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I'm trying to be cost effective and trying to save as much money as I can. I already paid for plugs, clutch kit, and a new engine and now waiting for the mechanic to put my plugs in. I heard all the stories of cats and rotaries and blah blah blah don't want to go there and did my research. My mechanic was saying that there was a loss of power due to the cat. I was thinking that I could install this midpipe myself. Would there be any problem running this inexpensive midpipe underneath my car? Will the CEL or in fact any light be on?
CEL will always be on with a cat delete no stopping it. We don't have emissions sniffers where I live they just check for a cat or not but most place's around my town don't even check so i just clear the light and get an inspection then about 15 min of driving later the light comes back. The Rx8 is fancy and has a way to test the O2 and knows how it should react so even o2 spacer bongs don't work like they do in other cars
The CEL will be on, and you will not pass emissions if that's a thing where you live.
Some find the smell of raw exhaust disagreeable.
You can install yourself, just be careful what type of gasket it's supposed to use. The paper sandwhich kind will blow out at the connection to the header with time.
i vote always go catless. you can mask the cel with cobb, mazda edit or adapatronic tuners which get expensive. growing up on 2 stroke bikes the smell doesnt bother me, it frees up a little power and lets you shoot flames. i would consider a better than ebay pipe tho. check black halo racing (probably the best but expensive) nothing about rotaries comes cheap
You might get around OBD2 testing with the original piggyback Adaptronic Select add-on ECU, but not the current full replacement Adaptronic PnP Modular ECU since there is no OBD2 function provided in it. Doesn’t matter in this case, but just clarifying a previous comment so people who read this later aren’t confused.
In BC, they took out the "AirCare(emissions test)" in 2014.
Ohh i see, btw i also found that mid pipe and was thinking of getting it but was hesitant because it might sound too raspy, so if you do end up getting it let me know how it sounds!
Two potentially better options for you; though I’m not a fan of deleting emissions on street cars:
1. Just bust the ceramic honeycomb cores out of the OE catpipe. Still looks like you have a cat and the OE cat pipe muffler is going to better than any cheap midpipe muffler, which will eventually be annoyingly loud and obnoxious.
2. Similar to above, but just cut the OE cat out and weld in a replacement piece of straight exhaust tube in it’s place instead.
Two potentially better options for you; though I’m not a fan of deleting emissions on street cars:
1. Just bust the ceramic honeycomb cores out of the OE catpipe. Still looks like you have a cat and the OE cat pipe muffler is going to better than any cheap midpipe muffler, which will eventually be annoyingly loud and obnoxious.
2. Similar to above, but just cut the OE cat out and weld in a replacement straight exhaust tube in it’s place instead.
Would it still fail if i take out the ceramic cores? i did this on my other car, just cut out a square and busted everything then welded it back on, but I've yet to take it to inspection. I wanted a midpipe so i could keep switching them everytime i have to do an inspection it passes then just switch it back, what do you think?
Edit - Not really sure if they just look to check if its there or they actually test it
No, the ceramic cores are what is failing. Busting them out prevents them from blocking exhaust flow. You then have an open pipe, just with a large expansion chamber where the cat cores used to be contained. There are threads on here somewhere showing how it’s done. It’s not going to be emissions legal, no different than a catless midpipe. You’ll either need a properly functioning cat converter and sensors or some way to mask the codes if emission testing is required. It will be louder without the cat cores just because their restriction adds sound masking and it will likely be popping from excess fuel lighting off on throttle lifts.
Yeah, if you're looking to save money gutting the cat is best/cheapest option. You will get a CEL though as everyone mentioned. Shouldn't need to worry about emissions unless you plan on moving to another province. I just moved to Alberta last year but luckily they only do an OBD2 analysis for out of province inspections. Luckily I had mine masked with a Cobb and it passed even though there is no cat on the car at all.
Originally Posted by TeamRX8
You might get around OBD2 testing with the original piggyback Adaptronic Select add-on ECU, but not the current full replacement Adaptronic PnP Modular ECU since there is no OBD2 function provided in it. Doesn’t matter in this case, but just clarifying a previous comment so people who read this later aren’t confused.
Team just wanted to make sure I understand, after installing the PNP the OBD2 connection will be "dead"?
Example, with my current setup I monitor coolant temps via OBD2. I know the Adaptronic will give me this value now with a laptop connected but I will no longer be able to monitor through an OBD2 device?
I agree with all that is said above. That Ebay midpipe is a waste you will be looking for another one in a year. Just buy the racingbeat version 1 only $280 i think maybe abought $350 shipped to you. Or many come up used on ebay from time to time. Three choice Racingbeat Version 1 or 2 or the BHR midpipe. I have the version 1 imo makes the best sound and i love the smell of two stroke!!!!
CEL will always be on with a cat delete no stopping it. We don't have emissions sniffers where I live they just check for a cat or not but most place's around my town don't even check so i just clear the light and get an inspection then about 15 min of driving later the light comes back. The Rx8 is fancy and has a way to test the O2 and knows how it should react so even o2 spacer bongs don't work like they do in other cars
