I just have a quick question..I've searched all the y-pipe information that is on this site and I can't find if the Y-pipes are emmissions legal..I want to get one, but if they aren't I don't think I will get it. Does anyone know??

 

No.

However, that's not to say you can't warm up the car and pass an emissions test. The y-pipe eliminates the pre-cats, which clean up the car's emissions significantly when the engine is cold or just started. If you drive the car for a half hour or so before your emissions test, you shouldn't have a problem passing the test. However, the car will fail a visual exam if the tech knows what to look for.


btw... Florida has no emissions testing.

 

Well our inspection people never look under the car they just put the thing up to the muffler and test it..

 

Pa don't have the test either.

 

NO, but hey most states either dont check for emissions legal parts anyway, they as a previous poster said ...put the thing up to the muffler and test it. I know Alabama doesn't test emissions actually law wise Alabama doesn't check anything!

 

Then as long as you warm up the car, you should pass without a problem.

 

just make sure you have a working main cat

 

Yeah good idea, I guess I dont have one...... Hehehe

Dixit

 

Actually, it is a Federal crime, mandated by the Clean Air Act of 1970! It's pretty clear what the law is on this. Sure, you may pass emissions, but if an inspector has a wild air up his ***, he could have yours on a platter!!!

Read TheClean Air Act of 1970, Section 203 (a-3A)

Read What the penalty could be for not following Section 203 (a-3A)

Read the entire Clean Air Act of 1970

So, mod at your own risk

 

Bling bling if they find out.

Thanks for the links FastCougar.

 

Why can't you make your own y-pipe and just use smaller pre-cats and larger tubing.

 

Just like me, took out my main cat, removed the stock ypipe, the only cat left now is the cali spec manifold precat and i think one more precat in the header. But holy crap, Hogan you right, smells like crap.

Dixit

 

That brings up a question, I know DesertPearl did the Cali-to-Fed spec conversion and noticed Zero gains in the HP but a few lbs on the torque. Now I was thinking since we still got 2more precats, you think that will do anything? Besides make it smell twice as bad as it is now?

Dixit

 

 

Yeah makes me wonder too now.

Dixit

 

Excuse my ignorance, but are the 3.0 and 3.5 precats/y-pipe similar? I ask because I don't own a Maxima, but I am strongly considering one. The Cougar has a similar setup, but the precats have a ball/socket flange at the end of the precats, so the Y-Pipe is independent of the exhaust manifold/pre-cat setup. Other than minimizing the chances of an exhaust leak, I can't see any reason why Nissan would make them a single unit.

 

Well a couple of the 2k2 owners already came to the conclusion that the Ypipe is not the same and also for them to change their Ypipes would show no gains. That is why Stillen is producing the Headers. Unfortunately they are probably gonng run in the $1000 range. Since the Acura CL/TL header made by computech are about $1200

Dixit

 

2k2 does not have precats

 

Let me preface this by saying that I have not yet read the entire Clean Air Act.

The Clean Air Act mostly refers to manufacturers...very few clauses refer to the individual. The one which applies directly to this situation would seem to be:

(3)(A) for any person to remove or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regulations under this title prior to its sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser, or for any person knowingly to remove or render inoperative any such device or element of design after such sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser; or
(B) for any person to manufacture or sell, or offer to sell, or install, any part or component intended for use with, or as part of, any motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine, where a principal effect of the part or component is to bypass, defeat, or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regulations under this title, and where the person knows or should know that such part or component is being offered for sale or installed for such use or put to such use

FastCouger, since I am guessing you have read through the entire act, is there a previous clause which outlines the use of "pre-cats" as being required to be in compliance with these regulations? The activity of removing the stock y-pipe can only be in violation of the CAA if the installation of such was part of Nissan's compliancy with the CAA. The primary cat is certainly required to meet the LEV requirements, but if the pre-cats only there to further reduce emissions and not to meet the requirements itself...you probably see where I'm going (or have been) by now.

 

Another question: If the pre-cats were installed with the conscious intention of meeting regulations, but aren't physically required to meet said regulations, does the CAA address that? So, although Nissan may have factory installed pre-cats to meet CAA regulations, if the vehicle can physically meet said regulations with the presence of the pre-cats, one could argue that the pre-cats were never governed by the CAA in the first place.

