EPA Emission Modification Guidelines for Motor Vehicles

[minux]

The attached goes into detail on what you can and cannot do regarding modifications that will alter emissions.

It is quite interesting to read some of the things you cannot do!!

I only have Victoria's guidelines at this point. EPA Vic have said that it is basically the same Australia wide with very minor changes. I have emailed the other states for fact sheets in pdf format to upload here when they arrive.


I know myself after reading some of the fines, i will be making a few changes!!

[f1tzy]

Wow. Thats a bit of an eye opener

[greenfoam]

Minux I thought you would have known those rules, tsk tsk I allways wondered why you kept saying all your mods were legal

[Wombat]

"Open element or pod type air cleaners on
carburetted vehicles are not permitted."
Bit of a surprise there...then again, how many new cars have those "carburettor" things...?

"Dry element pod type air cleaners are
permitted on EFI vehicles. Oiled, oil-soaked or
fluid-treated elements are not permitted."
Does this mean the good old super efficient K&N Filters are illegal?

I think that the basic message is "do anything different from how it left the factory, and get pulled over by the wrong cop or inspector, and you can bend over while we have our way with you, using Deep Heat and beach sand as a lubricant".

It is interesting to note that when you fit a current engine into an old car, you have to meet the engines anti-pollution requirements, not the things that were needed when the actual car was made....so, say, a 1964 EH fitted with an Alloytec V6 (mmmmm....) would need to be fitted with all the emmissions gear, the proper vented fuel tank, and all associated plumbing between tank and engine gear...what fun....

[minux]

Minux I thought you would have known those rules, tsk tsk I allways wondered why you kept saying all your mods were legal

foamy, on past cars I have always had them engineered. The only time they could of got me was when I was running mafless.

The Senator is technically to look at ok, just the maf is not connected

[MaN|aC]

Intercoolers that are larger than standard or have a different mounting location or are added where none were orginally fitted, are permitted only if no changes to the intake system have been made. In other words, you may have a pod filter or modified/added intercooler, but not both. Any sensors intergral to the original intercooler or intake system must be retrofitted and be in the correct location.

With the raptor superchargers for the ecotec you can't use a standard air box because it doesn't fit. The raptor s/c kit is supplied with a pod filter ^as above^ you can not have a pod filter with an intercooler. Anyway a LS1 airbox can be fitted with a few customizations hopefully that should be alright.

Also my maf isn't connected either

[stocky]

With the raptor superchargers for the ecotec you can't use a standard air box because it doesn't fit. The raptor s/c kit is supplied with a pod filter ^as above^ you can not have a pod filter with an intercooler. Anyway a LS1 airbox can be fitted with a few customizations hopefully that should be alright.

Also my maf isn't connected either

id be more worried about getting screwed over for your supercharger before you worry about your pod filter.

[MaN|aC]

yeah true I still dont have a mod plate yet for the s/c and my exhaust is well over 90db

EPA will love me but it will be fixed up very very soon except the maf

[jules]

i like how you have to get ADR certification for fitting an aftermarket turbo/supercharger.

that should only cost $30k

[Emackulation]

Meh, its all a load of crap lol. Scare tactics.

[minux]

Meh, its all a load of crap lol. Scare tactics.

Actually with the hippie government we have it will get worse, there is whispers already about them bringing in emission testing stations in where random vehicles will have to go through them, much like truck weighbridge setups.

[BANKS]

Extra or larger fuel injectors are not permitted.

wtf.... whys that?

[jules]

Actually with the hippie government we have it will get worse, there is whispers already about them bringing in emission testing stations in where random vehicles will have to go through them, much like truck weighbridge setups.

i doubt that would happen. this was more important with older (carburetted) vehicles, but since the advent of OBD systems which partly do that job, it's not as necessary to check them in a shed anymore.

[jules]

wtf.... whys that?

the fuel trim has a corridor of adjustment, if you put much bigger injectors in, it can't lean off enough and it'll run rich.

why you would ever do that is another question entirely.

[BANKS]

the fuel trim has a corridor of adjustment, if you put much bigger injectors in, it can't lean off enough and it'll run rich.

why you would ever do that is another question entirely.

So what’s the point of bigger ones then? I thought bigger injectors had to be put in if you went aspirated?

[stocky]

the fuel trim has a corridor of adjustment, if you put much bigger injectors in, it can't lean off enough and it'll run rich.

why you would ever do that is another question entirely.

some people need bigger injectors? mine flow more than twice as much as a standard injector

[minux]

i doubt that would happen. this was more important with older (carburetted) vehicles, but since the advent of OBD systems which partly do that job, it's not as necessary to check them in a shed anymore.

Can only telling you what is being said across a few motor vehicle groups, government wants to stamp down on modifications, random emissions testing is one way to do it.

[jules]

Can only telling you what is being said across a few motor vehicle groups, government wants to stamp down on modifications, random emissions testing is one way to do it.

victoria had a detailed govt inquiry into it in 1999. it was concluded then not to implement such a scheme, as they didn't work well.

given that there are less and less old XB falcons belching out smoke, i'd find it very difficult to accept any argument that the scheme would be better today. it's just not needed.

[jules]

So what’s the point of bigger ones then? I thought bigger injectors had to be put in if you went aspirated?

bigger injectors work if you are flowing more air, but some people don't understand that and install them when they don't need them. in that case, they may cause the engine to run rich.

also i guess if you need bigger injectors, there's an indication you've modified the engine for significantly more power and it's probably out of compliance with ADR emissions regs., which is not allowed.

don't blame me, i'm just speculating on their logic

[Wombat]

wtf.... whys that?

Simple: they will only be there for one reason: to feed your engine more fuel than the original design called for, which will naturally increase the emissions. Naughty naughty.

By the way...what happened to that "drive by" emissions tester that I saw being tested in, I think, Victoria quite a few years back...? It was from California (of course) and was a little like a speed camera...it faced across the lane of traffic, and measured the air in front of and behind the car as it passed, and somehow analysed the air to see what the level of emissions was...any more than a certain amount, and your picture was snapped and out came a nice fine for you and a request to turn up for emissions testing and maybe further fines.

Won't be long...

[azkwazere]

Now eveyone can go around to the "Pod Vs. Panel" threads and change there answers...

Pods are legal... K&N Panels arnt... hahahah funny ****.

aZk.

[minux]

victoria had a detailed govt inquiry into it in 1999. it was concluded then not to implement such a scheme, as they didn't work well.

given that there are less and less old XB falcons belching out smoke, i'd find it very difficult to accept any argument that the scheme would be better today. it's just not needed.

That was 1999, before this whole global warming propganda crap.

this has nothing to do with cars blowing smoke, it is about lowering emissions across the board due to modified engines etc. Not sure why you keep referring to old smoky cars as being bad, a car with gutted cats and certain mods in a new car is worse for the environment than some old smoky XB Falcon.

Now eveyone can go around to the "Pod Vs. Panel" threads and change there answers...

Pods are legal... K&N Panels arnt... hahahah funny ****.

aZk.

Pods are an unsealed unit, so they are illegal too.

[greenfoam]

I suggest you all buy a HQ and run a 400 chev and 6-71 out the bonnet and smile at the epa testing man as you cruise on by

[immortality]

I suggest you all buy a HQ and run a 400 chev and 6-71 out the bonnet and smile at the epa testing man as you cruise on by

there will be a day when even older cars will be required to fit anti pollution equipment. i'm glad i'm in NZ, things aren't that tough here yet

[Dan355]

Ive done most of these mods to my SS and still passed emissions. Its illegal until proven otherwise hence emission/vehicle testing.