How to get away with a test pipe

[impulse]

So I've heard that there is a visual inspection for a test pipe, and assuming there is one, how do people get away with a test pipe? I know to space the o2 and to and get the cat coded out via a tune, but when people go for emissions do they change the test pipe back to a cat or do they just hope for the best...

Curious, I would run a test pipe if I didn't have to change it for 1 day every 2 years


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[LINDW4LL]

Most states don't have visual inspection. That's how most get away with it However- I see CT does. It's pretty tough with the 2.0T since the catalytic converter is in such an obvious location and is easily visible even from above. I'd highly suggest you go with a high flow cat instead as performance is similar and it will save you the hassle.

[AJacksA4]

You could cut your old cat up and weld the pieces around the test pipe to make it look like the OEM cat

[vce1232000]

Gut your original cat. re- it. It will flow just as as a test pipe. Never worry about visual inspections again. You mite have to a O2 bung to avoid a cel lite

[adam044]

Gut your original cat. re- it. It will flow just as as a test pipe. Never worry about visual inspections again. You mite have to a O2 bung to avoid a cel lite

What he said. Or I believe they make hollow cats. Aka test pipes but they look like a cat for visual inspection.

Honestly though just run a high flow cat.

[ktish]

I had to swap my test pipe for the cat for my emissions. CT is no fun.

[vce1232000]

Honestly though just run a high flow cat.

I heard in CA you cant even pass a visual with a Hi Flow cat...... that to be in CA...lol

[AJacksA4]

I heard in CA you cant even pass a visual with a Hi Flow cat...... that to be in CA...lol

It depends on the technician lol. The guy looked at mine, asked if it was the original cat and I said "i think so" and he passed it.

[kil_ling]

AJacks where did u go get urs done at?

[JesusB7a4]

But wouldn't the test pipe affect the emissions?

[vce1232000]

But wouldn't the test pipe affect the emissions?

Yes, Since there is converter. States that use a sniffer would fail you for emissions. Most states that use OBD2 port diagnostic inspection and you use a working O2 spacer or tune will pass. NJ allows for 1 fail readiness test and your still

[JDillon15]

I'm with VCE. Just gut your OEM cat. You'll save money and pass visual. Then you don't have to worry about switching.


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[impulse]

I might just gut it, it would save money over buying a HFC or text pipe as well. I ran a HFC on my last car and it wasn't bad, still had a noticeable sound difference even with an oem cat back. Just was curious because I see so many test pipes for sale so I figured that everyone ran them


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[JDillon15]

I use to run one. Personally, I don't like the smell or sound. Put in a HFC and that's definitely my preference. To each his own. If you like the tp, go for that. It's a heck of a lot cheaper. Especially if you gut your OEM cat.


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[impulse]

I use to run one. Personally, I don't like the smell or sound. Put in a HFC and that's definitely my preference. To each his own. If you like the tp, go for that. It's a heck of a lot cheaper. Especially if you gut your OEM cat.


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I've never ran a test pipe before, probably will just stay HFC. My plan is 3 inch HFC to 2.5 JHM Y pipe to 2.5 Fast Intentions non res out


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[JDillon15]

I've never ran a test pipe before, probably will just stay HFC. My plan is 3 inch HFC to 2.5 JHM Y pipe to 2.5 Fast Intentions non res out


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Test pipe is too raspy IMO. I've had two 034 HFC. I think I paid ~200-250 for each (used). I expect those would sound good paired with JHM Y pipe and exhaust. I want to do something similar, so I'll have to hear your setup.


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[DanKing]

How do you get rid of the CEL if your gut your cat?

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[impulse]

Test pipe is too raspy IMO. I've had two 034 HFC. I think I paid ~200-250 for each (used). I expect those would sound good paired with JHM Y pipe and exhaust. I want to do something similar, so I'll have to hear your setup.


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I'm struggling to find a used HFC haha I feel like when I wasn't looking for parts there were a million 034 HFC's and 2.5 FI exhausts and now that I want them I can't find them!

How do you get rid of the CEL if your gut your cat?

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I'm pretty sure most tunes just code them out



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[JDillon15]

I'm struggling to find a used HFC haha I feel like when I wasn't looking for parts there were a million 034 HFC's and 2.5 FI exhausts and now that I want them I can't find them!



I'm pretty sure most tunes just code them out



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See if this guy has his?

034 Motorsport High-Flow Catalytic Converter B7 A4 2.0T
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=673138




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[impulse]

See if this guy has his?

