GL_WRX

how do you guys with catless up/downpipes pass smog test in Ca? I'm thinking about getting helix uppipe and downpipe soon and is concerned about the sniffing part of the smog test. will it help if i keep only the 3rd main cat? and i also heard that the uppipe cat helps cold start emission. so if i only get rid of the uppipe cat i can pass smog with engine fully warmed up? is there any up/downpipe combo setup that will pass smog in Ca or do i have to swap everything back to stock when smog is due? sorry for this long question but i couldnt find info about this issue on the internet. thanks.

AzN121184

iTrader: (17)

u can pass smog with a catless uppipe but u'll need the 2 cats in midpipe and downpipe.


i have heard of people passing with the stock 2 cats in dp but not with just 1

Daredevil

iTrader: (5)

it should pass with only up pipe replaced but it will not with any thing else taken out

helix takes care of all cats :devil:
i have helix up and down pipes, and love it, but i will have to swap out the turbo back in 2 years, but i think its worth it

GL_WRX

Daredevil: how's the sound and power gain from the helix combo? and is the gas smell from the missing cats obvious? i guess i'll just live with the fact that i need to swap parts when smog is due.

RussB

iTrader: (2)

your best bet would be to run a high flow cat right after the downpipe instead of the stock midpipe cat. as for smogging the car, remember that the car will most likely not be tested under load, but in neutral at around 2500 rpm (at least that's how it's done in Sacramento County for Subaru's) so emissions ought to be pretty low.

WindingRoad

iTrader: (15)

california law might change where awd cars may have to go to state refs to get smogged.

RussB

iTrader: (2)

that's discrimination

blaznasn

iTrader: (5)

why would we have to go to the state ref? they do pretty much the exact same thing as regular smog checks and they don't have awd dynos, I had to go to the ref a few months ago, all they did was a visual and a smog, cost the same as a regular smog check, and it took the same amount of time.

Wingless Wonder

iTrader: (7)

If the refs get AWD dynos it's because of gas-guzzling SUVs, not subies.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

RussB

iTrader: (2)

yeah, but then we'll get busted. :'(

DOHCammin

so I have HKS cat back/helix uppipe+downpipe.

If I change the downpipe back to stock, I should be gravy when smog time comes around right? Cali sucks for emissions!

onefasazn

iTrader: (3)

I have to admit that cali does suck on emissions, but if a tuner CAN make parts that adhere to the regs, they will pass in all states... that and you can have a fire-breathing, smog legal monster...

JAN

p.s. i saw a DP somewhere that keeps a hi-flow cat in there...lemme find it