california leagal fi system?
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield, Ca.
Originally Posted by potholesrbad
its more for keeping the cars that run like crap off the road rather than keeping the highly modded cars off the road
Wildman- from the consumers standpoint your post makes perfect sense.
The problem is that a car may pass smog check emissions test and still be a gross polluter.
Common example: long tube headers with relocated OEM catalytic convertor. At 15 and 25 MPH and operating temperature the emissions will be near identical to OEM. However, at start up the catalyst hasn't lit up yet and HC will be high. At higher RPM's the longtube headers will scavenge more and HC will be high. However, Smog Check doesnt test cold start up or high RPM operating conditions.
The car passes the sniffer test but may still fail fed/CA standards. So, the visual inspection plays a role in this case.
It does go overboard with things like you Lid experience.
Whats funny is that each time the CARB adds a restriction, something else gets worse. The latest is new data supporting the idea that catalytic convertors add to global warming. The good news is that without earlier legislation we wouldnt have the HP and driveablity associated with fuel injectors. The bottom line is that burning something is always dirty. No surprise there.
If the california tree huggers were really after you and me, they would set their sights on HPT/LS1Edit. However, you and I aren't even a blip on the radar..... yet.
The problem is that a car may pass smog check emissions test and still be a gross polluter.
Common example: long tube headers with relocated OEM catalytic convertor. At 15 and 25 MPH and operating temperature the emissions will be near identical to OEM. However, at start up the catalyst hasn't lit up yet and HC will be high. At higher RPM's the longtube headers will scavenge more and HC will be high. However, Smog Check doesnt test cold start up or high RPM operating conditions.
The car passes the sniffer test but may still fail fed/CA standards. So, the visual inspection plays a role in this case.
It does go overboard with things like you Lid experience.
Whats funny is that each time the CARB adds a restriction, something else gets worse. The latest is new data supporting the idea that catalytic convertors add to global warming. The good news is that without earlier legislation we wouldnt have the HP and driveablity associated with fuel injectors. The bottom line is that burning something is always dirty. No surprise there.
If the california tree huggers were really after you and me, they would set their sights on HPT/LS1Edit. However, you and I aren't even a blip on the radar..... yet.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield, Ca.
Now that is something I didn't know. But I did know moving and/or using after market cats and long tubes were illegal, but I didn't know why.
You know, in the end, if they revised the tests just to get the gross polluters, most of us wouldn't have a problem with that.
IMO California has a way of making an otherwise honest (legal) person do something illegal just to enjoy things that he/she likes. And that does not just go for cars.
Thanks for the clarification.
You know, in the end, if they revised the tests just to get the gross polluters, most of us wouldn't have a problem with that.
IMO California has a way of making an otherwise honest (legal) person do something illegal just to enjoy things that he/she likes. And that does not just go for cars.
Thanks for the clarification.
