FI and smog testing

[Bartly]

So I had asked this question in another thread, but now see there might be more to it. I live in NV and we have smog testing that involves the car getting hooked up via the OBDII connector with no sniffer testing. In a recent thread gong on on headers/long tubes/cats and emissions, I see mention of this type of testing only checking for a functional 2nd O2 sensor and readiness verification. My state (as far as I know) doesn't require CARB certification. Does that mean that any of the superchargers/ turbos can be installed and allow me to pass my emissions testing? Do the available tunes allow the downstream O2 sensor to remain on? I was heading towards the Whipple because of the CARB certification, but after seeing that other thread it got me thinking that I might have more options. Anyone with similar testing in their state know if the other superchargers and turbos pass the required OBDII testing? I will be keeping my factory cats, so guessing I am good there, unless FI doesn't play well with factory cats?

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[jasonstang]

I think in order to have the downstream to remain on in the ECU without throwing CEL, you either have to have a CAT or some kind of adapter with cat material in it to trick the ECU.

 

[Obsessed]

After I failed emission with a tune and intake on my 2011 GT (OBDII only in NH), I have been seeking a clear answer on if a supercharger will pass emissions if it doesn't have an EO#. After literally years of searching I find that you will never get a straight answer and without an EO# there are no guarantees you will pass. Many will tell you that you will pass (like my previous tuner for the 2011), but buyer beware.

I'd like to have the VMP stage 3 kit, and Beefcake Paxton Special as supercharger options, other than whipple, but they don't have EO#'s.

I've also created a thread where I asked people with tuner kits if they were able to pass emissions. Got no answers. Instead everyone just kept recommending whipple :frusty:. I like whipple but my only hang up is the seeming lower 1/4 mile times and possibly the cost.

Another alternative I am considering would be an emission legal kit with an aftermarket tune so you can switch back to the emissions tune for testing. However there are a few problems with this too...You are power limited unless you want to switch injectors and pulley along with your tune to pass every year. Also, besides the whipple tuner, I don't know if the tuning devices (Ngauge or SCT) will store the stock tunes like they did with my 2011 GT. I've heard you can only switch back to the presupercharger factory tune, not the supercharger kits out of the box tune. Finally, you have to pay more for the complete kit.

 

[Bartly]

I think in order to have the downstream to remain on in the ECU without throwing CEL, you either have to have a CAT or some kind of adapter with cat material in it to trick the ECU.

I'm keeping my factory cats installed, so I'm covered there.

 

[Bartly]

After I failed emission with a tune and intake on my 2011 GT (OBDII only in NH), I have been seeking a clear answer on if a supercharger will pass emissions if it doesn't have an EO#. After literally years of searching I find that you will never get a straight answer and without an EO# there are no guarantees you will pass. Many will tell you that you will pass (like my previous tuner for the 2011), but buyer beware.

I'd like to have the VMP stage 3 kit, and Beefcake Paxton Special as supercharger options, other than whipple, but they don't have EO#'s.

I've also created a thread where I asked people with tuner kits if they were able to pass emissions. Got no answers. Instead everyone just kept recommending whipple :frusty:. I like whipple but my only hang up is the seeming lower 1/4 mile times and possibly the cost.

Another alternative I am considering would be an emission legal kit with an aftermarket tune so you can switch back to the emissions tune for testing. However there are a few problems with this too...You are power limited unless you want to switch injectors and pulley along with your tune to pass every year. Also, besides the whipple tuner, I don't know if the tuning devices (Ngauge or SCT) will store the stock tunes like they did with my 2011 GT. I've heard you can only switch back to the presupercharger factory tune, not the supercharger kits out of the box tune. Finally, you have to pay more for the complete kit.

Damn, sounds more convoluted than I expected. I just was hoping since cars come from the factory with superchargers/turbos that the OBDII testing machines wouldn't care. Also thought since my factory cats will be installed the tune would just leave all the emissions stuff alone and allow us to pass. Sucks being so new to all this. Thanks a lot for all your comments, guess it's going to be a while before I figure out what I'm going to do.

