Hi,

I'm hoping someone knows the answer to this. I own a Motordyne Shockwave TDX2 exhaust (Having it installed next month) and I'm thinking about upgrading from stock cats. I've been looking at both HFC and test pipes. The Motordyne ART pipes caught my attention but I have a few conserns about them and test pipes in general. If I put on the ART pipes will I get a check engine light? I've heard that most, if not all test pipes get that light.

Thank you

 

There is an O2 sensor bung that stops the light from coming on. In the year I've ran the ART's, the only time it comes on is if I cruise for more than 30 minutes (cruise control), and even then it's just the P0420 code that I clear.

 

I've never had a light issue since the ART's were installed 1.5 yrs. ago on my '07 Z.

 

I know this is a stupid question but what is the O2 sensor bung and why does it stop the light from coming on? Just wondering how it works.

Thanks

 

^the bungs he was talking about are the curved (I'd guess 1/2" ID in pic above) tubes that are welded onto the main pipes. I can't answer "why" they help keep cel light from coming on, maybe due to length away from the main pipe, but I never had any problems with my Crawford HFC's either, not once with them or the ART's.

 

the length, and the hole that goes to it is not the size of pipe. it about a 1mm hole, this greatly reduces the amount of gases that reach the sensor greatly reducing the chances of you getting a engine code.

when i got my tune they blocked the signals from these o2 sensors anyways. so if your getting a tune, dont worry about it.

 

You may get CEL/SES light (07+), but that is if you leave on cruise control for extended period of time. The engine throws a light after so many times it trip the threshold. Basically when I cruise with cruise control for an extended period of time, I don't vary the amt of gas given, so the car ended up thinking it wasn't getting enough fuel and keeps feeding more and more (since the o2 sensors that attach to the ART pipes didn't pick up enough flow). The CEL/SES turns on, but after 500mi+, it disappeared.

Also depending on where you do inspections, certain states use sniffers, so you would fail. I would avoid doing Cat Converter mods unless you are in a state that doesn't use sniffers.

 

I live in Illinois but I have no idea if they use sniffers. I have my emissions test coming up and I'll pay close attention on how they do it. My plan was to get the ART Pipes done right after the emissions so I have a good 2 years with them before I have to start thing about putting cats on again.

Glad to hear that the ART Pipes don't, Normally, cause the CEL to go on. I can now inform my mechanic about this because he was worried the pipes would cause problems.

 

If they stick a pipe in your exhaust = Sniffer. If they just check the codes = computer check. Over here we have no sniffer test, and the ART's will pass the diagnostics test. If they have a visual test, it might not, but some places don't bother with that.

On a side note, these pipes are an awesome bang for your buck.

 

I'm lucky, got registration coming up this mo., lucky for me in my city, no emissions testing!

 

Regarding the CEL issue I posted, it's from my personal experience; although I've also read on the ART Test Pipes thread that some ppl with HRs also got CELs as well. I forget what their reasons were, but they were messing with defouler mods (the extended tube that you plug the o2 sensors in the ART pipes) trying to fix it from reoccurring. But YMMV Maybe you won't ever have that issue, but this is just a heads up.

You can always go to a ghetto shop and pay em cash to "pass you".

 

I have a question regarding art pipes... Does anybody know of anyone that has put art pipes on with just the stock exhaust? I'm wondering if this sounds good/bad and if there is a noticeable gain/loss in power, no tune.

 

You will gain power across the board with ART test pipes, but most of your gains will be the torque down low. Tune will smooth out the power curve even more.

 

I'd agree with you on that, especially getting a good tune afterward. Should get an UpRev kit for various tunes that you keep on your computer, or reflash onto your ecu using Osiris whenever you want (5 maps). Then you would get the most gains out of your ARTs; I don't know anyone who has them with all stock exhaust though, but ARTs in place of the stock cats would surely liven things up with a tune!

 

One thing to note also is that after your cats/ART/test MD has the "XYZ" pipe which takes the place of the stock Y pipe. It is in itself a "nice" piece of work! But the problem with the xyz working with stock is that from then on it is all "V-clamp" set up to small muffler (if you want to call it a muffler hehe), mid-pipes, axle back pieces; no bolt up after the XYZ pipe.

XYZ pipe:

 

Ah thank you. What's a good xyz pipe to get, motor dyne as well? And with just clamps won't there be a nasty exhaust leak?

 

Best bang for the buck, i've had them on and drove cross country (VA beach to San Diego) and never once got a check engine light, you still get the test pipe smell but i hardly ever notice it and on a stock exhaust it has a deeper tone

 

Good info! Did they fit well to the Y-pipe? Was the new tone noticeable right away?

 

I've been running art pipes on stock exhaust fore a couple of months at first the rasp was very noticeable but after couple months its gone done and the car sounds pretty nice, I notice that the car sounds a lot better at idle to. Two of my friends thought I was running a aftermarket exhaust . I didn't notice any difference in power until I got the car tuned.

 

They fit perfect, the only issue i ran into (which has been covered multiple times) was one of the chambers was hitting a bolt that can be filed down. all in all i'd say the 2nd best modification i've done to the car so far