gtman gets his emissions tested while running a tune - details inside

[gtman]

OK guys, you may know me as the guy with the most posts here at CivicX. Or the guy with thousands of tuning posts. Or the developer and keeper of the community tuning survey. Well today, I played the part of human guinea pig.

For years there have been diverse posts about getting emissions tested and having a tuned car. Some say you won't pass, plain and simple if you take your car in with a tune. Some same you might pass.

Well today, I went into the Maryland emissions testing station with my car running a TSP tune. Maryland abides by the California emissions stardards. They do an OBDII test at idle. My theory was that since my only mods are a tune and stage 1 intake, no emissions should be affected at idle by the tune.

Well folks, my tuned car passed with flying colors! Basically, if you haven't altered any emissions related stuff, you should pass an OBD-II test, while tuned.

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[Phy]

Nice, so if you run a stock downpipe and carb legal intake, you should be fine on emissions.

 

[HondaFanz2018]

OK guys, you may know me as the guy with the most posts here at CivicX. Or the guy with thousands of tuning posts. Or the developer and keeper of the community tuning survey. Well today, I played the part of human guinea pig.

For years there have been diverse posts about getting emissions tested and having a tuned car. Some say you won't pass, plain and simple if you take your car in with a tune. Some same you might pass.

Well today, I went into the Maryland emissions testing station with my car running a TSP tune. Maryland abides by the California emissions stardards. They do an OBDII test at idle. My theory was that since my only mods are a tune and stage 1 intake, no emissions should be affected at idle by the tune.

Well folks, my tuned car passed with flying colors! Basically, if you haven't altered any emissions related stuff, you should pass an OBD-II test, while tuned.

Excellent news! I'm not up for smog inspection until 2022, but good to know I don't have to flash back to stock

 

[Civics4Ever]

I guess i should have posted when i had mine tested back in July. I also passed with my tune.

 

[bcrichster]

I guess i should have posted when i had mine tested back in July. I also passed with my tune.

@gtman , sounds like a possible "Thread of Proof, Tuned Emissions.." could be a valid prospect for those needing tuning assurance..??

 

[theangrychef]

Sweet good to know, just started running Phearable on my Si with only PRL CAI street MAF and when it comes in AWE Touring Exhaust.

 

[xRiCeBoYx]

I guess i should have posted when i had mine tested back in July. I also passed with my tune.

Same. Passed NV (Clark County - Las Vegas) emissions with KTuner 21psi tune

 

[gtman]

Sweet good to know, just started running Phearable on my Si with only PRL CAI street MAF and when it comes in AWE Touring Exhaust.

Have you added your car to the tuning survey? I know John from Phearable has asked all users to do that.

 

[bbeem]

I wonder how a 200 or 300 cell cat would fair. I think warmed up it will pass no problem, cold might be questionable. Do they let the car warm up some minutes before the test?

 

[gtman]

I wonder how a 200 or 300 cell cat would fair. I think warmed up it will pass no problem, cold might be questionable. Do they let the car warm up some minutes before the test?

For my test it went like this...

I drove my car for 20 minutes to the test site. Got to the testing station and waited in line, idling for about 10 minutes.

For the test, they had me first turn the car off, then they plugged in their computer to my OBD-II. Then I re-started the car. While running the OBD-II test, they opened the gas door to check that and ran a huge mirror under my car to check for alterations. The tested lasted about 5 minutes and then they gave me my results print out.

 

[theangrychef]

Have you added your car to the tuning survey? I know John from Phearable has asked all users to do that.

Not yet I was waiting for my exhaust from AWE to arrive and get it installed, that's the last engine related mod I plan on doing for a while.

 

[gtman]

Not yet I was waiting for my exhaust from AWE to arrive and get it installed, that's the last engine related mod I plan on doing for a while.

Adding your car is a good idea even before you add the exhaust. You can always update. This way the tuning stats are more accurate as far as tunes used. In this case Phearable's 1.5...

https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/the-tuned-civicx-experience-reliability-survey.42361/

 

[dark_knight097]

For my test it went like this...

I drove my car for 20 minutes to the test site. Got to the testing station and waited in line, idling for about 10 minutes.

For the test, they had me first turn the car off, then they plugged in their computer to my OBD-II. Then I re-started the car. While running the OBD-II test, they opened the gas door to check that and ran a huge mirror under my car to check for alterations. The tested lasted about 5 minutes and then they gave me my results print out.

Interesting. So they didnt open the hood to check the CAT?
Also wonder what kind alterations they were looking for thats related to emissions since you can't see the engine area if your skid plate is still on. The only visible part should be the mid section of the exhaust, fuel tank, and then the rear section of the exhaust and suspension components.

Asking cause I just move to MD from GA and I'll have to eventually get around to doing this.

Off topic, your profile pic looks exactly like a civic I've seen around here the few times I've visited lol, the house even look similar to area my grandmother lives in.

 

[gtman]

Probably just looking for an altered exhaust? Who knows.

 

[BoostinIX]

MD for OBDII only cares about the computer readout. Most aren't looking hard at the mirror since you can't really see much with it. All they really care about is does the screen say PASS.

Example- my LS3 S14 passed MD emissions every time with dual 3" vband to single 4" catless exhaust

Good to see it hasn't changed lol

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