every indication is the sticker is the only difference as the new 325/600 is 50 state legal.

jarmar

You may be correct, but it doesn't make any sense to make a sticker just for Calfornia when a footnote stating that the engine was CARB approved would suffice.

On another Web site is was reported that Dodge had changed their sales policy so that trucks with California approved engines could only be ordered in California or a state which borders California, i.e. Oregon, Nevada, or Arizona.

All seems more than a little strange to me without some reasonable explanation or physical difference in the engines.

jr

TexasZach

I agree with your reasoning, why wouldn't ONE sticker suffice for all 50 states? A notation of CARB certification on it would eliminate the need for a different sticker.

jarmar

Ah ha! Perhaps you have touched on the answer...it's reasonable. That's why there isn't just one sticker for all 50 states.

Since there is a special order code for CA emissions I get suspicious that there may be some difference of which we are not yet aware. I have written to Dodge but have no answer as yet and no one else seems to have any idea.

jr

jarmar

I wrote to Dodge customer service with the following question:
"What are the differences between the CARB California diesel engine and the non-CARB engine?"

And I received this response:

"As of January 2004, the new Cummins "600" which is the Cummins Diesel engine offered in the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty meets 50-state emissions requirements. Previously, the high out-put Cummins Diesel was not available in California.

"Information regarding emissions for your state can be obtained through
your Department of Motors Vehicles."

OK, they don't know either!

jr

stevenknapp

Perhaps you have touched on the answer...it's reasonable.

And it has something to do with CARB!

smiller

I once spoke with someone at the DMV who seemed knowledgeable on this subject and was told that California requires every vehicle to undergo an emissions certification at the factory (as opposed to just a spot check every so many units for vehicles shipped to other states). The 'California' code indicates that this test was performed (and collects some money to pay for the test as it is an 'option' as far as the manufacturer is concerned). So, even if there is no physical difference in a 50-state vehicle, one destined for California will carry the additional option code to cover the test. Note that I'm not certain that this is correct, but it was what I was told.

However, why Dodge won't allow this code to be ordered by dealers in other states is beyond me...

jarmar

Well this—if accurate—at least provides a rationale for the California sticker if every California bound vehicle gets tested. I wonder if some of this accounts for the fact that my truck was built almost a month ago and was only a few days ago released for shipment quite a while after the resolution of the exhaust clamp thing.

You are quite correct, there may be no physical difference.

jr

bigblock2stroke

There is no physical performance difference. Its all in the computer, but not performance related, just OBDII and emissions.

jarmar

OK, but I must confess my ignorance, what is OBDII and if all engines are now 50 state compatible how would emissions be affected?

Thank for the help.

jr

bigblock2stroke

On Board Diagnostics. I am not the OBDII person, so I can't comment on the specifics. I only know that the 2 ratings offer the same torque curves.