Removing Catalytic converters, legality ?
Discussion
f1r31c3r said:
Ok it is time to put this one to bed once and for all.
Hopefully when those arriving here from a google search will get the correct info.
Here it is:
Any car manufactured after the date of 1993 or registered in the UK on or after this date must be fitted with a CAT. No exceptions, No modifications just that is it.
How it fails the MOT.
CAT registered cars have much tighter emission regs. This means for cars pre 1993 including carbed cars have to meet around 3% emission levels in a set period of time. You wont get a CAT on a CARBed engine it will burn the CAT out very fast.
Fuel injected CAT cars registered after 1993 have to meet 0.3% at different RPM rates. This can only ever be achieved with the presence of a CAT and as of 2016 these values are going to be even tighter for new cars.
If a police officer sees you have moded the car and removed the CAT then you have voided your insurance. On that alone you are now driving un-insured and your car will be seized. Not very nice of them the ***** but that is how they have worked it and yes it is deliberate.
It comes under, not driving in accordance with the rules and regulations set out by the DVLA.
If you were granted an MOT without a CAT on a new after 1993 car that is not a kit car as such then you have to prove that and show how the emission were within the set levels. I not sure how anyone could master up that one without it being cheated somehow.
Of course the DVLA and MOT inspectors would be all over the MOT station like a rash probably even removing their ability to do MOT's.
If you hate CAT cars, buy a pre 1993 classic with a carb and give them the finger. It is the only way. Many old cars had biscuit tins for a backbox from the factory so you can still use a very loud biscuit tin as a backbox as that was what was on the car when it was made. It can never be considered a modification.
And that is how it is. Any form of deviation from this would land you in more **** than it is worth. Oh yea and yes it has everything to do with the sad act called the European Union.
well done you have dug up a 4 year old to fill it with some more incorrect information Hopefully when those arriving here from a google search will get the correct info.
Here it is:
Any car manufactured after the date of 1993 or registered in the UK on or after this date must be fitted with a CAT. No exceptions, No modifications just that is it.
How it fails the MOT.
CAT registered cars have much tighter emission regs. This means for cars pre 1993 including carbed cars have to meet around 3% emission levels in a set period of time. You wont get a CAT on a CARBed engine it will burn the CAT out very fast.
Fuel injected CAT cars registered after 1993 have to meet 0.3% at different RPM rates. This can only ever be achieved with the presence of a CAT and as of 2016 these values are going to be even tighter for new cars.
If a police officer sees you have moded the car and removed the CAT then you have voided your insurance. On that alone you are now driving un-insured and your car will be seized. Not very nice of them the ***** but that is how they have worked it and yes it is deliberate.
It comes under, not driving in accordance with the rules and regulations set out by the DVLA.
If you were granted an MOT without a CAT on a new after 1993 car that is not a kit car as such then you have to prove that and show how the emission were within the set levels. I not sure how anyone could master up that one without it being cheated somehow.
Of course the DVLA and MOT inspectors would be all over the MOT station like a rash probably even removing their ability to do MOT's.
If you hate CAT cars, buy a pre 1993 classic with a carb and give them the finger. It is the only way. Many old cars had biscuit tins for a backbox from the factory so you can still use a very loud biscuit tin as a backbox as that was what was on the car when it was made. It can never be considered a modification.
And that is how it is. Any form of deviation from this would land you in more **** than it is worth. Oh yea and yes it has everything to do with the sad act called the European Union.
ging84 said:
well done you have dug up a 4 year old to fill it with some more incorrect information
Maybe so but youll still need to have one fitted if the car came with one for next year's mot -whether you pass emissions or not.Or something that looks like one
Source: the bloke that does my MOTs
I'm currently looking at scooby WRX's / turbo 2000's and such like.
A lot of these are advertised as having fully de cat exhaust and remap. Great.. Until MOT time as mentioned all ready.
My question is this..
say for example, I buy a fully de cated car, and then fit a 200 cell high flow cat in the exhaust somewhere. Does this count? Or does it have to be the factory one? (Assuming it meets the emissions)
A lot of these are advertised as having fully de cat exhaust and remap. Great.. Until MOT time as mentioned all ready.
My question is this..
say for example, I buy a fully de cated car, and then fit a 200 cell high flow cat in the exhaust somewhere. Does this count? Or does it have to be the factory one? (Assuming it meets the emissions)
Buff Mchugelarge said:
I'm currently looking at scooby WRX's / turbo 2000's and such like.
