Just to advise everyone,

We are using the decimeter sound measuring instrument in Richmond.

Just to let people know - if you are considering Kakimoto exhaust for your Subie, DON'T...

On the USDM GD, it is louder than the limit for motorcycles. I don't know how people can sit in a vehicle with that kind of racket...

Other "winners":
5.0l Mustang with Y-pipe and dual flowmasters
Civic hatchback with Apex N1
Prelude with 5-Ziegen Fireball
Civic Sir with Spoon N1
Integra Type-R with testpipe and Spoon N1
VW GTi VR6 with Scorpion exhaust
8/10 motorcycles fail with aftermarket exhaust (Harleys and Sportbikes)


I also tested a bone stock 2001 BMW M3. It passed with flying colours...

WK

We need to test my car =)

For reference, what is the legal decibel level for Richmond, or other areas of the lower mainland if they share the same db level?

Would it be possible to have a "test" day so people with existing exhausts can see whether they pass or not and get the appropriate fixes (ie. silencers, resonators, etc.)?

What are the requirements for testing? Do you have special calibrated RCMP issued sound meter? At what distance away from the exhaust do you test the sound level at? What RPM (2.5K, 5k, WOT, etc.)

Thanx! :D

LaterZ!
Darren!!

White Knight, you are awesome. :)

Thanks for sharing the info!

Originally posted by White_Knight
.....

I also tested a bone stock 2001 BMW M3. It passed with flying colours...

WK

There we go. Problem solved.

Hi White_Knight...

i heard the standard/limit is set at 90db? is that right?

yet a stock ITR has 83db already....:(

Civic Hatchback w/ Apex-i N1? how about w/ Fireball? is that louder or no? or HKS Hiper?

fortunately i didn't get the Spoon N1 back at Xmas coz they are out of stock! :D

what Keiho suggested is kinda interesting....i hope u officers might take that as a concern coz for us....we have no idea how many db it is all we know is the exhaust note....if that's the one we want or not....yet that would be way higher than the limit....

and like Penphoe says....what rpm is the test gonne be? i heard ppl got VI w/ stock exhaust but aftermarket intake....and it's sth about too loud?! and my friend who has went thru a road block that test their exhaust they were asked to rev to 4k?

thx

Eric

All:

94 dB A-weighted @ 1m (outdoors) is for MOTORCYCLES...

The sound meter we use has a +/- 1.5 dB accuracy. I'm afraid I can't go into all of the specifics

I have been measuring alot of stock cars and NONE of them comes close to the limit for passenger vehicles, including the Type-R...


Hint: Try for low 80s dB A-weighted @ 1 m for vehicles (at 1/2 your redline) and you should be safe... (for sound level only).


There is a reason why I'm giving you the heads up - to give those folks with loud exhaust (and you know who you are...) a chance to remove it.

5-Zigen: Your information is incorrect... I'm pretty much just giving you notice. How you decide what to do is up to you...

WK

All:

Each municipality has bylaws governing sound within their areas.

This can be used in conjuction with MVARs.

I don't know what other areas are doing, but Richmond is not the only municipality using the decimeter...

Good luck

WK

White Knight- so what aftermark exhaust u think is legal? and if just change the muffler?

Originally posted by White_Knight
Hint: Try for low 80s dB A-weighted @ 1 m for vehicles (at 1/2 your redline) and you should be safe... (for sound level only).


There is a reason why I'm giving you the heads up - to give those folks with loud exhaust (and you know who you are...) a chance to remove it.

5-Zigen: Your information is incorrect... I'm pretty much just giving you notice. How you decide what to do is up to you...

WK

WK: it's possibly a good reason my friend is not getting any aftermarket exhaust....dunno if he is right or not but that's probably sth that can stop him....we are just talking about a risk or sth....:)

how can i try out ur hint though? will there be any test date?

Originally posted by White_Knight
All:
Hint: Try for low 80s dB A-weighted @ 1 m for vehicles (at 1/2 your redline) and you should be safe... (for sound level only).
WK

What does the term "A-weighted" mean? Could you clarify this please?

LaterZ!
Darren!!

Originally posted by Reset
White Knight- so what aftermark exhaust u think is legal? and if just change the muffler?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm under the assumption that all aftermarket exhausts are illegal unless released by the car company. I don't know the validity of that...anybody know?

