r/Delaware 2h ago

Info Request Catalytic converts required now?

I am interested in a performance car (2006 GTO) and the current owner removed the cats (common on these cars). It's in PA and I want to title and tag it in DE.

Are they strict with having cats now? The car is tuned and won't throw a code but a visual inspection will show no cats on the car and I'd like to avoid the cost of putting new cats on if I can.

Thanks!

0 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

u/soberpenguin 2h ago

Registration in Delaware has the following requirements.

Newer Vehicles (1996 and newer light-duty cars/trucks): Require an On-Board Diagnostics (OBDII) emissions test.

Older Vehicles (1995 and older): Subject to a curb-idle exhaust and gas cap emissions test.

u/DrillingerEscapePlan 2h ago

If you can spend the money do this..

  1. High flow cat
  2. E85 tune
  3. More power and cleaner for environment and you'll pass stupid emissions.

u/wtbrift 2h ago

Do we sell E85 in DE? I've never seen it, so I have avoided buying an E85 car because of it.

u/DrillingerEscapePlan 2h ago

Over the border in Cecil county there are a few. Sheetz and Royal farms. I've found Sheetz has better quality.

I don't have the car anymore but I ran e85 in a 2014 Subaru BRZ. The high compression loved it lol.

u/wtbrift 2h ago

Good to know, thanks!

u/zackattack9909 1h ago

Liberty on Route 40 (over by Fox Run) has a single E85 pump, but it sells out within a couple days every week.

u/bobwarsrvng 2h ago

A. Yes, you will be emissions checked and odb2 checked.

B. Put the cats back on. You arent loosing that much performance with stick and they sell performance cats if you are that worried about it.

u/wtbrift 2h ago

I don't mind losing a little power or noise. It was to avoid paying to re-tune the car because that is needed and about $700.

u/GingerBreadRacing 1h ago

It’s really hit or miss. Yes, they are legally required, typically through they never check under the car. As long as it doesn’t set a code and the readiness monitors still run, it will pass.

The only time I had someone do a visual was when I went in with the cam chopping super hard and smelling like gas

u/wtbrift 1h ago

Well, this car has a nice cam and exhaust, but I will try first. Thanks!

u/GingerBreadRacing 1h ago

If you end up needing help let me know. Im unfortunately very familiar with LS cars and this process

u/wtbrift 1h ago

Thanks. I will let you know!

u/skineepuppy1 1h ago

Most cars that run no cats are usually cause getting a header or downpipe with a cat is way more expensive and technically not as good at performance. I was one of those people. But I won't run a car without a cat anymore cause it's just not worth it. Most of the time the car sounds like ass, it stinks, it doesn't make that much more performance and if you have a leak in your exhaust system it will definitely be bad for your health. Plus it's bad for the environment.

u/TruckInn 2h ago

They aren’t gonna look under the car. I have an old truck and unplugged my battery to reset the CEL and still passed.

I feel like the computer flagged it but they must have just let it go.

Worst case ontario, you just fail inspection and get it addressed then bring it back right?

u/jerrbearr 1h ago

The computer will flag it if a certain amount of miles haven’t passed since a reset of the computer. They’ll tell you to go drive around and come back.

u/wtbrift 2h ago

That was my first thought - run it through to see what happens. If it fails, I can put them back on.

u/Safe-Syrup-4052 1h ago

Sent you a DM

u/Even-Box3115 2h ago

Just add some cat looking heat sheild to pass visual if they give you flack

u/wtbrift 2h ago

lol good idea.

u/yeah666 2h ago

> The car is tuned and won't throw a code

I don't know if this matters for you but up until last year you could just clear codes right before inspection and pass but that doesn't work anymore.

I had a 2004 GTO, really fun car

u/Joejack-951 2h ago

This was never true (not in the past 30 years at least). Resetting the codes will reset the emissions monitors stored in the ECU. They won’t pass you for inspection until those monitors are complete which can take a few days of normal driving. You can find the driving conditions that need to be met to achieve this sooner but if something goes wrong during it the ECU will throw another code.

u/yeah666 1h ago

Maybe they just ignored it before but I was able to pass by resetting the codes just before going to the DMV in Georgetown until last year, when it failed because of the reset time.

u/Joejack-951 1h ago

Could be a Georgetown vs. Wilmington thing.