i live in VA, and i want to get some high flow cats, but my question is will they pass emissions tests, or would i be better off getting test pipes and just putting the stock cats back on when i get it inspected? i really don't know what the best option is but i know VA inspections are pretty tough on exhausts.

 

I think it depends on where you go. The last time I had one of my cars inspected, it got the old sniffer up the tail-pipe treatment, but I understand that the OBD-II scans are starting to be used in VA now too, so as long as you're not popping a CEL, you'll pass that. Also, most HF cats claim to be "50 state smog legal" I believe (my RandomTech cats were), so get 'em good and hot before you test if you're getting sniffed, and you should be ok.

 

I passed Emission test with R/T CATs...

 

awesome, thanks

kcobean i'm glad that you reply to all my posts that (almost) no one else does

 

I'm getting my emissions done this Saturday... how much should I be heating it up? 15 min. run?

 

If you have to wait in line, there's not much you can do other than maybe hold an accelerated idle for a minute or two before it going in. If you don't have to wait in line, yeah, go out and do a few WOT runs before pulling up to the inspection station...and you get to have some fun!

 

nice, thanks for the help, my inspection is due in may, i don't know if i will have them on by then, but if i do i'll let you know

and while we are on the legal issues, does anyone know if tail light overlays are illegal? i remember something a while back that said you couldn't cover your headlights or taillights in any way, but i don't recall where i heard it...

 

I think the tail light overlays will pass, but mdracer76 failed inspection with yellow overlays on his headlights and had to take them off.

 

For Virginia emmissions if its an ODBII we just plug into the scan port and check for codes. No tailpipe sniff. As to the overlays, technically it will should fail but it depends on the inspector.

 

My overlays fail me every year. I take them off and put them back on after the inspection. As for my cats I have passed with no problem.