So after failing SMOG last week here in sunny and snowy california, I looked up a lot of posts here on BB.com about what could be causing it, and consequently when I hear from the DMV to see if they will offer me compensation for getting some repairs done I will have a nice list of things for the mechanic to check, if the california budget has saved anything for me (this is a CA-specific program, and off topic anyways). But I'd like an opinion from the good folks here, because essentially the whole failure just seems out of place to me...the car passed smog just over a year ago (15 months) and now it is a 'gross polluter' according to the latest test. What happened in the last 15 months which could lead to these high levels of O2 (25mph), CO (both speeds) and NO (both speeds, and very very high)? Here's a little list...

--driving close to 15,000 miles in the past 15 months
--driving through a hell-like dust storm for an hour or two a few weeks back, and the air filter looks a bit nastier because of it (changed it last year, though)
--spilling motor oil all over the engine compartment, which despite my efforts at a degreasing and powerwashing removal, still gives the front of the car a nice 'burning oil' kinda smell.
--and consequently putting in too much motor oil in the car afterwards, and driving a lot (1200 miles?) like this, expecting it to burn off (but it won't).
--getting into a decent little accident which may have lead to the development of a crack in an exhaust tube? (I looked for obvious ones behind the heat shield but didn't see any).


I'm sure I'm leaving out a few but I can't recall at this moment. It seems like my only options are to take it to a mechanic who can test all the things which ought to be tested (PCV/vacuum tubes), timing, spark wires et al, and the seals for exhaust, oil dipstick, fuel mixture, etc.), which i don't have the equipment to do. But does any of the above information seem to indicate to anyone an apparent cause of my smog failing? the leftover motor oil in the car's engine area and its ensuing smell seems rather ominous to me, as well as my accidental over-correction of putting in too much oil in its place. maybe i've blown a seal somewhere in there. or whatever.

hey THANKS A LOT FOR READING! time to register the car in Oregon...