General Decat = improved mpg :)

[Fergie]

My local custom exhaust company were kind enough to cut out the main cat (pre cat still there) and replace it with a piece of stainless pipe welded in place for the princely sum of £30.

Not sure if its made much difference to performance yet (mildly tuned 1.9 150), but I've noticed fuel economy improving 10%!

 

[cardinalbiggles]

My local custom exhaust company were kind enough to cut out the main cat (pre cat still there) and replace it with a piece of stainless pipe welded in place for the princely sum of £30.

Not sure if its made much difference to performance yet (mildly tuned 1.9 150), but I've noticed fuel economy improving 10%!

You think that's OK to remove your cat? I hope you get caught out at your next MOT.

 

[s130]

He is unlikely to get failed on physical presence (or lack of) because (assuming its a 1.9 diesel engine) then the new MOT CAT must be present if originally fitted requirement is NOT applicable to diesel engines. If an MOT station were to complain then they would be wrong.

HOWEVER if the CAT/part CAT removal causes an emissions CO failure, which it may do, then it will be failed on the MOT.

 

[Fergie]

Yes it is a diesel and also one without a DPF...

If required it can always be refitted, but I doubt that will be the case.

End of the day a 1.9 16v diesel without a main cat won't exactly be the most polluting vehicle on the roads

 

[RobW]

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/legal--motoring-advice/2011-12/new-mot-rules/

 

[Fergie]

Depends where you read - still technically a cat present (for now). Plenty have passed with no cat or one cat.

Ultimately its down to the tester. If it fails then it simply gets bolted back on for a free retest

 

[cardinalbiggles]

Hope you told your insurance company you did it as well?

 

[Ziggy122]

An intresting read as well

Headlight requirements are updated to take account of the particular characteristics of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.
HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high so car manufacturers must fit headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. A car will fail if a mandatory headlamp cleaning or levelling system is missing, doesn't work or is obviously defective.
Vehicles fitted with aftermarket HID systems must also be fitted with properly working washer and levelling systems.
If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.

Does that mean no more aftermarket HID kits?

ziggy

 

[s130]

Depends where you read - still technically a cat present (for now). Plenty have passed with no cat or one cat.

No it does not depend on how you read it. The rules and official inspection manual are absolutely clear and unambiguous.

See: http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s07000101.htm

"On petrol engine vehicles that qualify for a full catalyst emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter."

 

[s130]

If you fit after market HIDs then you will also have to fit self levelling and cleaning as well. Expensive to do and all those cheap HID kits that have already been fitted to cars will fail the MOT.

 

[HellfireZA]

Damn I love being in South Africa and not have to deal with all this MOT hassle you guys have to, every turbo/supercharged car is decat and remap, that's the way its done

 

[Fergie]

"On petrol engine vehicles that qualify for a full catalyst emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter."

Its a pity I'm talking about a diesel then. (Sorry if I didn't make that clear, but I thought I had)

I also said where you read as apposed to what you read - meaning various forums about what happens in the real world.

Next someone is going to tell me they have never broken the speed limit

 

[puntoboy27]

Decat !! Yes ! I'm getting mine done ! Make some nice popping and banging ! Make the forum people cry !

 

[s130]

Its a pity I'm talking about a diesel then. (Sorry if I didn't make that clear, but I thought I had)

I also said where you read as apposed to what you read - meaning various forums about what happens in the real world.

Next someone is going to tell me they have never broken the speed limit

I know who have a diesel engine

I was trying to point out/emphasis that the CAT requirement IS NOT applicable to diesel engines and "where you read as opposed to what you read" is irrelevant because it is the VOSA MOT Bible that is the definitive requirement and, for example, the Honest John test on the CAT requirement does not differentiate between petrol and diesel and is written in such a way that it implies that both petrol and diesel engine cars can not have their CATs removed.

In case you hadn't guessed I was supporting you and making it clear to others to not rely on information from non authoritive sources!

 

[Freebo]

An intresting read as well



Does that mean no more aftermarket HID kits?

ziggy

It has been this way for a while yet people still buy them. The amount of Corsa's I see driving around with badly done HID kits is crazy. I also get blinded when driving passed them.

 

[Fergie]

In days gone by people could 'buy' mots and thats why quite rightly the rules have been tightened up and all tests have gone electronic. Rumour has it they can still be 'bought', but I would have thought the risks to the driver and tester are an awful what higher now...

When my coupe was on the road it was properly mot'd, but my local garage tended to use another car for the emissions test - not something thats as easy to do now.

Anyway I found a nice site with the complete manual:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_740.htm for the diesel 'smoke' test.
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_730.htm for the petrol emissions test.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_710.htm for details about checking the presence of a cat.

To quote:

"3. On vehicles that qualify for a full cat emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter."

 

[s130]

In days gone by people could 'buy' mots and thats why quite rightly the rules have been tightened up and all tests have gone electronic. Rumour has it they can still be 'bought', but I would have thought the risks to the driver and tester are an awful what higher now...

When my coupe was on the road it was properly mot'd, but my local garage tended to use another car for the emissions test - not something thats as easy to do now.

Anyway I found a nice site with the complete manual:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_740.htm for the diesel 'smoke' test.
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_730.htm for the petrol emissions test.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_710.htm for details about checking the presence of a cat.

To quote:

"3. On vehicles that qualify for a full cat emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter."

Whilst this site is useful IT IS FAR FAR BETTER and more prudent to go directly to the VOSA webite where not only can you see the "current" official VOSA MOT test criteria and guides but also they regularly publish addition technical info and updates specific to MOT requirements.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/vehicle-and-operator-services-agency

and

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-guides-and-inspection-manuals

No real point in going anywhere else or trusting anywhere else.