OTR and Mafless illegal?!

[Thessman]

Hey. So I was about to book my car in for an OTR, mafless and exhaust system when the guy says to me that not only does the performance with an OTR and mafless vary in Victoria especially because of the ever changing weather but apparently they're illegal as well?! Does anyone know anything about any of this that could please help me out? He also said to prevent the variation you could do some head work cam. Any details or advice on anything would be greatly appreciated (including directions to take for heads and cam sizes etc).

[acarmody]

The weather?? WTF?

OK a drag strip result may vary if you have a run in 40 degree heat compared to a 5 degree night, but seriously?

[nathanVY]

Pod filters are illegal if they are unsecured... Don't think there's anything else?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Removing the MAF is tampering with the emissions system, so yes, it is illegal, unless it is factory like the Monaro.

[soop]

The dude you spoke to sounds like a muppet.

Yes they're illegal. No the performance doesn't vary. (not any more then usual anyway)

[COL3SY]

just get a maf tune and ori that still uses the maf sensor

[soop]

^^^
Kinda the point of a OTR is the increase airflow. Leaving the MAF in place kinda fly's in the opposite direction!

[COL3SY]

^^^
Kinda the point of a OTR is the increase airflow. Leaving the MAF in place kinda fly's in the opposite direction!

just giving him an idea if he was worried about it being iilegal

[acarmody]

Its pointless worrying about legalities with car modding. Basically anything you do is illegal. Cat-back exhaust, tunes, anything.

[DLFHUB666]

Its pointless worrying about legalities with car modding. Basically anything you do is illegal. Cat-back exhaust, tunes, anything.

Yep what he said.

[nathanVY]

Are tunes illegal too?

[acarmody]

Modding the factory computer in any way I believe is illegal.

[DLFHUB666]

pretty much anything that changes the car from stock is illegal without a engineers cert or EPA cert (if thats what they call it).

[krylothe]

As far as i know it is not illegal to tune the factory ecu or even use a piggyback system with an aftermarket ecu, but it is illegal to replace the stock ecu with an aftermarket one. And as to the legality of mods it more often then not comes down to the officer that pulls u over, some might let it slide, some are real nazi's about it and the rest are to stupid to tell the difference.

[Seanyy]

...And the rest are to stupid to tell the difference.

True that.
My mate was pulled over by the cops and accused of having his car too low, his music too high, his exhaust too loud and his engine too fast.
V6 VZ Calais (With stock suspension, and sound system at half-volume), 2.25" catback (only mod to the exhaust) and no engine mods.
Its like, as soon as you have a car with a Commy badge on the boot and a red P-plate on the window, you're doing something illegal.
And whatever it is you're doing illegal...they WILL...catch you... *dramatic end to sentence*

[undar8ed1]

reply to the topic, Yes life as a car enthusiast in this era, sucks!

[Darcon666]

Thessman... Our modern day cars are already @ the limit of the law/standards already and when the manufacturer tests their vehicles they are under absolute clinical conditions.

Just an example is ... that if the tyres(And this HAS been proven in independent scientific tests...) are 10psi less... it will change the amount fuel it uses and so exceed the emissions standards ===> ILLEGAL.

nathanVS... ALL tunes are illegal even stock ones that have not been modified by anyone

Put it this way people, our modern ECU/CPU/EMS are learning computers so lets say if a 02 sensor if not working properly it will change the tune to accommodate for the not work 02... and so will make the vehicle, if tested, illegal as it WILL fail the emissions test.

In the end it all depends what you are doing to attract the attention and the a' hole you come across at the time you get pulled over.

[ch1mp]

that's the best answer i've ever seen :-)

[Thessman]

Meh, if any mods are illegal then my car is already illegal. 18s and a vy shifter. I also thought there was a decibel limit on after market exhaust, rims can be 1" larger and wider and car can be lowered a certain amount of mm. I'm from Victoria and that's just what the Victorian police and Vic roads have told me...

Any one have suggestions on good cam shaft and head work combinations? I only wanted to know how illegal and if the performance did vary as much as he said. I'm gunna do it anyway after I performed some of my
Own research.

[Reaper]

just giving him an idea if he was worried about it being iilegal

The moment you change anything in the tune you are going to be breaking emissions laws. Relocating items like MAF sensors etc will also do the same. That said, there are thousands of cars with such modifications on the roads.

Reaper

[Reaper]

reply to the topic, Yes life as a car enthusiast in this era, sucks!

Depends on what floats your boat. Play with older stuff that had less stringent ADR's and you can have a ball

Thessman... Our modern day cars are already @ the limit of the law/standards already and when the manufacturer tests their vehicles they are under absolute clinical conditions.

Just an example is ... that if the tyres(And this HAS been proven in independent scientific tests...) are 10psi less... it will change the amount fuel it uses and so exceed the emissions standards ===> ILLEGAL.

Last I checked, there was no law or ADR that mandated fuel usage. Emission regs are more about the composition of exhaust gases etc and are limited by parts per million (or similar).

nathanVS... ALL tunes are illegal even stock ones that have not been modified by anyone

Put it this way people, our modern ECU/CPU/EMS are learning computers so lets say if a 02 sensor if not working properly it will change the tune to accommodate for the not work 02... and so will make the vehicle, if tested, illegal as it WILL fail the emissions test.

Eh??? If your 02 sensor has failed then the car may not pass an emissions test and will be required to be repaired. That doesn't mean your stock tune is illegal what so ever.

Reaper

[COL3SY]

my maf sensor is still in the same place?

[Reaper]

Meh, if any mods are illegal then my car is already illegal. 18s and a vy shifter. I also thought there was a decibel limit on after market exhaust, rims can be 1" larger and wider and car can be lowered a certain amount of mm. I'm from Victoria and that's just what the Victorian police and Vic roads have told me...

Lol - betchya they didn't. Checkout http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rd...340/0/VSI8.pdf and more generally Vehicle standards information : VicRoads

Reaper

[COL3SY]

its 2inch bigger than standard not 1 isnt it ?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Put it this way people, our modern ECU/CPU/EMS are learning computers so lets say if a 02 sensor if not working properly it will change the tune to accommodate for the not work 02... and so will make the vehicle, if tested, illegal as it WILL fail the emissions test.

The PCM is not learning, it is compensating. It doesn't learn anything, it is already loaded with the maps it needs, it just trims certain areas under different driving conditions.

Vehicle manufacturers test and tune cars close to the threshold because it is cheaper. Why spend time and money to exceed a standard by too much when all you have to do is MEET the standard.