How bad does the exhaust smell get on these cars when they are run without a cat? Would it be comparable to an old V8 muscle car, worse, or not as noticeable?
After reading about how problematic the factory cat has been known to be I've been interested in eliminating that issue with my car, but the increase in exhaust fumes has me hesitant.
In another thread it was mentioned by someone, I forget who, that the fumes could be mitigated by tuning. Would that be through using something like the Accesport I keep reading about? I know it can turn off the CEL that's thrown by not having a cat.
As it is now I'll be ordering a BHR coil set shortly, but I'm trying to bulletproof this car as much as I can.

 

The smell is very spicey. Think of a big block running incredibly rich. I personally don't mind it unless I'm working under the hood with the car running and there is a breeze pushing the fumes my way lol.

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Depends on the tune. Mine died, car smells a tad like a pre-cat car. But, mine is tuned and does not have the "keep the cat lit" rich mixture. Might be worse on another car. I consider it safer, CO is odorless, my car is no longer odorless.

 

It stinks....badly!

 

yea its kinda bad... i don't like sitting at a light with my windows down.. But as you tune it the smell gets better..

 

Old muscle car is a good description, but it's not quite that bad. On a cold start it's the worst. You only smell it when Idling. People behind you driving can smell it. Especially if you're driving hard.

The accessport can reduce the cold start smell and help a little on the warm starts but it can't make it go away completely.

 

Hate to hijack, but this is related. Should the 8 be odorless with the stock cat? I haven't had a chance to drop mine and take a look since i bought mine with this -5° weather, but it has a smell almost like an old carburated v8. The cat is there, but is it likely gutted?

I got it from a junkyard so no chance to talk to the original owner.

 

Well ... when I have my cat installed, you can't smell much of anything at all.

It's like every other vehicle as far as exhaust smell.

With the cat off, it's enough to make my eyes water and my wife complain endlessly... and she's in the house.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, it's appreciated. Still undecided on which way I want to go with this, but I don't need to figure it out anytime soon.

 

Logolinipoo (sp) said it..

Cold start uses extra gas to make sure that the cat gets up to temp fast (wasteful, but is how you pass emissions). I have heard the same exists at idle, to keep it hot and worked. This can be tuned away.

If worried, looks like the DaveSport cat is still an option. Swoope has one, likes it. It it can be mounted further back, so does not bake the trans. Just need to extend sensor lead if you are using it.

 

It will always smell bad with no cat..... just keep your windows up

 

LOL this is my experience --^

 

Where can this be adjusted? I am not seeing a table in ATR to modify idle AFR, just ECT base idle RPM. What am I missing? I have no need to protect a cat (more of a dog person anyway), but would love to protect my nose hairs

 

So for anyone else not able to find the tables they apparently aren't in the 2006 version of ATR.

 

After I throw an oil adapter on my car I want to experiment with scented 2-stroke oils a bit, see if that might freshen things up. I've got a buddy who runs Ipone oil in his KTM 250, and on top of the already awesome smoker smell there's a hint of strawberry pie in the mix.