Legality of DPF delete

[stormshark]

Custom Code seems to have a guaranteed solution, about 50 cars now in the UK, and very very few problems. To be fair Storm, you did get led on by another company, and to my knowledge NO OTHER company outside CCode has a proven tune at this stage. Your tune wasn't meant to work with an actual DPF delete pipe, so I'd suspect the fueling was out as well.

Possibly a fair comment Greg, i wasn't implying that there was no claimed solution, just for people to be very careful,it was a costly frustrating exercise, and whilst i am grateful to Gav for his offer of help etc, i'm just over it for a while.Just thought i'd share my experience if anyone not giving it the sort of required deliberation/consideration that i obviously didn't, before jumping in.

[gldgti]

If we wait long enough, maybe eventually they'll make an emissions exemption for us dieselers. Worked for the golf 1 diesel in california 30 years ago...

Needless to say, all this talk is more than enough incentive for me to keep my 16 year old diesel running.

[Guy_H]

My engineer was here today certifying a stage 3 kit & I asked the question.

Definitely, 100% illegal in all states, no way to engineer around "removal" and the fine varies from $8,000 to $25,000.

Bummer

[mikinoz]

Just a semantic point here. If I do remove the DPF and have the car engineered and it passes, then I register it with those engineers papers, surely it cannot be the fault of the owner to cop the fine?

I say this as some of the engineers about the place are pretty loose on some things...

[kaanage]

no way to engineer around "removal"

But what about "replacement" with a cat without a DPF? If it allowed the car to meet all Euro 5 emissions specs EXCEPT for the 0.05 micron particulate requirement which models RELEASED before Jan 31 2010 and BOUGHT before jan 31 2011 do NOT have to comply with, then how is that illegal for a car like a 103kW CR Golf TDi?

The GTD wouldn't meet the release date criteria so there's no way around the DPF requirement for those

[Russ59]

No matter what way you look at it is a simple open and shut case that under present legislation, no part of the factory fitted emissions system can be legally removed. If you, or whoever carries out the work for you, does tamper with the system and you get caught then you'll have to be prepared to suffer the consequences (ie a hefty fine or in some cases imprisonment) Without starting a political debate IMHO, whether or not the modification or removal of any component may improve the way the vehicle runs or be better for the environment makes no difference unless Peter Garrett says so and seeing as he is no longer the Minister for the Environment there may be a chance in the future for us to " Move Forward " as soon as they work out how to get out of reverse

[kaanage]

Can you please point me to the relevant clauses in the legislation relating specifically to the emission systems? The clauses I found in the Victorian regulations on EPA compliance seemed to indicate that ANY engine modifications would be ruled as breaking the law.

Yes, there was a separate clause for the emissions systems there but the other clause stated unequivocally that

A person must not, without just cause, alter, replace or modify the engine or
the exhaust system or fuel system of any motor vehicle in a way that-

(a) departs from the manufacturer's design; or

(b) increases the rate of discharge of any of the constituent parts of the
emissions or (where applicable) defeats the intended upward discharge
or dispersion of the emissions.

This should make it just as illegal to change your air filter, fuel filter or muffler type.

Or is it that the EPA are more likely to enforce the emissions system clause?

[Russ59]

It is actually illegal, in NSW at least, to run a pod styled air filter which basically replaces the air box. Most of these installs involve removing the airbox and thus disconnecting some of the emission components going to it. A lot of people as you probably would know, hide the pod filter in the airbox to avoid detection but unfortunately it is still an illegal modification. I'm not saying that I agree with not allowing modifications to be done, it's just that there are strict rules for some things and a blind eye turned to others, this doesn't just apply to engine modifications it's a part of life.