Test Pipe, Good Idea, Bad idea?
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From: So Cal
Test Pipe, Good Idea, Bad idea?
I have built a full exhaust sytem for my car nad was wondering what kind of proformance boost I can expect? Also am I going to throw any codes because i don't have a cat anymore? Is my car going to go into limp mode?
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Re: (4cylinder)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4cylinder »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if ur runing obd2 they yes it will throw a code
but u can just install an o2 simulator
obd1 and under u will be fine</TD></TR></TABLE>
correct, but i would highly suggest NOT doing the test pipe idea. for awhile i wanted to do this too, but a buddy knocked some sense in me.
sure you may end up gaining upwards of 15hp (its all relative to your output before the cat is removed) but is that hp youre gonna gain worth all of the following???
1- smelly *** exhaust
2- shitty sounding exhaust
3- harassment from the cops
4- huge fines for it (in my area its around a grand, and of coarse, then youre required to go fix and it and prove you got a cat installed. cats are expensive as **** to buy new.
IMO - not even CLOSE to worth it (unless its not gonna see the streets ever)
but u can just install an o2 simulator
obd1 and under u will be fine</TD></TR></TABLE>
correct, but i would highly suggest NOT doing the test pipe idea. for awhile i wanted to do this too, but a buddy knocked some sense in me.
sure you may end up gaining upwards of 15hp (its all relative to your output before the cat is removed) but is that hp youre gonna gain worth all of the following???
1- smelly *** exhaust
2- shitty sounding exhaust
3- harassment from the cops
4- huge fines for it (in my area its around a grand, and of coarse, then youre required to go fix and it and prove you got a cat installed. cats are expensive as **** to buy new.
IMO - not even CLOSE to worth it (unless its not gonna see the streets ever)
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Tallahassee, FL, USA
Re: (EK22snatch)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EK22snatch »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
1- smelly *** exhaust
2- shitty sounding exhaust
3- harassment from the cops
4- huge fines for it (in my area its around a grand, and of coarse, then youre required to go fix and it and prove you got a cat installed. cats are expensive as **** to buy new.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Allow me to play devil's advocate for a second...
1. how in the world is the exhaust "smellier"? and how exactly is "smellyness" guaged? so catalytic converters reduce smells?
2. so every exhaust made before catalytic converters were invented sounded "shitty"??? ahem* muscle cars *ahem
3. harassment? only during 1st gear takeoffs and hard shifting could cops maybe tell that you have a test pipe. even then it the point is negligible..
4. no restrictions in my state.. FL
I must say that test pipes do pollute more, but how much more? nobody knows. I would guess maybe 2% of car owners modify their cars, and maybe 2% of those people use test pipes... so who really cares?
imho
1- smelly *** exhaust
2- shitty sounding exhaust
3- harassment from the cops
4- huge fines for it (in my area its around a grand, and of coarse, then youre required to go fix and it and prove you got a cat installed. cats are expensive as **** to buy new.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Allow me to play devil's advocate for a second...
1. how in the world is the exhaust "smellier"? and how exactly is "smellyness" guaged? so catalytic converters reduce smells?
2. so every exhaust made before catalytic converters were invented sounded "shitty"??? ahem* muscle cars *ahem
3. harassment? only during 1st gear takeoffs and hard shifting could cops maybe tell that you have a test pipe. even then it the point is negligible..
4. no restrictions in my state.. FL
I must say that test pipes do pollute more, but how much more? nobody knows. I would guess maybe 2% of car owners modify their cars, and maybe 2% of those people use test pipes... so who really cares?
imho
Ill just let you know from a person who had one before instead of guessing. I have to agree with EK22snatch.
I had it on my 95 gsr with headers and a stock exhaust.
1. Sounded super loud and crazy ricey in vtec, almost like i was riding in a motorcycle on stock exhaust!!!!
2. I couldnt park my car in the garage because it would reak so bad. At stop lights, I had to roll up windows becuase the passengers were getting dizzy from fumes.
