Hi all,

Today i raised my 8 to install my JDM clear corners. While the car was lifted i started to take a look at the under parts of the car. Unfortunately, i saw a few holes in my CAT. most likely due to rust. So i think i'm due for a new CAT. converter soon.

So i searched the forums to see what people have done with their 8's and the cat, where there are somethings i like to inquire about and see if i can get an opinion/recommendation.

There is 3 things i can do,

1) Go to the dealer, check the price of a new Cat. Converter, buy then install.

2) Buy a used Cat. Converter, install.

OR

3) Replace it with a mid-pipe/race pipe.

(a) If i was going to do the race pipe, many have leaned towards the Racing Beat Resonated Catalytic Converter Replacement Pipe. Good price, good quality, nice sound. Yet, there are problems that do occur hence the following questions.
Firstly, the engine check light CEL is on when installing the RB pipe, is there away of removing it? (without the Accessport).
Secondly, My Rx8 is an '04, so emissions will be another issue i have to deal with. Does anyone know of aftermarket cat/race pipe combo that is able to pass Canadian Emissions and is within the laws of Ontario?

I'm intrigued about the mid-pipe, and maybe this will help other 8 owners.

Thanks in advance.

 

First off, are you sure the cat has the holes or is it just the heat shield that is rusted. Second, I believe Canada has the same law as the US, if your car has less than 80,000 miles/120,000k it is covered under warranty.
Any race pipe will cause a MIL/CEL. Some people have had problems with a MIL using a hi flow cat.
There was a way to mask a MIL using a Cobb Accessport, however they have been discontinued. They are only available on the used market.

 

^^ you are correct, they replaced mine for free

 

Cat is covered for 120000 or 8 years (something like that.) The dealership will only replace IF there is something wrong with the CAT causing it to malfunction. I just recently had mine done a week ago. Fully covered. I saw the final cost for the CAT, labour and post CAT o2 sensor... came up to $2300

 

What alnielsen said ... likely the holes are in the heat shield....
Pics would help!?!?!?

My responses to numbered questions
1) Dealer cat is way to expensive avoid this at all cost if you have to "PURCHASE" a CAT that they won't cover

2) It's tough to find a used CAT. I know .... I attempted this in April with noooooo luck

3) I had the RP Super CAT and it failed terribly when I went for an E-Test

I suggest you go and get an E-Test ... cost you a whole 30 dollars to find out if your CAT is good or not ... end of story

 

Cheaper to get the test done than going to the dealer to get a "diagnostic" check which is $99.

I have a used cat, but shipping would be expensive up to ontario (or where ever you are in Canada).

 

There's no way for a straight pipe to pass the e-test.

If you want to use a race pipe, just keep your stock cat for e-test.

Imo, I'd rather spend the money on a header. The race pipe doesn't help too much on performance, it just make the exhaust louder, and you might lose some low end Torque.

 

If ure saying you lose power by using a race pipe, how come all the companies test their exhaust systems with, cat, catless, midpipe. Usually the catless runs the highest hp gains.

Also wouldnt the header be much more expensive?

 

^^^ agreed

 

you gain hp in high end but lose TQ in low end. If you are racing, you will always in high RPMS, so you take the advantage of the race pipe. But for a daily drive, you won't goes to high RPMS, then you take the disadvantage of the pipe.

Yep, the header is more expensive, but it makes more hp than the race pipe. If you just want you car sound louder, go for the test pipe, if you want to gain a lot on performance, save money for a header. But it's good if you have both.

 

You know what Al, it might be the heat shield being rusted, i'll have to further investigate it. I'll check again soon, and find out if i'm covered, AND then go from there i guess.


^ouch, i hope i get covered then, or USED cat here i come. So far i don't have any Errors coming up but i sense soon this will be something i need to deal with.

^ that's a good point, WCS i never thought of the e-test. thanks!

 

ummm... i thought that there weren't any significant gains with the after market headers on the 8?

 

yes, no significant gains with either header or race pipe on a na car.

 

Not to pick on you shaojie ... but I'm starting to see a lot of this word on the forums "significant" and typically power gains follow shortly afterwards.

This (to me anyways) begs the question:

What to you, is a significant gain (I'm asking everyone shaojie, not just you )

To me .. .ummmm I think I would say 20-30 whp

 

^ +1 Significant gain = 20 - 30 hp

 

Whats intake, midpipe, and exhaust on an 8 going to get you +/-5 hp.

 

intake subtracts power, exhaust +/- 3, midpipe 5 -10 hp.

 

My base stock dyno in 2005 was 171 hp

3 Years later I came back to that same dyno and got 186
Mod list
- Revi + Ram air
- RP super cat
- SR Underdrive pulley
- RB Flywheel
- MM Tune

Quite a pricey list huh ... I put on the Zex for 800 USD

Then on same dyno same day -- 65 shot of nitrous
230 Hp

 

Intakes subtract power ... whatever ... maybe the crap from ebay does

Show me data that you've tested all the intakes out there to prove such a bold statement

 

I would consider 20-30WHP as a significant gain too.

For The 5-10hp (actually lower) gain from the race pipe, it really makes no difference.

 

Intake, midpipe, exhaust.. great ways to improve the sound of your NA car.

Nitrous, Supercharger, Turbocharger... great ways to improve the HP of the car.

 

re : magnaflow catalytic converterMy brother owned the catco headerback, will the OEM caddilac conver will fit it.

 

i think its been said many times that removing the cat = gain all over the power band for a decent gain you really need to lean out the tune which normally cooks the cat. ive read this all over the forum and have never herd of any one losing tq modding the exhaust.

this isn't a piston engine it doesn't need any back pressure.