[AR]

[MadCapLaughs]

This ain't about technology or efficacy . . . this is about the fact that EGR is part of a commie/hippy ploy to steal his freedom via the international conspiracy propagated by "climate change."

[tigermn]

Speaking of EGR valves mine blew right apart a few months ago on my Nissal Maxima. It sounded like I had a hole in the muffler and exhaust was coming out the bottom of the car. In all this the check engine light never came on. Wonder if I could have passed the emissions test. Then on my van which runs fine has a check engine light on for a knock sensor... Go figure. What a friggin joke.

[AR]

ah hell...i had a check engine light cause my cigarette lighter was missing.

[markh752]

[Bedivere]

[SKS]

I couldn't pull up Bedivere's link since I'm at work. EGR systems only exist to reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions. They do this by injecting exhaust gases (already burned) back into the intake to take up space between the fuel and air molecules and causing the flame front to burn slower reducing the combustion flame temperature. High combustion temps cause more Nox emissions. I believe these emissions are credited with contributing to acid rain.

[Malachai Constant]

NOx is a minor contributor to acid rain, the main culprit is SO2 from coal burning which becomes H2SO4 in the atmosphere. NOx is a major ingredient in photochemical smog when sunlight converts it to N2O4. This is the smog which used to occur in the Los Angeles basin and Seattle in the summer. It has been greatly reduced but not eliminated by emission controls. Basic Chemistry

[Bedivere]

[Slugman]

Corporate internet filters recognize Wikipedia, but we must be flying under the radar.

[Randito]

Check Engine Light == excessive emissions. Very rarely will a "Check Engine Light" issue prevent a car from moving. But with a Check Engine Light on -- you'll likely fail your Washington State Emissions test -- which could complicate renewing your tabs. Model years requiring testing for tabs that expire in 2016 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 If your car is newer than 2009 -- no need for testing -- I guess the state figures those newer vehicles are Go To Go. If you've got a car older than 1992 -- you are also don't need to test -- at least if the car still moves. The biggest thing to be concerned about with the Check Engine Light is if it is running too rich for some easily fixable reason, e.g. a faulty sensor -- if you ignore it -- running too rich can ruin the catalytic converter -- which is a very expensive repair -- and unless your car is older than 1992 -- replacing the catalytic converter with a straight pipe isn't an option.

[Bedivere]

[Bedivere]

[Randito]

IDK about federal law or whether EPA agents have the authority to inspect a vehicle -- but Washington State law exempts: "Vehicles over 25 years old." http://www.dmv.org/wa-washington/smog-check.php from inspection, also emission inspections are only required if you live in certain counties and zipcodes within those counties. http://www.emissiontestwa.com/e/ZipCodes/Zip_codes07.pdf Whether a muffler shop would install a straight pipe on an old car is another question -- and whether it would be much cheaper than buying a aftermarket catalytic converter... But if you happen to have a welding torch and a DIY bent... That said -- it's best to deal with a "check engine light" promptly and ensure that your catalytic converter doesn't get plugged up. Spewing a bunch of unburned hydrocarbons into the atmosphere isn't cool, whether there is a legal penalty or not.

[Bedivere]

Yes, it's a federal law issue. Just because the vehicle is exempt from state inspection doesn't mean you are allowed to remove federally mandated emissions equipment. It is a violation of federal law to remove a cat converter from a vehicle originally equipped with one and good luck finding a shop that will do it, even though old cars aren't inspected here in WA. I know this from experience. There are ways around it though, you just have to be a little creative. I know all about WA emission inspection - I've been a gearhead and owned old cars my whole life. My truck is an '84 Toyota which is exempt and when I rebuilt the engine I removed all of the emission equipment except the PCV valve which is actually beneficial to the engine, and the cat converter which doesn't give me any problems and would be a hassle to remove. WA state is phasing out vehicle emission inspections. Current plan is to stop testing all vehicles by 2020: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/state-phasing-out-vehicle-emission-testing/