3. It was a near stock GSR and I didnt feel a damn gain at all!! maybe 1hp but its worthless
4. Cops, well in chicago no one checks so I cant say that but the fine is $2000 if found. So if a shop wants to play "Im an ******* with you", then you are screwed.
5. Used cats, new ones, or aftermarket are expensive, trust me I know we sell them.
Eddie
I had it on my 95 gsr with headers and a stock exhaust.
1. Sounded super loud and crazy ricey in vtec, almost like i was riding in a motorcycle on stock exhaust!!!!
2. I couldnt park my car in the garage because it would reak so bad. At stop lights, I had to roll up windows becuase the passengers were getting dizzy from fumes.
3. It was a near stock GSR and I didnt feel a damn gain at all!! maybe 1hp but its worthless
4. Cops, well in chicago no one checks so I cant say that but the fine is $2000 if found. So if a shop wants to play "Im an ******* with you", then you are screwed.
5. Used cats, new ones, or aftermarket are expensive, trust me I know we sell them.
Eddie
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Darth ModerVader
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From: Mustafar
Re: (Greenery18)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Greenery18 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Allow me to play devil's advocate for a second...
<FONT COLOR="red">OK, I'll play Devil's opponent.</FONT>
1. how in the world is the exhaust "smellier"? and how exactly is "smellyness" guaged? so catalytic converters reduce smells?
<FONT COLOR="red">Have you ever been in or around a car running a test pipe? There's no denying that the exhaust "smell" is different and much stronger. Ask anyone who runs a test pipe, and they'll almost certainly mention the smell. This isn't opinion, it's simply a consequence of not running a cat. </FONT>
2. so every exhaust made before catalytic converters were invented sounded "shitty"??? ahem* muscle cars *ahem
<FONT COLOR="red">You're comparing apples to oranges a bit. Again, survey people who run a test pipe on their Honda or Acura, and the majority of them will note an increased "raspiness" to the exhaust tone, which many people don't necessarily like.</FONT>
3. harassment? only during 1st gear takeoffs and hard shifting could cops maybe tell that you have a test pipe. even then it the point is negligible..
<FONT COLOR="red">I agree to a certain extent here. It would most likely be difficult for police to determine that you're running a test pipe, although if they do happen to somehow notice the smell, it might tip them off.</FONT>
4. no restrictions in my state.. FL
<FONT COLOR="red">Florida doesn't have emissions testing as part of its motor vehicle inspection process (though I still not certain why that is), but that doesn't mean it is legal for FL residents to run test pipes. The requirement of a functioning cat is a federal one, and removing the cat on a street car can result in a substantial federal penalty, regardless of the state in which you live.</FONT>
I must say that test pipes do pollute more, but how much more? nobody knows. I would guess maybe 2% of car owners modify their cars, and maybe 2% of those people use test pipes... so who really cares?
<FONT COLOR="red">While the percentage of people running modern cars without catalytic converters is probably not very large, those people are still obviously impacting the environment. Cats do significantly cut down on pollution, and if you can achieve basically the same performance benefits of a test pipe by instead running a high-flow cat, and at the same time avoid all of the negative aspects of a test pipe, why not run the cat instead? </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
Modified by Padawan at 11:20 PM 9/12/2004
Allow me to play devil's advocate for a second...
<FONT COLOR="red">OK, I'll play Devil's opponent.</FONT>
1. how in the world is the exhaust "smellier"? and how exactly is "smellyness" guaged? so catalytic converters reduce smells?
<FONT COLOR="red">Have you ever been in or around a car running a test pipe? There's no denying that the exhaust "smell" is different and much stronger. Ask anyone who runs a test pipe, and they'll almost certainly mention the smell. This isn't opinion, it's simply a consequence of not running a cat. </FONT>
2. so every exhaust made before catalytic converters were invented sounded "shitty"??? ahem* muscle cars *ahem
<FONT COLOR="red">You're comparing apples to oranges a bit. Again, survey people who run a test pipe on their Honda or Acura, and the majority of them will note an increased "raspiness" to the exhaust tone, which many people don't necessarily like.</FONT>
3. harassment? only during 1st gear takeoffs and hard shifting could cops maybe tell that you have a test pipe. even then it the point is negligible..
