New member here. So I have been considering doing the whole down/mid pipe replacement. Has anyone here done this in CA and gotten away with passing the smog checks without the cats??

I do know there are tricks like running high ethanol content gas just long enough to get the smog test passed but really don't want to resort to that.

 

OK, I guess no one has tried both Cats removed. How about just the downpipe as that seems to be the best bang for the buck anyway??

 

contact Paul (i think) over at SE Motors. He has a cat delete on his acura. I never asked if he could passed smog, though I meant to.

 

you won't pass the visual even if you find a way to pass the sniffer.

The solution is passing with cats, then going catless for 2 years till your next smog check.

...lather, rinse, and repeat

 

Greaaaat. Having never tried to mod a catatytic converter, I did not want to tin afoul of yhr air quality nazi's. Thanks for the info.

 

Beyond not passing the visual. If you get caught on the street they will tow your car.

Depending on where you live, the cops can be very savvy about emissions evasion. (your car will smell noticeably, so even running hollowed out cats you can get busted on the street)

I know in the sacramento area they have mobile checkpoints for smog, complete with sniff test. The police will take pictures of your cars engine and exhaust if your car looks moded at all so even if you get your car out of impound and swap the factory stuff back in they will still be able to get you in court.

Good luck, but for a daily driver in Cali, it's not worth running no cats. IMHO

 

Thanks folks, that ices it. I'll stick to the re-flash and maybe a cat back at some point.

 

:What:

 

Can't type on my itty bitty phone keypad. I do not want to run afoul of the air quality Nazi's!!

 

If im not mistaken it is a $2,500 fine if you get caught in Cali. Tampering with emission control devices. They take it very seriously.

 

I' m sure you are right, and there is actually good reason. Although we rarely get smog alerts anymore, LA
Still has the worst air quality of any big cities. I do wonder about all the loud pickups which are so common here!? Are they all in compliance?