Gears and Emissions

[Hornetsnest]

I was researching 4.10 gears on the FRPP website and read something that confused the heck out of me.

PART NUMBER RATIO AXLE MUSTANG/RANGER/F-150 8.8"
M-4209-G410* 4.10:1
(At the bottom of the page) *Not legal for sale or use on pollution-controlled motor vehicles.

Does this mean after market gears are not emissions legal or am I just twisted and not reading this right? Do I even have the right part?
Even if for some ungodly reason they weren't legal, how the heck would the tester know? It's my understanding that California only tests emissions at idle.

Can anybody clarify this for me???

 

[Hornetsnest]

No one knows? ...Or is this just a stupid question that nobody wants to answer

I'll probably just call FRPP and find out for them. I was just wondering if anyone had personal experience.

 

[Route666]

For most parts I would say it is because it can change the emmissions created, like removing cats, using different cams, injectors, etc, but in cases like this it's most likely just their way of saying that it is a racing part, and if it breaks whilst using it on the street, and causes injury or damage, that they aren't to blame, because they explicitly stated it was not for use on a road-going vehicle.

 

[trinity_gt]

The problem is that when Ford (or any maker) gets a drivetrain certified for emissions it involves fairly great expense, time and resources and it's a complicated process. When they sell a few hundred thousand cars they can cover these expenses fairly easily. But when they offer for sale components that may possibly, conceivably alter the emissions performance of the vehicle in comparatively small quantities, it's simply not economical for them to re-certify every possible combination. It only makes sense then that they'll apply the cover-all "not legal for sale or use on pollution controlled vehicles" to simply cover their asses.

Gears may alter the emissions performance of the car since it changes the loading the engine sees and its operating RPM at any given speed. For better or for worse, Ford isn't going to re-test it and going to take any chances and will simply declare them "not for use" on pollution controlled cars.

 

[BooWFO]

Or it could be from the increase in RPM's which would change the emissions and also the EPA MPG that they have to get. Also for a part to carry an EPO or CARB cert they have to pay to put it through that testing. Where as a Offroad only part they just slap that on the box and they are done no additional funds to spend. Also some states do a load emissions test. Louisville Ky used to and it suxed some shcumck hopping in your car and spinning it up.

 

[Hornetsnest]

Also some states do a load emissions test. Louisville Ky used to and it suxed some shcumck hopping in your car and spinning it up.

Thanks for the replies.

In this case, I could see how the gears "might" affect the test. But for only a visual and idle emissions test, there's no way they can tell I'm assuming. I guess the statement is FRPP's way of saying if you get caught, we told you so and we are not liable.

The whole reason behind me asking in the first place is I'm probably moving back the California soon, so emissions will be an issue for me. I can work around it for certain parts like swapping back the stock H-pipe for the test, but swapping gears for the test may be more trouble than it's worth and I may wait until after the initial test to do so. Or I'll just say screw it and deal with it