Emission Testing
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,196
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Emission Testing
My buddy just called me after he got his oil changed and said the tech that worked there said he would fell inspection this year cause he has no muffler. It got me worried so I thought I would ask you guys and gals. He has an 03 dodge straight piped. I'm in Bell Co. Texas and the last I knew diesels didn't get emission tested. I even looked on TDPS website and it stated counties that do have emission testing and were not one of them. Please someone shed some light on this subject, I just threw away my muffler.
This is the website I looked at
Inspection Station Locator
This is the website I looked at
Inspection Station Locator
Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,849
Likes: 0
I live in one of the most highly regulated areas in the country, and mufflers are not a requirement...a catalytic converter is, though, but just based on visual inspection.
Pass or no pass is based on the amount of smoke your truck puts out.
If you havent needed an emissions test thus far, I think your buddy's mechanic is full of crap.
Pass or no pass is based on the amount of smoke your truck puts out.
If you havent needed an emissions test thus far, I think your buddy's mechanic is full of crap.
Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,849
Likes: 0
It even shows on your little map that testing is not required in 95% of Texas, and that tests are not required for motorcycles or diesels anywhere in the state. Most of the West, South, and Midwestern states require little or no emissions testing.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 786
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From: Reno nv
My $.02:
the muffler is actually a Federal emissions requirement {not a state req't} as is the whole exhaust system, intact with no modifications.
HOWEVER My understanding is that the FEDS have no authority to do testing, no test equipment, no personnel, facilities or budget.
Can't think of anybody busted by the feds for muffler delete, which is an approved test procedure as spelled out by my 2000 ford workshop manual.
the muffler is actually a Federal emissions requirement {not a state req't} as is the whole exhaust system, intact with no modifications.
HOWEVER My understanding is that the FEDS have no authority to do testing, no test equipment, no personnel, facilities or budget.
Can't think of anybody busted by the feds for muffler delete, which is an approved test procedure as spelled out by my 2000 ford workshop manual.
Not a liberal...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 4
From: Cut & Shoot, Texas
The tech is right. In Texas you can fail inspection for no muffler. I went through this not too long ago when I was thinking about switching to a straight pipe. It has nothing to do with emissions testing. I will try and find the law where it says that you must have it. I posted it here not too long ago.
I left my muffler on. Not worth the hassle.
I left my muffler on. Not worth the hassle.
Gone Fishin for Mark
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 2
From: West of Houston
My advice is to not take advice from an oil change 'tech'.
They don't even bother to crawl under mine. Laws are goofy, OCT's are even goofier.
Just have your buddy go a little early in case he needs to do something else. Also make DAMN sure he doesn't take it back to the same place for a sticker. He could also ask several inspectors till he found one that says it doesn't need a muffler.
They don't even bother to crawl under mine. Laws are goofy, OCT's are even goofier.
Just have your buddy go a little early in case he needs to do something else. Also make DAMN sure he doesn't take it back to the same place for a sticker. He could also ask several inspectors till he found one that says it doesn't need a muffler.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
The tech is right. In Texas you can fail inspection for no muffler. I went through this not too long ago when I was thinking about switching to a straight pipe. It has nothing to do with emissions testing. I will try and find the law where it says that you must have it. I posted it here not too long ago.
I left my muffler on. Not worth the hassle.
I left my muffler on. Not worth the hassle.
The oil change tech probably didn't know diesels don't get hooked up to the computer with the **** probe, so he just assumed it would fail the computer emissions test.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
In Texas, you have to have a safety inspection. That's one of the stickers on the windshield. Only certain counties in Texas also require emissions testing.
A muffler can be checked during a safety inspection, as well as the entire exhaust system. You can fail for not having a muffler. The the thing about Texas is some stations give a rats butt, and others don't.
I used to live in Texas, and I've gone through inspections where I paid money and they never looked at my vehicle.... just gave me a sticker. Other times they failed me on items that would seem ridiculous. Texas inspections are a joke.
A muffler can be checked during a safety inspection, as well as the entire exhaust system. You can fail for not having a muffler. The the thing about Texas is some stations give a rats butt, and others don't.
I used to live in Texas, and I've gone through inspections where I paid money and they never looked at my vehicle.... just gave me a sticker. Other times they failed me on items that would seem ridiculous. Texas inspections are a joke.
Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,849
Likes: 0
Thats DUMB! Sorry for the incorrect information! I hadn't thought that they would have a separate "safety" inspection. How can they bypass emissions testing for diesels, and then turn around and require the use of mufflers?
Even Denver, a place thats about as tree-huggerish as they get, don't require the use of mufflers.
Even Denver, a place thats about as tree-huggerish as they get, don't require the use of mufflers.
Not a liberal...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 4
From: Cut & Shoot, Texas
I agree with Curtis....it's a joke. Unfortunately if you're gonna live here you have the play the game.
A friend of mine got a hassle over his open intake during his last inspection. They gave him the sticker but gave him crap over it and told him that they didn't have to. Like Curtis said, some of them are cool and don't hassle you but some are jerks. I think it's people that are jealous.
Find a place that will do it and go there.
A friend of mine got a hassle over his open intake during his last inspection. They gave him the sticker but gave him crap over it and told him that they didn't have to. Like Curtis said, some of them are cool and don't hassle you but some are jerks. I think it's people that are jealous.
Find a place that will do it and go there.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,135
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From: Brinklow Md
Technically a turbo is considered a muffling device. 
My friend got chit from a local rookie cop one day about his exaust, hes yelling and throwing codes out at us, saying were not allowed to mod ANTHING on the truck at all and it has to be left all stock. the cop and my friend were outside his truck and Im in the back seat telling him hes wrong (my friends at this point are yelling at me so no one gets in trouble lol) because "technically" his cruiser isnt a stock crown vic..... he never heard me but that would have been a good debate...
My friend got chit from a local rookie cop one day about his exaust, hes yelling and throwing codes out at us, saying were not allowed to mod ANTHING on the truck at all and it has to be left all stock. the cop and my friend were outside his truck and Im in the back seat telling him hes wrong (my friends at this point are yelling at me so no one gets in trouble lol) because "technically" his cruiser isnt a stock crown vic..... he never heard me but that would have been a good debate...
Not a liberal...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 4
From: Cut & Shoot, Texas
I tried that. Didn't work. Removing anything that was standard equipment in the exhaust system is illegal. If the truck came brand new with a muffler then it has to have one at inspection. The law is very clear about it. The muffler comes after the turbine blades. Don't get me wrong. I think it sucks and I want to go striaght pipe but it's not worth the hassle to me.
Edit: Here's the law on it. This is from the State of Texas page regarding what they look at for a safety inspection:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...ejectsubmit=Go
Here's the main page. You can see the requirements for everything they will check by using the drop down menu:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp.../item_insp.asp
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 0
From: Brinklow Md
I tried that. Didn't work. Removing anything that was standard equipment in the exhaust system is illegal. If the truck came brand new with a muffler then it has to have one at inspection. The law is very clear about it. The muffler comes after the turbine blades. Don't get me wrong. I think it sucks and I want to go striaght pipe but it's not worth the hassle to me.
Edit: Here's the law on it. This is from the State of Texas page regarding what they look at for a safety inspection:
VI - Emissions
Here's the main page. You can see the requirements for everything they will check by using the drop down menu:
Inspection Station Locator
Edit: Here's the law on it. This is from the State of Texas page regarding what they look at for a safety inspection:
VI - Emissions
Here's the main page. You can see the requirements for everything they will check by using the drop down menu:
Inspection Station Locator