Derek

For reference, this is what the MVA says... As WK said... each municipality has their own noise by-laws.

Vehicle noise -- s. 27
27 A motor vehicle shall be equipped with an exhaust muffler which complies with section 7.03 of the regulations.
The opinion of an inspector as to whether the engine and exhaust noise is greater than that made by other vehicles in good condition of comparable size, horsepower, piston displacement or compression ratio shall determine whether exhaust gases are expelled with excessive noise.

When tested in an inspection station, the vehicle engine, any auxiliary engine and exhaust level shall not exceed Table 3 standards.

Table 3 -- ss. 28 to 7.18




Class of Vehicle Maximum Allowable Sound Pressure
Level DBA

Light duty 83

Gasoline-driven heavy duty 88

Motorcycles 91

Diesel-driven heavy duty 93

What's interesting is section 7 of the MVA.
Muffler -- s. 7.03(1)
7.03 (1) A motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine shall be equipped with an exhaust muffler consisting of a series of pipes or chambers which ensures that the exhaust gases from the engine are cooled and expelled without excessive noise.
[snip]
Noise increase or flames prohibited -- s. 7.03(5)
(5) No person shall drive or operate a motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine equipped with a muffler or exhaust system to which is attached any device which increases the noise of the expulsion of the gases from the engine or allows a flame to be emitted from the exhaust system.
B.C. Reg. 29/59.

So does that basically rule out all aftermarket exhausts?

That is what I believe...I was under the impression the entire time that aftermarket exhausts are all illegal.

Derek

Darren,

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/acont.html

Originally posted by Blackskull
Darren,

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/acont.html

Thanx Blackskull!

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/imgsou/acont2.gif
The A-contour filters out significantly more bass than the others, and is designed to approximate the ear at around the 40 phon level. It is very useful for eliminating inaudible low frequencies.


Pic and text scammed from the site that Blackskull listed! :devil:

LaterZ!
Darren!!

I hate loud ass cars anyways... I'm sorry, 4 bangers DO NOT sound good loud... hehe

All:

I'm going to try for a friendly test day in the future...

Orbby will be the sacrificial lamb with his Apex N1... Yikes!

;)


WK

Thanks White Knight. Please keep us updated on the "testday".

don't get suckered into this "friendly test day"! it's a trap! :D

ben (who will never visit richmond again!)

Hhaaha..the Ricmond Import "Scene" is gunna be over before it even started...hehehe, guess I'll be the only stock car left driving around on Saturday's :D

Derek

i will try not to go to RMD often before i got my exhaust fixed....:)

I guess i better bring my silencer that day =|

White_knight:

I think that the only aftermarket muffler that legal it's the one that not exceed the sound level and pass the air care. But what I experienced is it doesn't matter when you got pull-over, when the RCMP and only Richmond RCMP see your muffler is not factory made, VI automatically. Don't know why this will seldomly happen in Vancouver or Burnaby. :p

Just one question, like when you got caught, do you just need to do the inspension or there is more to that? Thank You!

Who cares Tinkit?? IT'S ILLEGAL! It just so happens that most little boys who has illegal parts on their cars are in Richmond...

It's like this.... you don't see the US military presence in Canada for Terrorism but you do see them in Afganistan right? If you still have to ask, I feel sorry for you and just hope that you don't pro-create.

Perhaps we can get a list going with people who have different types of exhausts? Then we can pick a day to test them all so people will know what is and isn't legal. If they need/want to change, they will know what their options are.

Who's in? :devil:

Ashton - Scoobie Sport w/ cat-back

I would love to know more about my muffler. So count me in

ImprezaTs/Leo: Borla Muffler axle-back

me three...

borla headers
stromung cat back

[b] - yet another reason not to go into richmond.

btw. white_knight, you're awesome. thanks for the open mind and the heads up!

Originally posted by Benjamin Tang
don't get suckered into this "friendly test day"! it's a trap! :D

ben (who will never visit richmond again!)

O...NO!!!!

:D :D

even with ur silencer orbiter, its gonan be too loud.. lol

-YaoShi

Tinkit.. that's probably 'cuz every other import in Richmond has a loud, huge tip muffer..

