How many of you guys have an ESS or any centrifugal supercharger in California or emissions state?

[Jnaszty559]

Wondering if you guys had any problems running this type of supercharger in California ? Thanks

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[sad_demon]

Nevada here. Emissions state - half & half issues.

Emissions related
ESS Centrifugal, fully tuned, with Kooks (green - EPA compliant) headers.

PRE- Nevada SB80 Never ever had any issues. Literally zero from 2011 to Nevada SB80

Post- Nevada SB-80 I was investigated by the Nevada DMV, forced to submit several vehicles to a emission & visual inspection via a party of their choosing. All cars passed. Passed again this year.

I have been stopped and had two of my vehicles inspected California style by NHP.


Everything is subjective.
However, there is a very clear up tick in vehicle enforcements as a whole going on.
You may get lucky and never have issues, you may get unlucky and have unheard of issues, you may fall in the middle.

 

[Jnaszty559]

Nevada here. Emissions state - half & half issues.

Emissions related
ESS Centrifugal, fully tuned, with Kooks (green - EPA compliant)

Everything is subjective.
However, there is a very clear up tick in vehicle enforcements as a whole going on.
You may get lucky and never have issues, you may get unlucky and have unheard of issues, you may fall in the middle.

Nevada here. Emissions state - half & half issues.

Emissions related
ESS Centrifugal, fully tuned, with Kooks (green - EPA compliant) headers.

PRE- Nevada SB80 Never ever had any issues. Literally zero from 2011 to Nevada SB80

Post- Nevada SB-80 I was investigated by the Nevada DMV, forced to submit several vehicles to a emission & visual inspection via a party of their choosing. All cars passed. Passed again this year.

I have been stopped and had two of my vehicles inspected California style by NHP.


Everything is subjective.
However, there is a very clear up tick in vehicle enforcements as a whole going on.
You may get lucky and never have issues, you may get unlucky and have unheard of issues, you may fall in the middle.

Nevada here. Emissions state - half & half issues.

Emissions related
ESS Centrifugal, fully tuned, with Kooks (green - EPA compliant) headers.

PRE- Nevada SB80 Never ever had any issues. Literally zero from 2011 to Nevada SB80

Post- Nevada SB-80 I was investigated by the Nevada DMV, forced to submit several vehicles to a emission & visual inspection via a party of their choosing. All cars passed. Passed again this year.

I have been stopped and had two of my vehicles inspected California style by NHP.


Everything is subjective.
However, there is a very clear up tick in vehicle enforcements as a whole going on.
You may get lucky and never have issues, you may get unlucky and have unheard of issues, you may fall in the middle.

Do you guys have CARB over there?

 

[sad_demon]

Do you guys have CARB over there?

No, CARB is California only ( California Air Resources Board ).

Nevada does however have SB80 in effect (as of summer 2025) - which pushes it closer to a similarity of California's stricter emissions and anti-tampering regulations. Nevada also sends out DMV investigators to investigate parties suspected of modifying (or "tampering") with their vehicles. This also has been having an impact on shops in Nevada as well. A lot is going on here right now.

 

[pinksurfer]

Nevada does however have SB80 in effect (as of summer 2025) - which pushes it closer to a similarity of California's stricter emissions and anti-tampering regulations. Nevada also sends out DMV investigators to investigate parties suspected of modifying (or "tampering") with their vehicles. This also has been having an impact on shops in Nevada as well. A lot is going on here right now.

you running factory cats or upgrades. I have an ess sitting in the spare bedroom just waiting until cooler weather this fall to install.

 

[sad_demon]

you running factory cats or upgrades. I have an ess sitting in the spare bedroom just waiting until cooler weather this fall to install.

Kooks Green

 

[Diegosuave]

Also interested in this. Any Arizona owners running an ESS or other centrifugal supercharger? Curious if you’ve had any issues with emissions testing, registration, or daily driving. Thanks!

 

[wingnutt]

Sadly, CARB approved is the only way to go nowadays on the left coast…

…however, the number of approved kits is 20 times what there used to be. If I was still there, I would honestly plan my car around the kits that are available.

Gone are the days of…greasing the palm of the tech, running awd so you didn’t have to smog dyno, gutting cats with a chisel and a drill bit, swapping ECU with a stock one to pass, or even saving all your factory stuff to pass smog every other year.

….the struggle was real

 

[sad_demon]

Sadly, CARB approved is the only way to go nowadays on the left coast…

…however, the number of approved kits is 20 times what there used to be. If I was still there, I would honestly plan my car around the kits that are available.

Gone are the days of…greasing the palm of the tech, running awd so you didn’t have to smog dyno, gutting cats with a chisel and a drill bit, swapping ECU with a stock one to pass, or even saving all your factory stuff to pass smog every other year.

….the struggle was real

Speaking from a Nevada standpoint as a result of dealing with the Nevada DMV (1x prolonged investigation), NHP (two pull over inspections), emissions and visual inspections I have been through.

It does not matter (to them) if the kit is CARB/EPA/etc approved, stamped, documented, etc. When (not if) they pull you or someone you know over (or come to your home in my case), they claim they have the right to inspect the vehicle(s), cite you, and start the process of "clearing" you via the attached systems i.e. DMV referral for review at a party of the states (Nevada) choosing etc. (Nevada SB80)

 

[Whitedevil95]

If you live in CA plan to not run an ESS. It sucks here. I had an ESS on my last mustang and loved it. I had that car registered in Montana, but the CHP is now purposely targeting any performance oriented car with out of state plates. I was over the state reffing which costs thousands and all the drama. So I parted that car and got this Mach 1 which has been fun. If/When I boost it, I will be getting a smog legal kit of some sort.

 

[Jnaszty559]

If you live in CA plan to not run an ESS. It sucks here. I had an ESS on my last mustang and loved it. I had that car registered in Montana, but the CHP is now purposely targeting any performance oriented car with out of state plates. I was over the state reffing which costs thousands and all the drama. So I parted that car and got this Mach 1 which has been fun. If/When I boost it, I will be getting a smog legal kit of some sort.

What kit do you plan to get ? I might just get a whipple then since I live in the same city as them.

 

[Whitedevil95]

What kit do you plan to get ? I might just get a whipple then since I live in the same city as them.

For me its between Procharger and Whipple. So far Whipple seems to have the edge. Everyone seems to say their supplied tune is better and safer.

 

[Zrussian13]

Also interested in this. Any Arizona owners running an ESS or other centrifugal supercharger? Curious if you’ve had any issues with emissions testing, registration, or daily driving. Thanks!

Arizona is easy. No cel or codes stored and all but 1 emissions monitors green. Ive passed with o2s not ready in my honda but all other monitors were good and there was no code. Mustang is a TT not centri but passes no problem.

 

[Pistol_91]

Just keep giving me reasons to never go to the gestapo state.

 

[Cpcloud]

You won't have issues running ESS unless you smog or, by luck- you get state reffed.

Best option is CARB (whipple or procharger) + tune. Just revert back to stock when its smog time.

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