Inspection/Rejection criteria:

20.15 Exhaust System. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with muffler in good working order and in constant operation.


Muffler defined: Muffler is a device consisting of a series of chambers or baffle plates or other mechanical design for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and/or turbine wheels for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from a diesel engine, both of which are effective in reducing noise.


The exhaust system includes the manifolds, gaskets, exhaust lines, mufflers, resonators, tailpiping, and supporting hardware.



This is the guidelines the inspection shops are suppose to follow, but apparently they dont read them or they would realize that Diesels dont require that extra muffler. They let the troopers scare them into thinking they will get a in trouble.

 

Texas Transportation Code

Sec. 541.203. EQUIPMENT. In this subtitle:

(1) "Exhaust emission system" means a motor vehicle engine modification designed to control or reduce the emission of substances from a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine, of a model year of 1968 or later, and installed on or incorporated in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with requirements imposed by the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1857 et seq.) or other applicable law.

(2) "Metal tire" includes a tire the surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partly made of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.

(3) "Muffler" means a device that reduces noise using:

(A) a mechanical design, including a series of chambers or baffle plates, to receive exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine; or

(B) turbine wheels to receive exhaust gas from a diesel engine.

 

Figured I would throw this out there after a friend called me about a recent run in with a trooper who is busting on diesels back home. So did the research to find where it does state that the Turbo counts as a muffler and so you are not required to have a secondary one.

 

Was just reading a thread about this issue in the 3rd gen section.
Post #7 here (from a LEO in Katy) says that the muffler doesn't count. If it came from the factory with a muffler, it has to have one to pass inspection.
Since I have to get mine inspected this month, guess I will find out how the local Jiffy Lube interprets the law.

~Rob

 

They just passed this law I believe late September-November last year in 08. They just added a note under the old law that states if it came with the factory with a muffler and turbo that the truck will have both for inspection. The website has not been updated to the new law. I had one guy show me the new law in the books and it is in there. I ended up going to a back country shop to get my inspection with my straight pipes.

 

Not seeing it in my book. Will have to look again because mine reads just as this website does!

And the site claims: Based on past history, changes approved by the voters in November will be reflected on this website by the following January or February.

 

The Texas Leg only meets on odd years so they havent meet since 2007.

 

I had my pickup inspected friday and they didnt say anything about not having a muffler.

 

While at work I found the newest Printed version of Texas laws accurate until the Leg releases all new laws effective Sept of this year. The muffler requirements read EXACTLY as my previous post. If someone is reading something else please let me know where you found it so I can read it myself. I can find nothing in my books stating other than I have posted. I have spoke with many co-workers who all agree that No muffler is required on a Turbo Diesel.

 

if it means anything I just had my truck inspected last week. its straight piped and i passed inspection

 

Just had mine inspected and it passed as easy as all the years before.

 

All depends on where you go. I've seen some inspection places that crawl completely around the vehicle looking for everything. But then there are a lot of places (especially in the city) that run the basic safety checks and move you out. My last two inspections, I've never had anyone look under the hood or under the truck.

 

I am in the process of becoming a lubbock police officer and we just went through traffic laws and I specificly asked my instructors if my truck was illegal being straight pipe with stacks and he said no that it was perfectly legal and made me read the law from our penal code books and as long as your truck has a turbo it is considered as a muffler. the only thing with the 3rd gen is it is illegal to remove the smog equipment which your dpf is apart of.

 

We need to list the inspection stations that are doing the "muffler failing".

I'll go first, just got a FAIL from the Firestone dealership in Hillsboro,TX. I called up the shop that did the delete in Cleburne and he said, "Bring it over here, those guys are full of S**T, I'll sticker that thing". I'm headed there in the morning.

 

Yeah, just got my newest edition of the Traffic Laws, effective Sep 2009. The law is still in effect and has not changed. No muffler is required as long as you have a turbo.