Sly
Member
Question for all of you who live in California and have a muffler delete. My question to you is have you had any issues with law enforcement or smog registration while running a muffler delete?
California muffler delete problems
- Thread starter Sly
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mrcolieman
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Deletes, cutouts and bypasses are not legal in CA. Exhaust systems are required to have mufflers that keep sound level to 95 decibels or below (for reference that's how loud a gas lawn mower is at full throttle). Vehicles that are 7 years old and newer don't get a smog check, you pay a smog abatement fee with each years registration. Anything older than 7 years has to be smog checked once every 2 years; physical inspection, functional test and tailpipe emission test. Factory cat-back systems sold and installed by a dealer are good to go. Any aftermarket parts must be CARB certified (50 state legal) and will have a reference number/paperwork to show a smog check tech. 1975 and older vehicles (pre catalytic converter) are exempt (no smog check required).
I hear vehicles all day long that don't meet the sound requirement and in my humble opinion I think it depends on where you live, how you drive, and the mood on any given day of a law enforcement officer. So... if your truck is newer than 7 years and you drive reasonably, it leads one to believe that you could (but I'm not recommending it for legal reasons!
) get away with loud exhaust until that first smog check is due...
That being said, I'm old enough that I really appreciate how quiet my stock Trail Boss exhaust is going down the road and the 5.3 has more HP than I need. 
Best of luck to you!
I hear vehicles all day long that don't meet the sound requirement and in my humble opinion I think it depends on where you live, how you drive, and the mood on any given day of a law enforcement officer. So... if your truck is newer than 7 years and you drive reasonably, it leads one to believe that you could (but I'm not recommending it for legal reasons!
) get away with loud exhaust until that first smog check is due...That being said, I'm old enough that I really appreciate how quiet my stock Trail Boss exhaust is going down the road and the 5.3 has more HP than I need.
Best of luck to you!
And diesel engine equipped light vehicles are every 2 years regardless of age.
