Air Intake setup... why cant we POD it...?

[No457 Snowy]

Yep it is not enclosed so it would probably be an offence.

Well if you have a look at the V-Flow there is a seal/gasket around the top lip and once the bonnet is closed it is designed to be an enclosed and sealed unit, the filter element is not exposed at all in the engine bay like a traditional pod under normal driving conditions.

Snowy

[D3bb4]

Problem is still that; cop sees it's not standard, gives you EPA notice, you go to see EPA people, they tell you "not legal, increases induction noise, noise pollution."

Enclosed or not, same deal. Enclosed just means that you might get away with it more often.

[No457 Snowy]

Yeah, I think you're right, I guess being realistic, most of us on here have technically illegal vehicles if you wanted to get down to it. I think the main thing is to not drive around in a manner that says "Pick Me" and when you do mods don't make your car look like it's got a "Pick Me" sign on it to the average cop.

Probably being a "middle age" driver makes me a little less prone to being pulled over, and then your attitude can make the biggest difference of all to the outcome if you are.

Snowy

[The_Hawk]

Yeah, I think you're right, I guess being realistic, most of us on here have technically illegal vehicles if you wanted to get down to it. I think the main thing is to not drive around in a manner that says "Pick Me" and when you do mods don't make your car look like it's got a "Pick Me" sign on it to the average cop.

Probably being a "middle age" driver makes me a little less prone to being pulled over, and then your attitude can make the biggest difference of all to the outcome if you are.

All good points.

With the noise thing, I could swallow that IF and it's a big if, the noise was measured against the same measure as the exhaust volume, but no where does it say it's OK as long as it doesn't exceed xxdB.

EPA... thats a fun one.. something like removing a cat has a 5 figure fine. Again I could swallow the "it changes the emissions" IF there was a measure that said it can't exceed xxx units (in whatever they measure). I would guess there are lots of cars out there with cats that have worn to a point they don't exist anymore causing worse problems, but lets not go there. But more the point, wouldn't your ECU adjust for the increased air flow and even things out? Besides all that, does that mean forced induction is illegal from an EPA standpoint since it adds more air (and fuel)??

I'm hearing lots of reasonable opinions, but I'm still not convinced anyone is 100% right.

[D3bb4]

hahahahaha. the hell are you talking about?

There ARE figures. The year model of the car is what the figures compare to, that's why pre-86 cars or something like that can still run no cats!

Read this:
http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/for...63.html&hl=EPA


I think it's more to do with the type of cars these are, rather than HOW you drive them. I've driven highly modded jap cars responsibly, and been pulled over and defected for absolutely nothing. My golf/runabout, i've been seen overtaking people in a bus lane, and the guy didn't look twice, lucky me - won't be doing that again . How many euro cars get defected compared to jap would be a very amusing statistic. The amount of people who mod their euros and don't bother with the paperwork, and don't get pulled up for it....

Discrimination!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[No457 Snowy]

I wouldn't click on that link if you paid me. The more rice burners they put off the road the better. German cars FTW.

Snowy.

[D3bb4]

The link is to a reply by the EPA as to the legality of common mods.

and you must be joking

[No457 Snowy]

I was.

Snowy

[No457 Snowy]

Just regarding your comments about discriminating against Japanese vehicles, the thing is, most of the drivers of "modded" japanese vehicles that I see are mounting an aftermarket filter then immediately fit a full atmospheric "blow off" valve, which make a way louder noise than the recirculating type found on Euro cars. It's actually so common it's become a cliche, so the police hear that and there is your red flag to the bull. Often this is also what is being referred to as excessive "Intake" noise.

Same with exhausts, so many modded Japanese vehicles have a huge cannon sized "thing" poking out from the back of the bumper, once again it's so common it's cliche. These types of mods definately get police attention and they are taught to watch for them, but in contrast to that, most Euro owners actually see those things as undesirable mods on their cars and they are often refered to as "ricey" mods.

So in effect those guys are creating their own situation by making themselves an obvious target for the police.

Snowy

[The_Hawk]

There ARE figures. The year model of the car is what the figures compare to, that's why pre-86 cars or something like that can still run no cats!

Not that I would stake my life on posts from that forum, but it's the closest I have seen to a reasonable answer. So they are not illegal for the sake of it, but rather if it doesn't meet standards. Like I said earlier, no one ever said it's illegal because...

It would be *very* interesting to actually see some testing for before and after pod installation on a VAG car. I would be interested in seeing an unmolested car, one with just a pod, one with forced induction added, and maybe a GTI with a bigger turbo + other mods as a "worst case" all the above mods at once sort of test.