A lot of these are advertised as having fully de cat exhaust and remap. Great.. Until MOT time as mentioned all ready.
My question is this..
say for example, I buy a fully de cated car, and then fit a 200 cell high flow cat in the exhaust somewhere. Does this count? Or does it have to be the factory one? (Assuming it meets the emissions)
My 350Z used to just pass emissions (with a roasting hot exhaust and sympathetic tester) fitted with non-OEM HFC's - I was told as long as there is something which looks like a bit like a cat and the emissions are ok, then you are all good. A lot of these are advertised as having fully de cat exhaust and remap. Great.. Until MOT time as mentioned all ready.
My question is this..
say for example, I buy a fully de cated car, and then fit a 200 cell high flow cat in the exhaust somewhere. Does this count? Or does it have to be the factory one? (Assuming it meets the emissions)
ging84 said:
xRIEx said:
f1r31c3r said:
If a police officer sees you have moded the car and removed the CAT then you have voided your insurance. On that alone you are now driving un-insured and your car will be seized.
That bit's utter b
ks for a start.Maybe he's just put down his Daily Mail, and is quoting.
i own a 2004 subaru wrx and that passed its mot without the traditional cats in 2014.I have been told there is 3 cats on these cars and at least 1 maybe 2 have been removed.I know there is one coming from the turbo pipe so in my experience you can pass without the usual middle cat.Also you can have a sport cat fitted.
robbo3270 said:
i own a 2004 subaru wrx and that passed its mot without the traditional cats in 2014.I have been told there is 3 cats on these cars and at least 1 maybe 2 have been removed.I know there is one coming from the turbo pipe so in my experience you can pass without the usual middle cat.Also you can have a sport cat fitted.
There WERE 3 on my Forester XT
Most cars have more than one cat.
My SLK 55 has 4, two primary and two secondary.
The primaries are massive. Secondaries could be removed and it would still pass emissions test. Most cars are massively over catalysed to account for stricter regs in some countries (california for example )
A car meant to have cats that has been completely de-catted would never pass the emissions test so a visual inspection wouldn't even be required
My SLK 55 has 4, two primary and two secondary.
The primaries are massive. Secondaries could be removed and it would still pass emissions test. Most cars are massively over catalysed to account for stricter regs in some countries (california for example )
A car meant to have cats that has been completely de-catted would never pass the emissions test so a visual inspection wouldn't even be required
I bought a secondhand car recently and the previous owner didn't mention it had been decatted. When facd a potential bill of £5k for a new oem exhaust system, my garage said it *may* pass with just the pre-cats. I didn't want to risk it so i'm having cats put back on. Longlife Exhausts are building a new system for approx £1400.
DaveCWK said:
Worth mentioning also that any car converted to LPG, regardless of age, will only be tested to the old non-cat standards (which pretty much any fuel injected car will achieve if it's working properly) - 1200ppm HC / 3.5% CO at idle iirc.
That's interesting to know, as my RR is on LPG. However worth bearing in mind - a lot of modern cars will apparently flag a dash warning light if you remove the cats as their lambda sensors etc detect values now being out of limits - or so I'm told about the 3rd Gen RR on model specific forums.And of course, a warning light is now an MOT fail too.
It will be tested on the fuel type it's running on at the time it is presented. So if you want it tested on LPG be sure that's what it's on.
My RRC (1986 3.5EFi) has been on LPG for around 15 years now & although I've had it done on LPG a number of times I usually put it in on petrol.
My RRC (1986 3.5EFi) has been on LPG for around 15 years now & although I've had it done on LPG a number of times I usually put it in on petrol.
Edited by paintman on Friday 1st April 09:59
swerni said:
DrSteveBrule said:
I bought a secondhand car recently and the previous owner didn't mention it had been decatted. When facd a potential bill of £5k for a new oem exhaust system, my garage said it *may* pass with just the pre-cats. I didn't want to risk it so i'm having cats put back on. Longlife Exhausts are building a new system for approx £1400.
Why not get it tested then decide ?So what if it fails, at least you'd know and if it passes you've saved £1400!
DrSteveBrule said:
I bought a secondhand car recently and the previous owner didn't mention it had been decatted. When facd a potential bill of £5k for a new oem exhaust system, my garage said it *may* pass with just the pre-cats. I didn't want to risk it so i'm having cats put back on. Longlife Exhausts are building a new system for approx £1400.
Spending £1400 for something that MAY happen and can probably be checked for £20? Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff