Emmissions and upgrades

[lyates1987]

So I live in Travis County (Austin, TX) and it's like Cali in texas... literally with all the new cali folk moving here and they are slightly nazi on emmissions here. I want to get a DP upgrade and was looking at a hi-flow cat or test pipe. I still need to be able to pass emmissions as well. Trying to figure if this is possible and which route to go.

[Furly]

if texas is anything like cali, it wont pass smog with a HFC or any kind of aftermarket cat period.

[lyates1987]

Well shit...... at least I know a shady little spot that hooks it up

[xalents23]

Your best bet is to do a custom setup. V-band setup on both your test pipes and cats to your exhaust. So, you can swap the cats in when the time comes for emissions testing. That's what I'm doing with my current build.

[diagnosticator]

I have read a thread post here reporting 034 HFC passing CA emissions, even though the 034 HFC is not CARB approved for on road use.

I will post a link if I can find it.

So called "test" pipes are evil and nothing good will result from using one, including the increased performance result because with a "test" pipe the associated performance increase is illegitimate.

[lyates1987]

I have read a thread post here reporting 034 HFC passing CA emissions, even though the 034 HFC is not CARB approved for on road use.

I will post a link if I can find it.

So called "test" pipes are evil and nothing good will result from using one, including the increased performance result because with a "test" pipe the associated performance increase is illegitimate.

Thanks! If it will pass cali then I'm sure it will pass Travis County. They also check the monitors as well. Will changing to an 034 HFC affect the running of the monitors?

[Charles.waite]

Does your county do actual tailpipe emissions testing? Or just OBD2 readiness? If they do OBD2 readiness only, you can just get a tune that codes out the O2 sensors and you can run a test pipe if you want.

If they do visual inspection or tailpipe sniffers you need to keep it more legit.

I'm APR 1+ running the OEM cat still, but I passed my last 2 emissions test without a single hiccup.

[lyates1987]

Does your county do actual tailpipe emissions testing? Or just OBD2 readiness? If they do OBD2 readiness only, you can just get a tune that codes out the O2 sensors and you can run a test pipe if you want.

If they do visual inspection or tailpipe sniffers you need to keep it more legit.

I'm APR 1+ running the OEM cat still, but I passed my last 2 emissions test without a single hiccup.

Oh badass!!! Yes they do OBD2 readiness! Sweet. I am going to get a motoza tune in the near future so this will be awesome.

[treysgreen]

if texas is anything like cali, it wont pass smog with a HFC or any kind of aftermarket cat period.

I've heard of people passing SMOG testing with Test Pipes/HFC if they have it tuned.

[jaydeff]

If they do visual on top of checking readiness you can just put the heatshield from the stock cat on to the HFC to make it look more legit too.

[lyates1987]

If they do visual on top of checking readiness you can just put the heatshield from the stock cat on to the HFC to make it look more legit too.

They don't do visual here. just readiness. The lil shop I take it too will hook it up though. I got them to pass my buddy's giant turbo supra with E85 conversion. He actually didn't pass the tailpipe test after the conversion, which was the whole point. so they stuck the tester in a mk3 golf and used it to pass lol. Very illegal but screw it. One less thing to worry about when driving a 750 hp supra around.

[customa4]

Either way if you're going to change your cat just stick with a HFC, not a test pipe.

[lyates1987]

Either way if you're going to change your cat just stick with a HFC, not a test pipe.

Confirmed

[USAF Long]

So called "test" pipes are evil and nothing good will result from using one, including the increased performance result because with a "test" pipe the associated performance increase is illegitimate.

How is more flow and more power illegitimate? Illegal, yes. Illegitimate no.

[customa4]

How is more flow and more power illegitimate? Illegal, yes. Illegitimate no.

The difference in HP between a test pipe and a HFC is little to none, which makes it pretty illegitimate. You're not gonna gain 50 HP between the two which makes a HFC the smarter decision. Using a test pipe you're also burning off fumes that have not been broken down at all which stinks like shit and the people around you have to smell it.

[CyberPMG]

I live in a county here in Ohio that requires emission testing. I have the 034 HFC. I also have APR's Stealth cat-back exhaust which includes a 2.5" downpipe. With this setup, I can pass OBDII and sniffer tests. OBDII scans show ready codes. You might need a spacer for the rear sensor depending on your setup. I'm able to go without the need for any spacers. From what I recall from 034, they've shown the power output to be nearly the same as what is gained from using a test pipe. I've been very happy with the HFC.