Quick question regarding aftermarket headers in Washington state
 

So I read that we follow California's emision laws here or something. First of all, is that true? If so, does that mean I can't run a catless header such as the borla UEL?

I'm going off what I kind of understood on the dot website but I'm new to this so it was a little confusing.


Thanks for an clarification I get on this

I was told by the police in Liberty lake WA that modifying any part of the exhaust is a $134 fine and it goes up from there. I.e. Catback, header, over pipe, front pipe. This was after I dumped a bunch of money into the exhaust to get the sound I want.

I don't drive my car through Liberty lake any more.

Removing emissions equipment is illegal. Getting away with it depends entirely on how your area does the testing. You probably won't pass a visual or sniffer, but if they just do obd2 testing you only have to make sure your car doesn't throw a code.

So even a catted header is illegal even though it still has the cat? That's kind of lame. I want some subie rumble


This makes it seem like I won't even get tested?
http://www.emissiontestwa.com/e/faq.aspx#2

A cop pulling you over for a modified exhaust is like being pulled over for tint being to dark.

Which I have a feeling mine might be on my current car(don't have the brz yet). So basically just don't be a jackass and I should be fine?

Basically. You'll probably get more crap from the dmv instead of a cop. I feel my exhaust is pretty loud and I've never had an issue from law enforcement.

From what I gather, the car won't even be inspected since it's 2009 or newer. So when would the DMV even see it? All I want is a low rumble...nothing loud

The county I live in doesn't do emissions testing and as for noise compliance I'm not sure, I haven't been sited for it yet, but just recently did full catless exhaust with tune. I've read that you can register your car under a PO BOX from a country without emissions testing as a way of getting around it.

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It would be obd test. Like said above. If it doesn't throw a code. Most cases they won't check anything else. I have a pretty loud exhaust I feel and I've never been hassled.


https://youtu.be/FsgTSOq_bXk

Yeah I want something like half that loudness

Lol, you say that now, be prepared for the drone and having to yell to have a conversation in the car.

At half the loudness? Would a quarter of it be more sensible? I do mean quieter than what you have if I miss communicated that

My bad. I read it to fast and just saw the want part and skipped everything else. A catted header and a mellow exhaust would be good, greddy or Perrin maybe. Q300 is quiet too.

And with a tune no codes would be thrown, correct?

Maybe for a little bit, I would recommend it tho.

Thanks for the help!

In Washington, if your car is newer than 2008 as stated above, you never have to get an emissions test. Someone mentioned this earlier but it looks like a few people missed it. So mod your exhaust however you want. It is a ticketable offense if some cop wants to hassle you for it though, so keep that in mind

yeah, that was me posting the link. So you're saying I don't even have to do that plug in to check for codes? I can just keep driving with no tests or anything whatsoever as long as i renew my registration and don't have any run ins with the cops for my exhaust?

That's right. The "plug-in to check for codes" is the emissions test, which newer cars don't have to undergo anymore. You are free to do whatever you want with your exhaust, but if you go with something too obnoxious you are begging for trouble.

I wish I had known this when I started modding mine because I opted for a catted header, but I wish I had gone catless to take full advantage of the 'gainz'

Essentially if you modify your exhaust system and it is louder than stock it is illegal. It isn't widely enforced and probably reserved the most annoying cars but it is per the officer's discretion at the end of the day.

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No emissions for our cars here in WA. Just don't be stupid and you won't have any problems. Mod your exhaust how you want to.

I've been through over 10 exhaust set ups being quiet to loud and loud to quiet. Front pipe changes catted, resonated catless, and just catless. UEL catless header back to stock back to UEL catless. Invidia n1, Nameless Muffled Track Pipe, Namless Straight Track Pipe, Buddy Club Spec 2, Greddy Revolution RS. Yeah.. A lot. I'd be surprised if anybody has done more changes to the exhaust than me. You can ask almost anyone in 86 sessions and they will tell you. That being said.. Don't worry about the exhaust being too loud. I've been pulled over a couple times and not a single cop has said anything about my exhaust. Even if aftermarket headers are illegal I have gotten away with it for almost 2 years now. Bellevue WA.