 

[Obsessed]

Damn, sounds more convoluted than I expected. I just was hoping since cars come from the factory with superchargers/turbos that the OBDII testing machines wouldn't care. Also thought since my factory cats will be installed the tune would just leave all the emissions stuff alone and allow us to pass. Sucks being so new to all this. Thanks a lot for all your comments, guess it's going to be a while before I figure out what I'm going to do.

Tuning changes a lot of perameters. I think the most important for emissions are the rediness monitors. If the tuner changes these you might fail. Im not saying you will fail but no gaurentees. Saw amthread a while back with a member that couldnt pass with his tuner procharger kit. Had to switch everything back to the base kit configurations to pass.

 

[RipShift2015]

Ask your tuner for a tune that will pass so you can swap it in and drive it around till you get your readiness monitors GREEN.
I had to do this and Lund sent a tune to pass the OBD. Also, if you happen to of gotten the complete kit from Procharger the tune from them should also pass for readiness.

 

[Obsessed]

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48650

 

[Bartly]

Thanks again for the replies guys, and that link, definitely looks like it can't be a rash decision for me to do anything FI. So it got me thinking, I've been told the Whipple is 50 state approved and CARB approved? I would guess this means people in CA are installing it and passing smog. I believe they have the same OBDII readiness testing that I have to go through. If this is true you would think any of the superchargers and tuners could do the same? I can't believe Whipple has anything magical in their tune, not that it didn't take them time to develop and make solid, but would think if they can do it, why can't others? Course I haven't read of anyone really even passing with even a Whipple, but I haven't read up on it much either. Anyway, appreciate any info others/vendors can supply. Course it does have a positive, maybe I won't be spending 8k$ on my car.

 

[Obsessed]

Any supercharger with CARB certification and EO # will be good to pass emissions. Everything else is a gamble.

 

[Bartly]

Any supercharger with CARB certification and EO # will be good to pass emissions. Everything else is a gamble.

I should have asked this earlier, what's a EO#?

Also, can someone let me know if I'm understanding CARB, isn't that some sort of California only thing that just says whether a part can be installed on a car in CA?

 

[Obsessed]

Its the exutive order number given to aftermarket parts certifying california's air reasource board (CARB) has approved it.

 

[Obsessed]

You can also look for 50 state legal like with this link

http://www.lethalperformance.com/sh...ystem-w-novi-2200sl-air-air-cooler-satin.html

However, not sure if just because its 50 state legal means it will pass emissions or if its just legal to have on your car (maybe im over thinking that one).

 

[Bartly]

You can also look for 50 state legal like with this link

http://www.lethalperformance.com/sh...ystem-w-novi-2200sl-air-air-cooler-satin.html

However, not sure if just because its 50 state legal means it will pass emissions or if its just legal to have on your car (maybe im over thinking that one).

Thanks for the info on the EO#, makes sense. Also thanks for that link on the Paxton unit, definately sounds like it fits the bill. Got me all sidetracked last night. I live in Reno NV at an elevation of 3800ft, found all kinds of postings about guys up near Denver not getting all that much boost out of their superchargers because of elevation and air density. Pretty much got me all side tracked on reading about turbos. Now they seem like they all are just coming out and nobody really has much of anything to say on them when it comes to passing emissions. But hopefully they start to support us guys in smog states too. Again, thanks for all the info.

 

[Obsessed]

Thanks for the info on the EO#, makes sense. Also thanks for that link on the Paxton unit, definately sounds like it fits the bill. Got me all sidetracked last night. I live in Reno NV at an elevation of 3800ft, found all kinds of postings about guys up near Denver not getting all that much boost out of their superchargers because of elevation and air density. Pretty much got me all side tracked on reading about turbos. Now they seem like they all are just coming out and nobody really has much of anything to say on them when it comes to passing emissions. But hopefully they start to support us guys in smog states too. Again, thanks for all the info.

NP. Never seen a 50 state legal turbo kit. I'd be interested in one of those too but just can't take that kind of risk with 7 grand +/-. Read something the other day that at 5000' you lose 1-2lbs of boost.

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