<FONT COLOR="red">I agree to a certain extent here. It would most likely be difficult for police to determine that you're running a test pipe, although if they do happen to somehow notice the smell, it might tip them off.</FONT>
4. no restrictions in my state.. FL
<FONT COLOR="red">Florida doesn't have emissions testing as part of its motor vehicle inspection process (though I still not certain why that is), but that doesn't mean it is legal for FL residents to run test pipes. The requirement of a functioning cat is a federal one, and removing the cat on a street car can result in a substantial federal penalty, regardless of the state in which you live.</FONT>
I must say that test pipes do pollute more, but how much more? nobody knows. I would guess maybe 2% of car owners modify their cars, and maybe 2% of those people use test pipes... so who really cares?
<FONT COLOR="red">While the percentage of people running modern cars without catalytic converters is probably not very large, those people are still obviously impacting the environment. Cats do significantly cut down on pollution, and if you can achieve basically the same performance benefits of a test pipe by instead running a high-flow cat, and at the same time avoid all of the negative aspects of a test pipe, why not run the cat instead? </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
Modified by Padawan at 11:20 PM 9/12/2004
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4
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From: Loveland, OH, United States
Re: (Padawan)
"Have you ever been in or around a car running a test pipe? There's no denying that the exhaust "smell" is different and much stronger. Ask anyone who runs a test pipe, and they'll almost certainly mention the smell. This isn't opinion, it's simply a consequence of not running a cat. "
Not true at all, Ive got a DC 4-2-1 header through a magnaflow test pipe and a full magnaflow exhaust. there is no difference in smell at all! even my apexi exhaust didnt have a smell difference.
"You're comparing apples to oranges a bit. Again, survey people who run a test pipe on their Honda or Acura, and the majority of them will note an increased "raspiness" to the exhaust tone, which many people don't necessarily like."
yah its got a raspy sound but you can avoid it with ease. you dont need to tromp the gas every second
"I agree to a certain extent here. It would most likely be difficult for police to determine that you're running a test pipe, although if they do happen to somehow notice the smell, it might tip them off."
1st gear can be unbelieveable loud but like stated before u can avoid it. and no smell difference yet
theres my 2cents and im running a test pipe, the only smell i get is the grease from my boot leaking onto my exhaust so have all your buddies check leaks
Not true at all, Ive got a DC 4-2-1 header through a magnaflow test pipe and a full magnaflow exhaust. there is no difference in smell at all! even my apexi exhaust didnt have a smell difference.
"You're comparing apples to oranges a bit. Again, survey people who run a test pipe on their Honda or Acura, and the majority of them will note an increased "raspiness" to the exhaust tone, which many people don't necessarily like."
yah its got a raspy sound but you can avoid it with ease. you dont need to tromp the gas every second
"I agree to a certain extent here. It would most likely be difficult for police to determine that you're running a test pipe, although if they do happen to somehow notice the smell, it might tip them off."
1st gear can be unbelieveable loud but like stated before u can avoid it. and no smell difference yet
theres my 2cents and im running a test pipe, the only smell i get is the grease from my boot leaking onto my exhaust so have all your buddies check leaks
Darth ModerVader
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,539
Likes: 1
From: Mustafar
Re: (Listerman)
What is a Magnaflow test pipe? And why would your choice of cat-back alter the smell of your exhaust?
You can argue against the smell and raspiness issues all you want, but the simple fact is that a thorough search here on H-T will yield literally hundreds of assorted posts confirming both of these problems in one way or another. Again, this isn't one person's opinion, these are well-documented effects of running a test pipe.
Modified by Padawan at 4:40 PM 9/14/2004
You can argue against the smell and raspiness issues all you want, but the simple fact is that a thorough search here on H-T will yield literally hundreds of assorted posts confirming both of these problems in one way or another. Again, this isn't one person's opinion, these are well-documented effects of running a test pipe.
Modified by Padawan at 4:40 PM 9/14/2004
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