HELP! - Exhaust too loud - tricks for EPA testing - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

ChuBBz · 05-19-2003, 05:00

Received a notice in the mail today, from the EPA saying that my car was 'observed' to be excessively noisy. I only have a 6 with a 2 and a half inch exhaust, 1 straight thru muffler and extractors.

It must pass the 90dB limit - so in order to so i was wondering what tricks anyone knows or has heard of that people do?

I'm just after a quick decrease in noise for the test, then i'll change it back to how it was.

epa

ChuBBz

rod · 05-19-2003, 05:05

greetings
get some chicken wire about 1 metre long & 300mm wide roll it up so that it it 63mm in diameter & still 300mm long, stick that up the tailpipe & put a long selftapper through the pipe so that the wire does not blow out while they are testing it
regards
rod

P.S. let us know how you go

Charliewool · 05-19-2003, 05:16

If you have a flange ( 3 bolt) where extractors join the system, make a blank flange of the same external shape & size out of 3mm plate, drill 10 or so 5mm holes in it ( Where the internal Dia of the pipe was/is) Seperate the join and insert the plate with a flange gasket on each side & bingo!... Don't give the car too much though, until it's removed, as the back pressure created is NOT good!... Had these plates for years for EPA on my XRGT!.. It works! Trouble with chicken wire is it will burn away unless your pretty quick getting to , & in and out of the EPA!

Aussiblue · 05-19-2003, 05:51

Most experienced testers know to look down the exhaust for restrictors, chicken wire etc if you're already suspect. Might be worth have a full compliant test exhaust sytem to swap as required.

AUForte · 05-19-2003, 05:59

As my stock exhaust is corroding, I might replace it before it is completely gone, then put the stock one up in the rafters of the garage.

I don't want a loud exhaust at all but just in case

Rollin · 05-19-2003, 06:44

ah the farken EPA - they go me a little while ago....

i put on another straight through mufler, got it down to 95dB from 102, then made up a plate as per charliewools suggestion, and added 12 steel wool balls as well - overkill it turned out, a quieter than stock 83db :)

and the backpressure was waaaay too much - wouldnt rev past 4000rpm under load and the air pressure actually bent the plate!! will get pics of the plate tomorrow if i can be bothered...

rod · 05-19-2003, 07:41

thats the problem with the plate you have to make sure that the car will still rev to 3/4 of it's maxium R.P.M.

do you have to go to the E.P.A. or just to an approved noise tester in the area

i am not up with the way the E.P.A. works now but many moon's ago were i worked we were an approved noise tester & i still have all of the equiptment that is needed for testing

if you have to go to the E.P.A. see if there is somebody in your area that can test it first or P.M. me with a contact number & if you are local we can catch up somewere & test it before you go to the E.P.A.

regards
rod

ChuBBz · 05-19-2003, 08:06

Thanks heaps rod (and others) i appreciate that!

No i don't have to go to EPA. They've given me a list and the closest one is DAALDER EXHAUSTS in BOXHILL.

hemmm.. what to do!!? Don't really wanna play around with the exhaust system too much that its risky to drive!

AUForte · 05-19-2003, 08:13

Hmmm I wonder if the universal persuasion tool of a slab of beer is in order. :shifty:

Or maybe not. . .

Possibly a stocko exhaust from the wreckers? You could just buy a crappy one to keep the cost down and just do a complete swap, then store it in the rafters of you garage for next time.

kooky · 05-19-2003, 14:56

ChuBBz the plate in the 3 bolt flange is the go for a quick fix got me a roadworthy on my (now sold) *cough* extend port rx7 *cough*... 3 inch zorst extractors and all.....