My mechanic's thoughts on the Berk CBE & HFC

Shadax

So I just dropped my car off with my mechanic with whom I've given business for many years. Very professional, very honest guy.

Now, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about my car and at the same time could not hesitate on getting the exhaust done. I wanted some power gain and definitely a nice sound.

I dropped my car off with him along with the Berk Tech CBE exhaust and HF cats. He immediately started to shake his head and attempt to convince me that there won't be much flow over the stock cats. "You'll be back in less than 2 years with a CEL. So don't say I told you so." He even excluded the cats from the work order documentation and said "We'll just say these were already installed if anyone asks, these are likely illegal and you probably got scammed."

He also mentioned the platinum on a factory cat vs. a lower grade metal on aftermarket parts. He's obviously favorable to leaving a car stock.

We put the car up on the left, and he began mentioning that the car has 4 cats...? He was pointing at the piece between the cat and the header -- isn't that still part of the factory cat?

I'm still having him install it after my rebuttal of "Well, I read lots of great reviews about this setup on the community I visit and seen countless videos of the setup with praise."

Did I miss any steps in my research? Are these HFCs not worth it (or scam)?

It was very difficult to argue with a mechanic when I know little about cars in comparison, but I have been so excited about the install I didn't want to box them back up and ship them back.

When I pick my car back up in a few hours, is there anything I can tell him to have as an argument on why it was a good idea? (aside from the obvious fact aftermarket parts are a huge frown on anyone that prefers factory parts and isn't exactly into modifying a $30,000 car under warranty -- I just couldn't deal with how quiet my car is. But now I'm feeling like I'm adding a sweatshop re purposed piece of metal that belongs mickey mouse'd on a beater)

All thoughts and advice are greatly appreciated

Staples

I'll keep it short and sweet. There are guaranteed gains from switching out the stock cats, whether it be high flow cats or test pipes. There has been on-going research done time and time again ever since the G37 first came out with the VHR motor in '07. I'm not saying your mechanic is wrong, but I would take what he's saying with a grain of salt.

Actually it should be the other way around when you mention about the sweatshop exhaust. The stock exhaust is made of mild steel and has play-doh welds as you can see on the piping for yourself. At least with aftermarket exhaust systems they use anywhere from 409 - 304 stainless steel with better welds. You made a GREAT decision upgrading your exhaust and should be happy with the outcome. Not to mention, it's not a placebo in terms of power gains.

Lastly, if you end up getting a CEL just have your mechanic install some non-foulers and that will completely eliminate the problem.

- Steve

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NeverBoneStck

Time for a new mechanic ....

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kkruel55

What are non-foulers?

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Alchemy

There is nothing wrong with the purchases you made. Yeah, you may get a CEL but thats part of the game. Once you get intakes, if you do, you are gonna want to have the car tuned. Once its tuned you wont ever get a CEL again. You will see and feel definite gains from the CBE and HFC. DONT LET YOUR MECHANIC SCARE YOU, you will thoroughly enjoy your mods.

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m4a1mustang

I would have left right then and there. Don't let him do anymore work on your car.

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GaleForce

4 cats? Really? Tell your "mechanic" to

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Cmike2780

An exhaust upgrade has been dyno proven to have results, not to mention a better sound. Heck, even Nissan technically offers an aftermarket exhaust with the Nismo S-Tune. Most high flow cats are technically "off-road" use only, so your mechanic is technically right about the not being legal part. Most don't usually throw a CEL though, unlike some test pipes. You gain horsepower by removing the restriction created by the cats. Unfortunately, it also has the counter-effect of being less emission friendly. I have no idea what he means by 4 cats. Chances are, your car will be fine. An exhaust upgrade is one of the safest mods you could do. The worst thing that could happen is you mess up an 02 sensor, but its unlikely with HFC's.

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Staples

They're extensions that you put on the 02 sensor that screws into your cat or test pipe. It basically fools the sensor into think you still have a restrictive cat on the car because it pulls the sensor farther from the exhaust gases.

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Shadax

Cool, I appreciate the responses. I feel much more comfortable about it now.

It sucks, because he's a really cool guy. He's done a lot of work to all my cars before with excellent results and with much better customer service than anyone else in this valley. I guess he just wasn't the best choice for this particular upgrade.

With that said, the muffler shops around here are even worse. I mean, the top name that floats around here put the wrong size muffler on my buddy's truck and welded the pipes all uneven, then gave him the run around for a week before fixing it. No way in hell was I gonna let those guys touch my car.

It sucks not having the tools necessary to do it myself or the connections to get it done. I end up stuck having to deal with all these shady mechanics out here, or in today's example, a mechanic I trust who's now going against my decision.

*sigh*

Thanks again

Speedy

I take it your mechanic is some older guy? Maybe not up with current times?

HFCs will give you power as well as your cat back, so don't fret.

Most of the HFCs I've seen for the Z have "J" pipes installed for the O2 sensors. This pulls them away from the exhaust stream like another poster mentioned. This "should" avoid the CEL, if not you can try some extensions called anti foulers.

With the tuning, the reason you don't see CEL is because the O2 sensors are usually turned off. That's fine from a CEL perspective, but if you have to pass emissions that will show up as a "not ready" sensor and you might fail emissions. Just be aware of that and hope the "J" pipes do their job.

ZMan8

...4 hfc???

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erkthejerk73

maybe 4 cats = 4 O2 sensors?

m4a1mustang

Maybe there were two actual cats living just south of the manifolds. Ya never know.

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ZMan8

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2015 Mazda6 | 370ZChicago: Chicago Area Cars & Coffee