If it's possible for a stock exhaust w/ aftermarket intake to be quite loud then I'd like to see exactly how loud the Minnam Intake is.

94 dB A-weighted @ 1m (outdoors) is for MOTORCYCLES...

i got most of the information abot the sound level but i still dont get the key world ........how loud is 80 db.....

Originally posted by IN WALK TURTLE


i got most of the information abot the sound level but i still dont get the key world ........how loud is 80 db.....

80 dB is quite loud. Go to that site that Blackskull listed and it'll have a range of various things and their respective dB levels. Also to note that the decibel or dB scale is a logarithmic scale - it isn't linear.

LaterZ!
Darren!!

IIRC, 80dB is something like a busy street corner.

a semi-simple but not so scientific method is, if it hurts, its over 85dB

Originally posted by -S-
IIRC, 80dB is something like a busy street corner.

a semi-simple but not so scientific method is, if it hurts, its over 85dB
I thought it starts to hurt at 90dB and up? at 100, it starts to become permanent and physical harm happends to :eek:

i think my psych text said prolonged exposure to >95dB will start to damage your ear.

well i no longer have a 5zigen fireball.... all stock everything in the exhaust and header dept. and i passed the decibel test at around 77dB.

but being stock sucks... the silence is killing me, and it's just gawd-awful slow, but i guess that's the price to pay for being "civilian" again... nothing to see here mr. officer, move along please... hey look at that noisy impreza over there :p

so, when is the test gonna be
pls keep us updated....!!

If I want to get a cat-back exhaust that is not 2 loud and not 2 wide in diameter but with gd performace, is there any suggestions ?

:confused:

Anyone have any of their aftermarket exhausts tested yet? I want to know if my Stromung will pass. After watching CBC news tonight and the officer saying there will be no tolerance on car modifications in Richmond I don't know if I really want to keep it on my car since I live in Richmond. I don't want to see my car being towed like the Civic and Integra.

I'll buy it off of you Vege... let me know.

Originally posted by Vege
Anyone have any of their aftermarket exhausts tested yet? I want to know if my Stromung will pass. After watching CBC news tonight and the officer saying there will be no tolerance on car modifications in Richmond I don't know if I really want to keep it on my car since I live in Richmond. I don't want to see my car being towed like the Civic and Integra.

Ahh ok, if I decide to sell it you'll be first on the list :)

I volunteer my car as a stock sample for this sound test :)
If it ever happens that is...

can White Knight say something about the zero tolerance policy.
Is there anyway this policy can be abandoned?

Originally posted by kaibu822
can White Knight say something about the zero tolerance policy.
Is there anyway this policy can be abandoned?

Can this policy be abandoned? I wish! :rolleyes:

Face it boys and girls, we need to:
a) Find out what the rules are (i.e. what we can and cannot do)
b) Play by these rules.

I don't want to loose the privaledge that I have of tinkering with my car, and the ability to auto-x it once and a while, because some undiciplined driver who has cash comming out of their wazoo rices out their car.

LaterZ!
Darren!!

Originally posted by Penphoe


Can this policy be abandoned? I wish! :rolleyes:

Face it boys and girls, we need to:
a) Find out what the rules are (i.e. what we can and cannot do)
b) Play by these rules.

I don't want to loose the privaledge that I have of tinkering with my car, and the ability to auto-x it once and a while, because some undiciplined driver who has cash comming out of their wazoo rices out their car.

LaterZ!
Darren!!

I would say we need some absolute points about modding... I recall there were some links to the Island Highway Patrol explaining the laws a bit. Too lazy to search...

It really doesn't matter if your mods are LEGAL or ILLEGAL and you are right and they are wrong. The fact that you have ANY visible mod is good enough for them and you are going to be the lucky recipient of police harassment. After several minutes of waiting, and no doubt idly some arguing back and forth, you may even be let go.

I would bet that several of the officers pulling people over are not as well educated about the automotive industry as our Mr. White Knight and Skidmark and will stop and tow you for anything!

So, yeah, be legal (which is always a GOOD thing), but that’s not going to stop you from bring discriminated against.

Originally posted by kgb
I recall there were some links to the Island Highway Patrol explaining the laws a bit. Too lazy to search...

http://www.island.net/~cihp/faq.html

cheers.
:)