Exhausting problems!

[KlingonFiero]

Hi all.
I have a 1994 Thomas WestCoastER

Rear Engine, Cat 3116 with a 643 transmission

This bus was sold and used in California.

It has an aftermarket DPF and a back pressure monitor.

The back pressure light came on.
Not good!

It was at this time I discovered the aftermarket DPF in place of the stock exhaust.

I looked around online, discovered the “filter” element could be cleaned up and re used.

I did so.

I reset the back pressure monitor.

Good to go!
Wrong…

The light came back on within two miles.

The replacement element costs almost as much as a whole car!

I’m looking at removing it.
I’m not breaking any laws by doing so. At least not where it’s registered and normally driven!

I’m wondering what muffler do you all use? Or go without a muffler?
Do any of you have a back pressure monitor?

Thanks!
Don

[Rwnielsen]

An inherent design flaw with particulate filters is the fact they tend to fill up with particles. I'd get rid of it personally and fab in a muffler or straight pipe. I can't recommend you doing that for legal reasons: -)

[turf]

for exhaust parts.....

check out autojet. great company, great prices, they probably got what you need in stock.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

not knowing your motor?
i have foe many years cut out and replaced exhaust to make things breath better with no issue for inspection but that was older technology.
except for my 04 bus where i got rid of the exhaust and kept the cats.
passed emissions with no question asked.
the cats do the work.
alot more to say but about it but i am out of wiggle/debate room tonight.
back to dealing with grown children vehicle issues?
more like flat tire and the same one loaned my jack out to his friend the night before so he wasnt happy with me at 4 am this morning.
long story short?
yall have a good nite.

[KlingonFiero]

That’s for the info y’all!

Anybody use a Back Pressure Monitor?

I find very little info online about the old style ones.
It is completely independent of any other system in the Bus.
I wold love to toss it, clean up that dashboard!, but not if it’s useful…

[Albatross]

Originally Posted by KlingonFiero

I’m wondering what muffler do you all use? Or go without a muffler?
Do any of you have a back pressure monitor?

A what?

I've never even heard of such a thing. Much less dealt with one.

Scrap it.

Commiefornia has long been a nightmare for dealing with exhaust issues, which to me is solved much better simply getting your engine tuned appropriately, and then maintaining it so that it continues to perform that well.

And most of what I start with already has 100K on the ticker to start with.

[Booyah45828]

Toss it and straight pipe it. It's a rear engine, you'll likely hear little of the noise anyways.

If you don't want to straight pipe it. That dpf system would have been aftermarket anyways, so you can likely purchase an entire stock system through AP exhaust if you look it up in their catalog.

You can find the catalog here Product Catalogs | AP Exhaust Technologies

[KlingonFiero]

It’s decided, I’m just gonna straight pipe it!

Newer computer controllee engines make use of a much more complex back-pressure monitoring system.

As far as I can determine, mine is a first gen system, mainly meant to monitor the aftermarket DPF. Not needed after I remove the DPF.

Thanks!

[John 321]

If your diesel bus is not in use as a commercial vehicle and you had the new title issued as a house car or motor home you are smog exempt. Straight pipe is fine. Add a resonator to make it sound really cool with no additional back pressure.

[HamSkoolie]

Originally Posted by John 321

If your diesel bus is not in use as a commercial vehicle and you had the new title issued as a house car or motor home you are smog exempt. Straight pipe is fine. Add a resonator to make it sound really cool with no additional back pressure.

This sounds far too good to be true in all states (that it might be titled in). California, New Joyze, and Mass a two _hits come to mind immediately as candidates to say no to this concept.
I could be wrong but California? They're beyond insane about emissions.

[John 321]

The author seemed to indicate that he was located in Ca. So I assumed he would fall under Ca. Emission laws for smog. Here are the Ca. Rules.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicl...g-inspections/

[KlingonFiero]

I bought the bus in California, left for AZ immediately!
Finally made it to Indiana and it’s fully legally converted to an RV.

No emission test here.

The bus did not come from the factory with the DPF, it was added years after it was originally made.

I’m not worried about any legalities in getting rid of the DPF, mostly concerned about straight pipe over muffler.
And was wondering about the back-pressure monitor.

You all are awesome!

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by KlingonFiero

I bought the bus in California, left for AZ immediately!
Finally made it to Indiana and it’s fully legally converted to an RV.

No emission test here.

The bus did not come from the factory with the DPF, it was added years after it was originally made.

I’m not worried about any legalities in getting rid of the DPF, mostly concerned about straight pipe over muffler.
And was wondering about the back-pressure monitor.

You all are awesome!

indiana and ohio are pretty much "if it runs it gets licensed".... some of the cities near chicago are cracking down more but otherwise toss the DPF.. if your engine is a 3116 as mentioned in your profile then its a completely mechanical engine that doesnt have a computer.. its possible if your transmisison is a world-series (3000) that it would have a computer independent of the engine..



-Christopher

[Rwnielsen]

California would have an absolute conniption if they new you removed it but the chances of them finding out are almost zero.

[HamSkoolie]

Originally Posted by Rwnielsen

California would have an absolute conniption if they new you removed it but the chances of them finding out are almost zero.

And yet they'd have little to nothing they could do about it as long as its legal where titled and registered.
Word is they just banned sales of new gas vehicles.... but not until 2035. That's going to be fun to watch play out.

[Booyah45828]

Some of the dpf's have value in the remanufacturing world, so don't trash can it as it might be worth something.