Smog Pump Required if...

[5.0L Miata]

Hey Guys,

Here in Ontario the rules I have to meet in order to have my car legally on the road are two fold. One I must meet a basic "1980 emissions standard", which is a measurement of the garbage coming out of my tailpipe. Most mechanics I have spoken to say a couple of high flow cats should get me there.

Also, the EPA states that I must keep all factory emissions equipment that came with the engine, or the equivalent replacement parts.

So I have decided to run two high flow cats to meet the 1980 standard coming out the tailpipes...but to meet the visual inspection I am wondering if I could get away with removing the smog pump.

My thought is that if I get cats that do not require the air injection from the pump, I think that means the pump is useless. Therefore, by replacing the factory equipped cats with cats that do not require the air pump I still have the equivalent of what was originally equipped...ie I am still performing the same function.

So my question is, does the smog pump do anything else? I think it's only purpose is to provide O2 to the cats...is this a valid assumption? Sorry for the long post.

 

[darthcual]

The smog pump destroys harmful emmisions at start up/ after that the cats take over when they heat up. As to whether u will pass inspection that depends on the mechanic on duty. One mechanic that I had been going to for years and passed me without smog pump one year but when i went back this year he wouldnt. Really strange considering i've been taking my wifes car and mine to him for over 4 years. I guy i do business w/ is the manager over all the local Texas Oil Exchanges in Arlington/Mansfield Tx area and he hooked me up. So Just find a Mechanic who will pass you is my advice.

 

[cjones]

though you'll probably pass the tailpipe part of the test with just 2 good cats. the engine requires AIR for the visual part of the test.

as darthcua said, during engine warmup(open loop) the air goes upstream to help continue the burn of the fuel in the exhaust manifolds BUT, after engine warmup the air is diverted downstream to the cats to provide additional O2 to help with HC and CO reduction. in a dual stage cat the first bed(stage) reduces HC, CO and NOx (which uses most, if not all, of the available O2), then a space where O2 is added(by AIR), and the second bed(stage) the further reduces HC and CO.

 

[5.0L Miata]

Good thoughts guys, thanks for your input. I understand your point about not passing the visual inspection, but to that point I don't have to meet the Mustang standards because the V8 is in a Miata. The rule for "Hot Rods" here in Ontario states that I must have OE emissions equipment or the equivalent.

I think that by getting two cats that do not require air injection, that voids the need for an air pump in my case. Two cats that are designed to not require the air pump to work efficiently will do the same work as two cats that require the air pump. Therefore, I have replaced the OE emissions equipment with the equivalent that was installed from the factory. Does this make sense?