VW fallout: cat/exhaust mods & tailpipe emissions

General Discussion
#1

“Remote sensing devices on the roadside can measure emissions as a vehicle passes by, without impeding traffic flow, often without the driver or vehicle knowing they have been tested, and without the vehicle owner waiting in line at an inspection station.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/opinion/test-emissions-where-cars-pollute-on-the-road.html?_r=0

I’m considering going with piggies & relocated O2s, maybe hi-flow cats, with my 5.2FSI, but fallout VW scandal has me wondering if they are going to up the ante on emissions - particularly in CA. I’ve read that an ECU tune will keep the CEL off and pass a simple OBD scan - which is enough for most tests.

But does anyone actually know what comes out of the tailpipe when you do something like this? Are we talking 5-40x more bleech - like the diesel mods?

#2

I m a little confused by your question, so I will try and answer it as I understand it. Its not an issue of keeping the cel off, the tune has to code out the readiness monitors for you to pass, at least in california. The loss of an OEM epa approved three way cat will increase HC, CO and Nox, to what degree will depends on the running condition of the car and the “race” cat that you chose to put on. I have tested cars that without a cat, ran very clean (still not clean enough to pass without a twc) and I have also tested cars with the manufactures cat in place, ran so dirty that you thought that there was no cat at all.

#3

Mixofia, are you in cali? I ask because as much as any inspection state I know, many shops in cali will fail the test based on visual mods alone, eg “race cats” regardless of whats being emitted. It is no joke there and they are as stringent and thorough as it gets. That said, always ways around stuff. Just takes research and at times $$$

#4

No, not at the moment, but someday I hope to return.

I’m overseas now in BG and my 5.2 v10 is coming out this week to replace all seals, get intake spacers, do some pre-emptive maintenance, and get a full carbon clean. But I might have a problem with a clogged pre-cat and the idea has crossed my mind to go the piggie route with a JHM tune. This would avoid any future engine-out repairs if I have an issue with the O2 sensors - plus I’d get a cooler engine bay and a little more oomph.

But I have mixed feelings about the possible impact on emissions. At the very least, I need it to pass inspection if I every brought it back to CA. I’m not dying for the extra power - but the prospect of avoiding another engine-out repair issue is pretty appealing.

#5

BTW, I used to have a B5S4 2.7T with piggies (plus AWE stage 3 kit) and it passed CA inspection. But I would always get a whiff of fuel out the tailpipe on a cold start.

#6

Piggies will pass most of time with relocated o2 sensors. The visual is really what will get you. From what I know, CA was moving away from actual sniffer and all obd2 “star” test facilities. Just check CARB website and verify existing test procedures

#7

Any 1996 car or newer only is tested through the obd port in california, to check monitor readiness as well the visual inspection. You are now allowed 1 incomplete monitor and it can ONLY be the Evap, this changed as of May 4, 2015, which prior, you could have 2 incomplete and it didn’t matter which ones. 1975-1995 is the only cars required to be sniffer tested and as soon as Bureau of Automotive repair stops supporting the OS for the Bar 97 (sniffer machine) then we will see the 1975-1995 cars relieved of smog requirements, though it could be another 3-5 years before that happens.

#8

^That way of testing makes sense to me. A lot of the 1995-1997 cars were not fully OBD2 complient.

#9

Also in many jurisdictions cars 20 or 25 years and older are considered classics and are exempt from emissions testing altogether. Shockingly, that includes 95 or 90 and earlier now. Those hardly seem like classics lol

#10

Shhhh!

My 91 BMW will be emissions exempt on 1/1/2016. Which is a good thing because the last time that I got it tested it was over three times the legal limit for hydrocarbons. It can really hard to get 20+ year old cars through emissions testing, especially when they run a little rich.

#11

If they are not completely compliant, the car will be sniffer tested, but BAR promises that those 1996-1999 cars will be picked up by the new OIS system when all of the features are unlocked.

#12

Register your car in Florida and never again worry about passing inspections… Or in NYC and just buy the stickers for $30 on any dismantle shop. There is ways around everything. Lol

#13

Florida makes you pay a fee based on the value of your car when you register your car there. Then the insurance costs are drastically high if the car is registered in FL then where I live because of all the uninsured motorists in FL. I looked into this because my parents own property in FL and it was cheaper for me to keep my vehicles registered where I live overall with two year tags/registration, emissions/safety tests, insurance, and yearly personal property taxes.