Engine change after Q reg
 

So, supposing a car is being built and it's decided not to apply for an age related plate. let's also suppose that the engine fitted meets the emissions standards for its age.

OK, so after it passes the IVA it gets registered with a Q plate. If after a few months the owner then fits a different engine (for instance an engine from a (for instance) 2002 car) would the car now have to be fitted with a catalyst, and what standards would it have to meet at the next MOT?



If someone had asked me this question say a couple of months ago I would have said, then, that AFAIK it would only have to not show visible smoke. Now, however, I am not so sure. This stuff keeps changing. Anyone know what the current position is?

Vehicle age is preferenced over engine.

And in the case of a Q- if it was tested with a precat, then it remains subject to precat.

TT

The Q reg emissions rule was abandoned when the SVA came out (10 years ago) The emissions (VOSA) are nothing to do with issuing of a plate (DVLA) The SVA and IVA have been consistently the same with regards to emissions. So what ever the vehicle passes its SVA/IVA as, it gets retested under the same conditions for its MOT. If you change the engine it makes no difference to the conditions for an MOT.

If you passed the SVA with a non cat engine emissions test, this remains the test the vehicle undertakes for its life, regardless of engine swaps.

Q reg smoke tests are for vehicles produced before the SVA / IVA and assuming they are correctly registered.

I built mine with a 1994 zetec, no CAT.. a bit later a 2003 Focus popped up and in it went.

No issues with changing it.

At the moment the emissions test for all cars is whatever emissions test applied at the time of registration. This also applies in the case of Q plate so if you build a car with a pre '74 engine then it's visible smoke, pre '95 in non cat etc. Older Q plate kits (built pre SVA) are also visible smoke though there is some talk this could change as there has been a lot of confusion come MOT time with older Q plate cars.
It will no doubt all change again when VCA takes over IVA from VOSA!

BV.

Can anyone help, my black top zetec didnt have a cat in the down pipe does this mean it was a pre cat version or was it fitted elsewhere in the exhaust system.

I think ALL Blacktop (Series) Zetecs were 1998 or later, therefore CAT as standard.

The only Zetec that can do without a CAT (so I am led to believe) is Pre-95, so a Series 1 silvertop.

I've been looking at an "M" reg Escort today with a silver top in it with 80K on the clock. Not sure if it's pre cat though. How can you tell?

It's a CAT engine.

TT

If the 'M reg' escort is pre '95 then you'll not need a cat if you use that engine in the roadster.


BV.