COT protection?

[wheelin4fun]

So in the description for the predator U7192 it says you can disable the COT protection if you remove your catalytic converters. What would happen if you disable it but still have catalytic converters on the vehicle? Also purely hypothetical, how big of a gain do you get from removing catalytic converters, and what else to you have to do to the vehicle or program to run without catalytic converters.

Thanks.

[06MonteSS]

you would burn up the cats... they would get too hot, melt, then be clogged, and your car would run like crap because of it...

if you still have the cats on the vehicle, do NOT disable the COT... leave it on...

won't really get much of a gain power-wise... but it would probably help your mileage...

you would need to get a custom tune done if you remove the cats, in order to have the necessary trouble codes disabled to prevent the ecm from throwing codes and lighting up the CEL...

[wheelin4fun]

I see, so not much of a power increase but noticeable fuel mileage? Huh... I currently live in a rural part of washington state, and am not required to do emissions testing, does anybody know the fine for removing catalytic converters in the great state of Washington?

[06MonteSS]

if you guys do not have any emissions testing, then there should be no fines for removing the cat. converters... heh...

dunno man.. check your states department of motor vehicles website... I'm sure they have info on there somewhere...

[wheelin4fun]

Right on, I will have to look into that. If I do descide to remove my cats, you said that can be a part of my custom tune? Also would I be able to get a custom tune with the mods I have right now, and if I decide to remove my cats later can you update the tune file to disable any trouble codes that might pop up?

[06MonteSS]

yes, absolutely... can do the tune now, then adjust it later for any new changes you make to the car, like removing the cats...

[wheelin4fun]

Sweet, now I just need to get my predator delivered to me, and I can start having fun... I feel like a 34 year old kid just waiting to get a new toy...

[gregs]

Tampering with emissions systems means breaking FEDERAL law, regardless if your state has inspections or not. The fine for removing the cat is $2500 if you do it and I believe its $30000 if a shop gets caught doing it. As far as power or fuel economy changes there aren't any. The exhaust will sound more raspy and have more of a rumbling sound... don't ask me how i know...

[wheelin4fun]

So the only advantage you get is better sound? How could you possibly get fined if you don't have to go through emission inspections?

[jwdemon]

Well here in Texas only a few cities have actual emissions testing but you can't pass the annual vehicle inspection without cats. Even though we don't have emissions testing here, they made me reinstall the cats to pass.

[wheelin4fun]

Where I live in Washington State, not only do we not do any emissions testing, but I have never had a vehicle inspection anual or otherwise... so I think I would be fine.

[06MonteSS]

yes, you would be perfectly fine.... nothing to worry about...

[wheelin4fun]

Hey 06MonteSS, are you being serious??? Honestly if you weren't required to do emissions testing, or anual vehicle inspections would you remove them? Being that the risk appears to be minimal is the gas mileage increase substantial enough to be worth doing? Also it looks like I should be receiving my predator today via USPS, so be prepared to answer some tuning questions lol...

[06MonteSS]

yes I'm being serious... if it's never inspected or tested, who the hell's gonna know???

know how many cars/trucks are driving around with no cats?? most people, when they install headers on their vehicle, the cats get removed too...

just had a guy last week, removed his cat. converter, and after I tweaked his tune to disable the COT and necessary trouble codes, he went' on a trip, that he does often... and he gained 3-4 mpg....

[wheelin4fun]

I see, that is a pretty good increase in mpg... If I were to remove the cats before I get a custom tune and the computer throws a trouble code, will it cause the truck to run bad? Or will it still run fine and just have the check engine light on?

P.S. Thanks for answering all my newbie questions so quickly...