cat removal

hi everyone,what is the law regarding the catalytic converters on my 1993 disco1 v8. Are they a legal requirement. or were they just an option when the vehicle was new?Iwould like to replace them with a normal non cat system if this is legal and feasable. Any suggestions?

IIRC pre 94 they are not a requirement... but my memory is vague so don't trust me 100% on that!

I don't know about the V8, but on the 300TDI you have to pass the emissions test at the MOT and you can pass it without a cat

do u have LPG????

As far as i know, on petrol cars if u remove the cat u'll have to remap the ECM addapting it for the new values cos the lambda sensors will give erratic inputs f***ing up the engine management......but dont trust me 100% either.

Cats are not a legal requirment on petrol engine vehicles and they are not an MOT testable item.
The exhaust emissions only are tested and if they do not exceed the levels for that particular vehicle/engine it will pass.

Exhaust emmissions on Tdi's are not tested only a smoke test is done on diesels.

@discool Well you set me straight now lol. I always thought that any petrol engined car after 1992 had to be fitted with a cat under mot law.

Getting very flashy aren't we alex

The only way a standard "modern" petrol engine can meet the emission rules now is with cat/s fitted even lean burn engines are fitted with them.
But if with the removal of the cat and then with engine modifications the emissions level for that engine are not exceeded so be it, that's ok.

lol its the only way i can flash these days. Thanks for clearing that up for me advice taken on board

What benifit could you obtain by taking off the Cat. Its a 17 year old petrol V8, it will need all the help it can get to pass emissions. I can see the benifit/logic in a diesel... but petrol V8?

Better noise n performance?

As nathan above, once there was a 3.5 and then restrictive cat's were introduce so what did LR do increase the capacity to 3.9.
So remove the restrictive cat's retune the engine to suit and wow more power so you have a fast or shall we say a faster vehicle.

But then does a disco 1 or 2 need this extra power?? No I don't think so but some do which is ok.

ive removed my cats and the rear silencer, then had a stainless mid section welded in. im just uploading a video ill see if i can get it to work

I think that would sound better with a rear silencer fitted.
93 k plate, so you would prob get away with it at mot time.

V8 sounds awesome with an exhaust fitted, im tempted to do somthing on my 98 V8 disco

Thanks everyone, seems it makes more sense to keep the cats after all. Cheers.

discool said:

Cats are not a legal requirment on petrol engine vehicles and they are not an MOT testable item.
The exhaust emissions only are tested and if they do not exceed the levels for that particular vehicle/engine it will pass.

Exhaust emmissions on Tdi's are not tested only a smoke test is done on diesels.

Click to expand...

well your wrong!! catalytic converters are a legal requirement on petrol cars from 1997 onwards. also my old 300tdi defender failed its m.o.t at my work last week due to the emisions been to high and emitting to much smoke for a turbo charged engine. if you remove the cat from a petrol car you will have to replace it for when its due an m.o.t

discool said:

Cats are not a legal requirment on petrol engine vehicles and they are not an MOT testable item.
The exhaust emissions only are tested and if they do not exceed the levels for that particular vehicle/engine it will pass.

Exhaust emmissions on Tdi's are not tested only a smoke test is done on diesels.

Click to expand...

But a petrol engin won't pass a its emmission test without the cat if its supposed to have one, the only cars i know of thet didnt have cats fitted were susuki's cos they went the lean burn instead.

sorry a legal requirement on a m.o.t test. we had a bmw m3 other day for an m.o.t and would it hell go through the emmisions because its had a de-cat

disco2shaun said:

well your wrong!! catalytic converters are a legal requirement on petrol cars from 1997 onwards. also my old 300tdi defender failed its m.o.t at my work last week due to the emisions been to high and emitting to much smoke for a turbo charged engine. if you remove the cat from a petrol car you will have to replace it for when its due an m.o.t

Click to expand...

1993 actuatly.