In other words, would removal of the pre-cats only be illegal if it caused your vehicle to fail an emissions test. Or...is the intention of the manufacturer covered in the CAA?

 

The law doesn't say a thing about a y-pipe.

You don't have to read the thread, my man...a moderator is always welcome to move this to off-topic as well.

 

Okay, so maybe it has gone to $hit, but the law doesn't say anything about pre-cats either, that's why I was going on, and on, and on about this. All it does is discuss equipment installed to meet the regulations of the CAA. If pre-cats are not part of meeting the CAA regulations, then removing them is not illegal...my point was that if removing them does not cause the car to fail emissions, then they were never required in the first place, within the boundaries of the CAA, and therefore our removing them is not illegal. I'm just trying to uncover a loophole, if there is one, in case a orgy member ever gets slapped with a $2500 fine for having a y-pipe installed.

Anyway...yo, I know its ok...so its all copasetic brothuh-man...just give me some breathing space here and let me be.

 

Why didn't anybody from Washington tell me this. I just moved out here and was just reading up on the DOT site for the State of Washington and noticed that I don't even need an emissions test until my car is five years old. So...in my case...nevermind.

 

So do you have to follow the state regulations for the state your car is registered in or what state you live in. I go to school in GA...but the car is registered in FL. I know with tint regulations and such I get to meet the FL laws....would it be the same with emissions laws...and therefore I don't have to meet any requirements? Thanks.

 

damn environmentalists *cough* always messing *cough* things *cough* up for the rest of us *cough* *sneeze* *fart*

 

I think you'd probably only be held to the FL regulations. The exception would be if the state of GA had a regulation stating that no vehicles can cross their state lines if in violation of emissions regulations. Highly unlikely, I'd think.

 

Guys,

I don't think it's the Clean Air Act of 1970 that you should really be worried about....I mean, ya, you need to consider it...

However, George W's dad signed a stricter Act in the late 80's/early 90's which made it a federal crime to modify "road" vehicles exhaust systems north of the cats. Notice I said "modify," not "service or maintain." I think that a Y pipe falls into the former.

Soooooo, any stickler of an inspector can zap you with just with a visual check, not just a smog check. Bottom line, get the skinny from others on which shop is amenable to that kind of thing.

 

The key thing about this act and the CAA is that it applies to businesses/manufacturers. It prevents muffler shops, dealers, etc. from doing the work, but does not apply to the individual. The Federal Government left that up to each state individually. Now, some states have simplified their lives by just adopting the Federal regulations to apply to individuals in their respective state...but not all of them. Its worth looking into if you really want to know if you can be nailed to the wall if caught.

 

If I was to get the y-pipe and RT cat to use with my Greddy EVO would that be ok to drive on highway or public roads or will it be too loud.

 

It is completely based on your state regulations. What state do you live in?

 

MN Minnesota

 

Also I think they don't do emission test in MN anymore.

 

well....is taking out 2 of ur precats emission legal?

no..it's not..in fact, on a Stillen y-pipe, it's etched on the pipe saying the pipe is for off-road use only..

 

The CAA which restricts the ability to remove or replace emissions equipment only applies to equipment installed to meet the requirements of the CAA. My comments are that, if the precats' removal does not cause you to violate emissions requirements in your state, then a case could be made that those precats were never part of the manufacturers required actions to meet the CAA in the first place and therefore not governed by it. Loophole, I believe, is the legal term for what I am looking for. Just in case anybody get's nailed. If nobody does emissions checks in your state, who cares. In my case, not for the first five years, so who cares.

Stillen's little plaque is just their way of protecting themselves from involvement in a legal matter, I'm sure. It says "intended for off-road use" right? They can't force you to use it off-road, but they can cite intended use and therefore not be held responsible for results of you using it in a way they did not intend.

 

u guys are earth killers!

 

I just found out that they don't test here in MN for emissions and that I could take out my cat but I was thinking of just getting y-pipe and keeping the cat. What do you think I should do?