034 Motorsport High-Flow Catalytic Converter B7 A4 2.0T
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=673138


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Just pm'd him haha; thank you!

Now I need an FI exhaust with dual tips, not a fan of quads.

Also: how is that fmic working out for you?


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[JDillon15]

Just pm'd him haha; thank you!

Now I need an FI exhaust with dual tips, not a fan of quads.

Also: how is that fmic working out for you?


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Ah no way. I love quads. You could also go with used b6 exhaust. Would be dirt cheap ~$100

FMIC is good. I have a boost leak somewhere that I've been trying to track down. When it gets warm out, I'll tear it all apart and figure it out. I assume either a hole in the IC/piping, pcv failed or valve cover failed. Right now my money is on the valve cover. It's the old gray one that are known to fail.


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[DanKing]

What of you don't have a tune :-(

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[impulse]

Ah no way. I love quads. You could also go with used b6 exhaust. Would be dirt cheap ~$100

FMIC is good. I have a boost leak somewhere that I've been trying to track down. When it gets warm out, I'll tear it all apart and figure it out. I assume either a hole in the IC/piping, pcv failed or valve cover failed. Right now my money is on the valve cover. It's the old gray one that are known to fail.


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Possibly! And yeah I mean I want to go aftermarket. Unless people think if I just get a s4 exhaust and change the mufflers and do a res delete I'll see some gains, since it's 2.25 basically true dual in a sense. It would save a ton of money


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[ADCS]

I might just gut it, it would save money over buying a HFC or text pipe as well. I ran a HFC on my last car and it wasn't bad, still had a noticeable sound difference even with an oem cat back. Just was curious because I see so many test pipes for sale so I figured that everyone ran them


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Gutting your cat is a messy, time consuming chore. You also loose the ability to bring the old cat to a salvage yard for $$. Add the wasted time and it will cost you just as much or more than what a high flow cat costs.

[JDillon15]

Possibly! And yeah I mean I want to go aftermarket. Unless people think if I just get a s4 exhaust and change the mufflers and do a res delete I'll see some gains, since it's 2.25 basically true dual in a sense. It would save a ton of money


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Someone else can chime in, but most of your gains are coming from the tp/HFC and down pipe (JHM y pipe). The rest, from my understanding, will only modify sound.


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[impulse]

What of you don't have a tune :-(

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Then I'm pretty sure you will throw a code. Just get a tune and go faster haha

Gutting your cat is a messy, time consuming chore. You also loose the ability to bring the old cat to a salvage yard for $$. Add the wasted time and it will cost you just as much or more than what a high flow cat costs.

Thank you! I don't even know how to go about gutting a cat lol

Someone else can chime in, but most of your gains are coming from the tp/HFC and down pipe (JHM y pipe). The rest, from my understanding, will only modify sound.

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Ah okay. Yeah I mean I don't want it to be quiet I want a nice tone. Maybe I'll cut up the exhaust I have now since it's the OEM with a res delete and different mufflers and I'll weld it to a stock b6s4 exhaust



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[JDillon15]

Gutting your cat is a messy, time consuming chore. You also loose the ability to bring the old cat to a salvage yard for $$. Add the wasted time and it will cost you just as much or more than what a high flow cat costs.

I've never done it, but the ones I read just hit it out with a hammer. 99% of people aren't going to bring their old cat to a scrap yard, and what's the salvage value for that? I assume between 50-100$. As a cheap option, and to pass visual, this may make sense to some.


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[impulse]

I've never done it, but the ones I read just hit it out with a hammer. 99% of people aren't going to bring their old cat to a scrap yard, and what's the salvage value for that? I assume between 50-100$. As a cheap option, and to pass visual, this may make sense to some.


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This is what the current setup looks like from the back, it sounds good too


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[JDillon15]

This is what the current setup looks like from the back, it sounds good too


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Yeah that's the thing with exhaust; there's so many options. Just depends want you want to spend. HFC ~$250, jhm y pipe ~$600. So you're at 850 already. You could spend as much as $500 more in the downpipe back. Just depends what you're going for. For my money, If I were just going for more power, I'd grab a used s4 exhaust and call it a day. There's plenty of sound clips around if you wanted to hear that.

Note: those prices were rough numbers and not exact.


