Are tuners who don't sell illegal parts.....

[FR-S2GT86]

......in danger of this new federal crackdown?

I'm in an area that doesn't require emissions testing, but I went flex-fuel to burn cleaner and to ensure that I'll be able to operate my I.C.E. into the future when gasoline prices rise, as the price for E-85 is more stable here in the US due to the subsidies involved in producing ethanol. I'm not removing the catalytic converter or installing headers at this point. I want more power but at the same time, I don't want to burn dirty.

Can I still have my favorite tuner tune my CARB-compliant supercharged twin without having to specify that the tune is for a race vehicle only?

If the tune that the manufacturer supplied me is CARB-compliant, (which it is) but my existing flex-fuel tune is not, (and is isn't) how do we legally marry the two so that the tuner doesn't catch any crap for it, if it ever comes down to that?

Should I just get a tune from a tuner that is outside of the US, and who is not subject to federal regulation?

Are there any tuners outside the US that are just as good or better (and as thorough) than mine?

Asking for a friend.

[steve99]

Pretty difficult if not impossible to do a carb compliant tune remotly due all the gass analysis needed


But going to be virtually impossible to stop overseas tuner emqiling yo a tune that you flash with your flash device.

[jflogerzi]

At this point we don't know what's gonna happen. What Tuning platform you using? Most can go back to stock calibration without issues. Now depending on how strict they get(IE CA) with looking for modified or tamper ECU's even if its stock by looking at check sums and other things that tip them off the ECU has been flashed... it could get ugly.... but all we can do is hope a work around will be developed...

[FR-S2GT86]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

At this point we don't know what's gonna happen. What Tuning platform you using?

I'm using Ecutek and flashing the ECU myself with tunes provided by my tuner.

[alphasaur]

What new federal crack downs? Did I miss something?

[Celica00]

Originally Posted by alphasaur

What new federal crack downs? Did I miss something?

The EPA is cracking down on car modifications that affect emissions. Specifically emission deletes/bypasses. They seem to be focusing mostly on diesel trucks for now, but the slippery slope cometh.

[alphasaur]

Originally Posted by Celica00

The EPA is cracking down on car modifications that affect emissions. Specifically emission deletes/bypasses. They seem to be focusing mostly on diesel trucks for now, but the slippery slope cometh.

The truck people with smoke stacks are annoying TBH.



but still caca poopy as they'll come for us pretty soon.

[MX-5RACER]

This is a CARB thing, not EPA yet, in regards to cars. They are no longer passing cars in SMOG checks in CARB controlled areas if they have a non-CARB approved tune, even flashes.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by FR-S2GT86

......in danger of this new federal crackdown?

I'm in an area that doesn't require emissions testing, but I went flex-fuel to burn cleaner and to ensure that I'll be able to operate my I.C.E. into the future when gasoline prices rise, as the price for E-85 is more stable here in the US due to the subsidies involved in producing ethanol. I'm not removing the catalytic converter or installing headers at this point. I want more power but at the same time, I don't want to burn dirty.

Can I still have my favorite tuner tune my CARB-compliant supercharged twin without having to specify that the tune is for a race vehicle only?

If the tune that the manufacturer supplied me is CARB-compliant, (which it is) but my existing flex-fuel tune is not, (and is isn't) how do we legally marry the two so that the tuner doesn't catch any crap for it, if it ever comes down to that?

Should I just get a tune from a tuner that is outside of the US, and who is not subject to federal regulation?

Are there any tuners outside the US that are just as good or better (and as thorough) than mine?

Asking for a friend.

With lots, and lots, and lots of money, to lab test and certify that flex fuel tune, and the components associated.

[FR-S2GT86]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

With lots, and lots, and lots of money, to lab test and certify that flex fuel tune, and the components associated.

Yeah, not gonna happen for me then since I'm using the rear O2 sensor input.

Are there any CARB compliant flex-fuel kits for the twins? I have personally never heard of one since you have to hijack one of the ECU emission sensor inputs in order to connect the ethanol content sensor to.

Which is why I was originally interested in further research on UNUSED pins within the ECU connectors that could possibly be mapped and programmed to ADD a new input, instead of hijacking an existing one. There ARE extra pins in there, but nobody seemed to be interested in that at the time when I was learning about it. I suppose that would be a research project for Ecutek if it was possible. I know there was a couple of people on here several years ago discussing open source flex fuel kits, and I believe most of the kits and tunes that are out now are based on that research.

I think a CARB compliant flex-fuel kit would be welcome by some individuals, but probably not enough to make a return on any investment in the testing procedures. But what do I know, I'm just a stereo guy.

[FR-S2GT86]

Originally Posted by alphasaur

The truck people with smoke stacks are annoying TBH.



but still caca poopy as they'll come for us pretty soon.

Recorded this idiot today from out of state,







It's dumbasses like this and the people who get those pops and bang tunes that bring unwanted attention by authorities and the EPA and give the rest of us enthusiasts a bad rap.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by FR-S2GT86

Yeah, not gonna happen for me then since I'm using the rear O2 sensor input.

Are there any CARB compliant flex-fuel kits for the twins? I have personally never heard of one since you have to hijack one of the ECU emission sensor inputs in order to connect the ethanol content sensor to.

Which is why I was originally interested in further research on UNUSED pins within the ECU connectors that could possibly be mapped and programmed to ADD a new input, instead of hijacking an existing one. There ARE extra pins in there, but nobody seemed to be interested in that at the time when I was learning about it. I suppose that would be a research project for Ecutek if it was possible. I know there was a couple of people on here several years ago discussing open source flex fuel kits, and I believe most of the kits and tunes that are out now are based on that research.

I think a CARB compliant flex-fuel kit would be welcome by some individuals, but probably not enough to make a return on any investment in the testing procedures. But what do I know, I'm just a stereo guy.

Bingo. Would you pay double to triple to get a compliant kit with a compliant tune? The individual components have to be certified compliant, as well as variants needed for different model year and transmission combinations.

Not only that, you have to supply the ENTIRE vehicle for testing, which they might keep for 18 months. Potentially per variant.

Folks have no idea how arduous the process is.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Bingo. Would you pay double to triple to get a compliant kit with a compliant tune? The individual components have to be certified compliant, as well as variants needed for different model year and transmission combinations.

Not only that, you have to supply the ENTIRE vehicle for testing, which they might keep for 18 months. Potentially per variant.

Folks have no idea how arduous the process is.

I do this yearly for my company. I hate it.