High Flow Catalytic Converters

yeah, if they know you changed them it'll fail, also a fine for knowingly tampering with emissions I think... only way this wouldn't apply is if they got a CARB exempt # for the converter in that particular aplication, but I doubt any manufacturer have even tried for carb exemption with cats...
 
I see no gaurantee for the Berks on the website I posted. Might need to check the Berk Technologies website. I think the fact that Chinke82 had a code means I should at least plan on the same.

If you look at the photo of the Berks from the link in my first post, you can see the sensor bung seems to already have a "spacer" in it, in that it has a built in stand-off for the sensor. Looking at the photos of other sensor bung welds, they are definitely different. Right on the pipe. So I wonder if Berk has taken care of the ECU code by just spacing the sensor bung. And did Chinke82 use this particular Berk model when he experienced the CEL/code?

---------- Post added at 04:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:50 PM ----------

turbocad6 said:
yeah, if they know you changed them it'll fail, also a fine for knowingly tampering with emissions I think... only way this wouldn't apply is if they got a CARB exempt # for the converter in that particular aplication, but I doubt any manufacturer have even tried for carb exemption with cats...
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Kinetix has an HFC and makes this claim: ** Please check local laws regarding catalytic converters. These pipes have passed visuals and sniffer tests in CA (the strictest state on emissions) but they do not have a CARB number associated with them. **

We use the sniffer test in Texas also, but the car is not on a lift. The cats are not visible, but maybe would be audible to somebody who knows. There's no fine for tampering with emissions here - it passes or it doesn't. I know some Supercharged tuners here in Houston that don't have cats (test pipes) and STILL pass state emissions. They say it's because they are running a more efficient engine and have less unburned fuel for the cats to scrub out in the first place. With a tune geared towards efficiency, most of us could probably acheive the same thing, but the FX fuel maps wouldn't be nearly as fun as they are now.
 
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tampering with emmisions is a federal offence I believe, although rarely enforced I guess...


"They say it's because they are running a more efficient engine and have less unburned fuel for the cats to scrub out in the first place"

they may be telling you that cause they don't want to admit how they illegally get inspections done? :tongue: unburned fuel would cause cat overheating & melt down, the cats job is to chemically convert harmful by products that all internal combustion gasoline produces into inert products


from wikipedia, the cat does 3 things:

  1. Reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and oxygen: 2NOx → xO2 + N2
  2. Oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: 2CO + O2 → 2CO2
  3. Oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons (HC) to carbon dioxide and water: CxH2x+2 + 2xO2 → xCO2 + 2xH2O
don't think a claim of "my engine runs so efficent it don't need no stinkin cats" is valid...

in ny the inspection now on obdII is just plugging into the obdII port, if no codes are set, no problems are seen & the readiness monitors are set then it passes, simple, no sniff test at all anymore, they assume if there was a problem then obdII would see it...
 
I don't think we disagree - the hydrocarbons you speak of ARE unburned fuel - or more correctly, "incomplete combustion" of the fuel (fuel by definition is a hydrocarbon).

The cat does scrub nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide, but the most harmful to the environment is the hydrocarbon gasses and this is what the sniff test checks for. I think here in Texas they even call it a "hydrcarbon sniff". From a chemical point of view, what my tuner friends are saying COULD be true - though I do suspect they have "friends" in the inspection business.
 
yeah, of course your right, after I posted that I re-red it & realized the way I said that contradicted myself in a way, but generaly when some one talks about unburned fuel there talking about unburned raw atomized fuel from like cylinder missfire or an overly rich mixture or something, not the incomplete combustion of which I guess just about every motor has to some degree, & yeah, not saying it's impossible that a sniff test can be passed without a cat, but I'd think it's improbable at least :tongue: I'd also suspect they have friends in the inspection field was what I ment too...

in ny, the sniff test was for 3 gases, I thought most if not all would be a 3 gas analyser too? if there just sniffing for hydracarbon then I guess it's more probable that they can tweek tune for inspection too, I'm surprised it's not 3 gas, woulda thought that'd be the norm...
 
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the Berks are high quality compared to the other HFC. The reason MOST fell apart was because of the tuning aspect of it. To much damn fuel was thrown in causing liquid gas to clog up and start a shit storm. Other than that, They are great HFC. I went with Berks for 1 1/2yrs no problem (didnt care about the CEL). SGPracing was on crack and dumped too much fuel into it causing my left bank cat to GLOW red thus melting the core. You know what Berk did? Replace BOTH cats no questions ask. Enough said.

PS after reading my post... if i sound mad or annoyed... im not just been drinking and typing on my iphone. :)
 
they replaced both after your tuner melted one? damn, that's great service at least, I would think most would tell you that's not covered...

dumping too much raw fuel will def melt the cats, also the opposite of running too lean while FI can also melt the cats, ceramic melts much easier than metal though...
 
turbocad6 said:
they replaced both after your tuner melted one? damn, that's great service at least, I would think most would tell you that's not covered...

dumping too much raw fuel will def melt the cats, also the opposite of running too lean while FI can also melt the cats, ceramic melts much easier than metal though...
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+1 for real right! The Berks WILL cause a CEL, just get the spacers listed above or something similar and your CEL will go away. Why you are going with HFCs when your about to do twin turbos is still in my head. Just get straight pipes!!!:tonguey:
 
Why would going TT be cause to get rid of the cats? I thought I'd be keeping the HFCs for FI - which is one of the things the Berks application works for.

Or are you just messin with me?!? Lol! I still need to take a ride in your FX man...
 
going with a turbo or turbos, you would want the least backpressure possible. Obviously with nothing holding the gasses back (aka metalic core vs nothing), you get a better response thus power.


jumbosrule: hey man did you call me along time ago? I believe i got a text from someone on the forums but when replying my daughter ninja kicked it out of my hands while driving (DONT ASK). If so just text me again buddy. Well take a ride if you had time to JTranStudios and i will personally introduce yall. Also regarding the CEL light i got a person for ya if you need to pass.
 
Nice find, J.

They recommend an ECU reset after install - good to know.

Haven't checked yet, but do we have the same cat support bar as the 350Z in that video? Wondering if that Berk bracket still works on the FX?
 
jumbosrule said:
Nice find, J.

They recommend an ECU reset after install - good to know.

Haven't checked yet, but do we have the same cat support bar as the 350Z in that video? Wondering if that Berk bracket still works on the FX?
Click to expand...


On mine there was no support bar. But once attached there was no need. Damn thing didnt want to move even if you kicked it lol. really dont know why the stock ones had one.
 
we have the same bracket, it supports the weight & reduces vibration, it's mounted with rubber bushing mounts... I had my bracket off at one point & felt a little vibration without it. think I remember reading about some cats that didn't have the bracket & them cracking because of it or something like that

oh, & thinking about it, I think it was 4 gas analyser rather than 3 that was the nys sniff test..

ecu reset is good to do with any mod that alters air in/air out, even an intake or exhaust or any breathing mod should get an ecu reset ideally...
 
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