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[impulse]

Yeah that's the thing with exhaust; there's so many options. Just depends want you want to spend. HFC ~$250, jhm y pipe ~$600. So you're at 850 already. You could spend as much as $500 more in the downpipe back. Just depends what you're going for. For my money, If I were just going for more power, I'd grab a used s4 exhaust and call it a day. There's plenty of sound clips around if you wanted to hear that.

Note: those prices were rough numbers and not exact.


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I got the Dp for $375, need a HFC and the s4 exhaust I went to buy just now sold last night and it was local! Only 25 min away... Now I need to find another *le sigh*


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[vce1232000]

How do you get rid of the CEL if your gut your cat?

Either a O2 spacer or a tune

[trj]

I personally would not run a test pipe. The smell would drive me nuts and the person behind me. Whenever I am driving behind someone with a test pipe, I have to put HVAC to re-circ. Be considerate to other people too ;)
If I were to do anything on the exhaust, I would just get a downpipe and whatever exhaust you want. Or get HFC and switch stock cat back every two years when it comes time for emission.

PS: Test pipe is not an option here in CO. You fail the emissions for sure. Many fail even with HFCs.

[vce1232000]

Gutting your cat is a messy, time consuming chore. You also loose the ability to bring the old cat to a salvage yard for $$. Add the wasted time and it will cost you just as much or more than what a high flow cat costs.

Depends on your skillz are or . Ive gutted these out in 10 minutes with the rite power tools. Salvage yards will pay you about $50.00 for them now with the $$$$ of scrap at a all time . Compared that to a cost of a generic test tip on E Bay you win with just a little labor in gutting. High Flow Cat even a used O34 is about $250.00 & Ive seen on classified. From what I read HFC fail the sniffer test in a few years anyway. I run a test pipe. My belief is that HFC are for pussies anyway that are afraid to .......lol

[vce1232000]

The smell would drive me nuts and the person behind me. Whenever I am driving behind someone with a test pipe, Be considerate to other people too ;)

It to be the person behind me. But that life. If he doesnt like he can eat ...........lol

[trj]

It to be the person behind me. But that life. If he doesnt like he can eat ...........lol

Lol. Thats the exact reason I am against test pipe. It would be cheap for me but not the person behind me. I don't give a shit for environment, heck, I love older V12s. But I have a friend with asthma and I have seen his face go red because of the exhaust fumes from test pipe or cars running rich. Although he is a very close friend, he respects another person's property and doesn't touch the radio or HVAC control. He tries to tough it out, but I can definitely see him struggling. Hence, my default reaction is to reach for re-circ button when I smell fumes, whether he is in the car or not. Its all fun and games till you are at the receiving end. Thankfully, I don't have asthma. Till then, drive on.

[vce1232000]

Lol. Thats the exact reason I am against test pipe. It would be cheap for me but not the person behind me. I don't give a shit for environment, heck, I love older V12s. But I have a friend with asthma and I have seen his face go red because of the exhaust fumes from test pipe or cars running rich. Although he is a very close friend, he respects another person's property and doesn't touch the radio or HVAC control. He tries to tough it out, but I can definitely see him struggling. Hence, my default reaction is to reach for re-circ button when I smell fumes, whether he is in the car or not. Its all fun and games till you are at the receiving end. Thankfully, I don't have asthma. Till then, drive on.

Funny part is I was on the receiving end of my own fumes one day. I was stuck in traffic with all my windows down(Nice day) and a slightly breezy day. Next thing I know I was feeling . I got carbon monoxide poison from my own car.......lol

[vwblackb5]

Funny part is I was on the receiving end of my own fumes one day. I was stuck in traffic with all my windows down(Nice day) and a slightly breezy day. Next thing I know I was feeling . I got carbon monoxide poison from my own car.......lol

haha your nose gets used to the smell.... as far as people behind you, it's the best tail-gate deterrent. Love seeing people peel off and drop 5 car lengths when you get on it

[AJacksA4]

AJacks where did u go get urs done at?

I go back and forth between the south bay and Marin. I got mine done at San Rafael Smog, its a bit of a drive but it may be worth it if you're having trouble

[Dat Black Kid]

You could cut your old cat up and weld the pieces around the test pipe to make it look like the OEM cat

Hahaha, same thing I was thinking. They'll never know.

You all have it quite easy.......compared to Japan!

[Fburg A4]

My car failed during a visual inspection for not having a cat. I put on a high flow and it passed. Now I have to put it on once a year just for the state inspection. I've got it down to under an hour to swap it out so it isn't such a big deal. Not sure what the going rate is on a used OEM cat, but you might want to look into that before gutting it