Test pipe and flames
No, it naturally oxidizes in the atmosphere to CO2. Catalytic converters are mostly there to convert toxic compounds in the exhaust into something that's safer to breathe.
Personally, I run a high flow cat just because I don't want to deal with 1) ridiculous fines for not running one and 2) swapping it out when I need to get my car inspected. If I ever get serious about running my car in BSP, it'll get a test pipe that will get swapped for the weekends.
As far as the CO/CO2 effects, even if everyone who wanted to (not many) ran their cars without a cat for the extra 5hp, it won't really have an effect. We can do some math here:
Total atmospheric mass: 5.148x10^18 kg
Total atmospheric CO2 mass: 3.0x10^15 kg
It looks like a safe bounding average is 300g of CO2 per mile. In 2003, Americans traveled 3 trillion miles (3x10^12). This means our total output of CO2 from driving was around 9x10^11 kg of CO2. This is 0.03% of the total CO2 in the atmosphere. So even if everyone in the US bought 9 mpg SUV's, we'd double our output and add a total of 0.03% extra CO2 to the atmosphere. Insignificant, especially since the main greenhouse gas is water vapor, which comprises about 10x more volume than CO2.
I know what most of the theories say; I've read the research. I just don't think most of it is good science. Most climate research is either dry statistical analysis, or starts with a theory, then goes out and finds data that supports that theory. Very little of it is based on repeatable experiments, which are the cornerstone of good science.
The fact is, if our atmosphere was as fragile as most of the alarmists claim it is, the earth would have fallen off the knife edge a long time ago. In any system as big and old as our planet, equilibrium has pretty much been reached at this point, and for very good reasons. Negative feedbacks outweigh positive feedbacks by a significant margin.
Despite all this, I still run a catalytic converter.
Personally, I run a high flow cat just because I don't want to deal with 1) ridiculous fines for not running one and 2) swapping it out when I need to get my car inspected. If I ever get serious about running my car in BSP, it'll get a test pipe that will get swapped for the weekends.
As far as the CO/CO2 effects, even if everyone who wanted to (not many) ran their cars without a cat for the extra 5hp, it won't really have an effect. We can do some math here:
Total atmospheric mass: 5.148x10^18 kg
Total atmospheric CO2 mass: 3.0x10^15 kg
It looks like a safe bounding average is 300g of CO2 per mile. In 2003, Americans traveled 3 trillion miles (3x10^12). This means our total output of CO2 from driving was around 9x10^11 kg of CO2. This is 0.03% of the total CO2 in the atmosphere. So even if everyone in the US bought 9 mpg SUV's, we'd double our output and add a total of 0.03% extra CO2 to the atmosphere. Insignificant, especially since the main greenhouse gas is water vapor, which comprises about 10x more volume than CO2.
I know what most of the theories say; I've read the research. I just don't think most of it is good science. Most climate research is either dry statistical analysis, or starts with a theory, then goes out and finds data that supports that theory. Very little of it is based on repeatable experiments, which are the cornerstone of good science.
The fact is, if our atmosphere was as fragile as most of the alarmists claim it is, the earth would have fallen off the knife edge a long time ago. In any system as big and old as our planet, equilibrium has pretty much been reached at this point, and for very good reasons. Negative feedbacks outweigh positive feedbacks by a significant margin.
Despite all this, I still run a catalytic converter.
Just because you are running a cat doesn't mean you don't produce any harmful fumes. Do you product more fumes with a test pipe, sure. But the amount in so insignificant it not worth arguing about.
There are still many states in this country where test pipes are perfectly legal.
The above post was talking about CO2 which is what you get from catalyzed exhaust. without it, your getting an assload of more harmful pollutants. Perhaps you are too young to remember Los Angeles in the 70's or have never been to China.
ON EDIT- emission equipment laws only apply to public roads that are taxed for the most part.
Last edited by mike100; Feb 4, 2009 at 06:14 PM.
/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs, hɪ-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [hahy-poth-uh-sis, hi-] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ses /-ˌsiz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [-seez] Show IPA Pronunciation .
1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
^^^ not me, Random House Unabridged Dictionary.
Scientific Method requires a hypothesis to be established first before testing. Also, it doesn't matter whether the statistical information is DRY or not, just whether it is scientifically and mathematically accurate! Research documents are not best selling novels - they are TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS.
Maybe I'm wrong, but then again, I am currently enrolled in a capstone class entitled "Scientific Research and Analysis"
Somebody needs to shut this thread down! This is just getting to be a big flame-fest (no pun intended)
.
I'm meth injected though 
test pipe means flames SOMETIMES and louder more exhaust smelling air and more power cat means tiny bit less power less noise and no flames if you dont want flames do not get a test pipe my evo 9 had a test pipe and when people would tailgate me i would downshift pop some flames and my tailgating problems were fixed
Evolving Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Area 51
This company (Random Technology) makes high flow cats - from their webpage:
"Direct Fit Catalytic converters - Note that it is illegal to remove a properly functioning catalytic converter and that aftermarket catalytic converters are not legal for use on OBD2 vehicles in California (some 1994 and 1995 and all 1996 and later vehicles)."
http://www.randomtechnology.com/products.html
The 2008 Evo X - is it OBD2? If you got rear tailpipe flames in CA, you're asking for a cop's inspection, and return to your stock cat and exhaust.
"Direct Fit Catalytic converters - Note that it is illegal to remove a properly functioning catalytic converter and that aftermarket catalytic converters are not legal for use on OBD2 vehicles in California (some 1994 and 1995 and all 1996 and later vehicles)."
http://www.randomtechnology.com/products.html
The 2008 Evo X - is it OBD2? If you got rear tailpipe flames in CA, you're asking for a cop's inspection, and return to your stock cat and exhaust.
This company (Random Technology) makes high flow cats - from their webpage:
"Direct Fit Catalytic converters - Note that it is illegal to remove a properly functioning catalytic converter and that aftermarket catalytic converters are not legal for use on OBD2 vehicles in California (some 1994 and 1995 and all 1996 and later vehicles)."
http://www.randomtechnology.com/products.html
The 2008 Evo X - is it OBD2? If you got rear tailpipe flames in CA, you're asking for a cop's inspection, and return to your stock cat and exhaust.
"Direct Fit Catalytic converters - Note that it is illegal to remove a properly functioning catalytic converter and that aftermarket catalytic converters are not legal for use on OBD2 vehicles in California (some 1994 and 1995 and all 1996 and later vehicles)."
http://www.randomtechnology.com/products.html
The 2008 Evo X - is it OBD2? If you got rear tailpipe flames in CA, you're asking for a cop's inspection, and return to your stock cat and exhaust.
Edit: Obviously this doesn't apply to CA's bass-ackwards draconian policies.
Evolving Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Underneath the moon by a tree
Dumb question, but is a $1000 fine worth the 5-15hp over a cat?
And personally, not running a cat simply makes EVERYONE's air worse. How'd you like if I was smoking a cigar in your face the whole time you were driving to work. That's what it's like driving behind someone running catless.
And to answer your question, tuning does not get rid of the flames.
And personally, not running a cat simply makes EVERYONE's air worse. How'd you like if I was smoking a cigar in your face the whole time you were driving to work. That's what it's like driving behind someone running catless.
And to answer your question, tuning does not get rid of the flames.
