smog - 60 hydrocarbons too high

[FlatBlackBurb]

the smog saga continues...

took it to get smogged. replaced the plugs yesterday. its really close to passing now. it's supposed to be 180 hydros or lower. mine floats around 200-250. im really hesitant to get a new cat on there because i feel like that's just throwing money down the drain. is there anything i can do.
i disconnected the IAC a couple of days ago and it somehow brought the idle down. would this have anything to do with my problem?

 

[4by4bygod]

the smog saga continues...

took it to get smogged. replaced the plugs yesterday. its really close to passing now. it's supposed to be 180 hydros or lower. mine floats around 200-250. im really hesitant to get a new cat on there because i feel like that's just throwing money down the drain. is there anything i can do.
i disconnected the IAC a couple of days ago and it somehow brought the idle down. would this have anything to do with my problem?

How dirty is the oil? Change it if you're close to the change interval. What about the oxygen sensor? was it ever changed?

Get the truck hot and limit the amount of idling you do before you go get tested.

 

[FlatBlackBurb]

How dirty is the oil? Change it if you're close to the change interval. What about the oxygen sensor? was it ever changed?

Get the truck hot and limit the amount of idling you do before you go get tested.

i just changed the oil about a week ago. wont the o2 sensor usually throw a bad code if it needs to be changed? i tried limiting the idle when it was hot but it doesnt affect it that much. i was idling at about 1200 when hot now im idling at 1020. yesterday my HC's were 400+ at idle so i changed out the spark plugs. some of the old plugs had a lot of grease and gunk on them. thats a bad sign right, is there anything i can do right now to get it to pass smog in a couple hours? what would you guys reccomend?

 

[4by4bygod]

i just changed the oil about a week ago. wont the o2 sensor usually throw a bad code if it needs to be changed? i tried limiting the idle when it was hot but it doesnt affect it that much. i was idling at about 1200 when hot now im idling at 1020. yesterday my HC's were 400+ at idle so i changed out the spark plugs. some of the old plugs had a lot of grease and gunk on them. thats a bad sign right, is there anything i can do right now to get it to pass smog in a couple hours? what would you guys reccomend?

Bad O2 sensor can cause a rich condition, which leads to gunky plugs & high HC readings..in other words, too much fuel is being called for, and you can't combust enough. What kind of shape is the rest of the ignition in? I always do cap/wires/rotor/plugs at the same time.