P Plate Turbo R33

[scoot08]

Hey,

So i bought an R33 Turbo a little while ago. Im a P plater and i just moved to QLD where P platers cant own a turbo car. I dont drive around boosting or do anything dumb. I was at the servo filling up and the cops pulled in next to me. One came over to check my license, no reason why, then he went and popped the hood. Asked if its a turbo (played dumb and said i have no idea, its my first car).

Its got a new K& N pod filter it in, the turbo is not visible at all. the question is- Does a non-turbo R33 still have a pod filter? Can the cops really tell if its a turbo on the spot as its pretty well hidden in the engine and an aluminum plate also blocks the chance of maybe seeing it.

[Mohsen]

they can tell by the intake pipes man

if theres a pipe going straight from the Throttle body to an airbox/ pod its NA

if it bends down into the right corner behind the headlight etc its a turbo

[leer34]

Hey,

So i bought an R33 Turbo a little while ago. Im a P plater and i just moved to QLD where P platers cant own a turbo car. I dont drive around boosting or do anything dumb. I was at the servo filling up and the cops pulled in next to me. One came over to check my license, no reason why, then he went and popped the hood. Asked if its a turbo (played dumb and said i have no idea, its my first car).

Its got a new K& N pod filter it in, the turbo is not visible at all. the question is- Does a non-turbo R33 still have a pod filter? Can the cops really tell if its a turbo on the spot as its pretty well hidden in the engine and an aluminum plate also blocks the chance of maybe seeing it.

did the cop walk over and just open the bonnet?

neither a turbo or non- turbo come out standard with a pod filter but both of them can be fitted with an aftermarket one, and in NSW at least it is almost always illegal to have one fitted.

the cops dont have to just see the turbo to know its a turbocharged car, it will say it on the vin# plate in ur engine bay, ur car will probly have badges saying its a turbo, and i would think your car should have an intercooler of some sort in it which is a bit of a give away..with the metal plate over the turbo, i assume your talking bout the heatshield over the turbo. this is there to stop heat transferring off ur turbo onto other engine components liek vacuum lines, wires etc. ive never seen a non turbo 33 engine but i wouldnt think it would still have the heat shield there, someone might correct me on that?

so yes most cops, in particular highway patrol will be able to tell if a car is turbo with only a very quick inspection.

if ur allowed to drive a turbo car anyway you have nothing to worry bout, but being on ur p's id be making sure you try and do everything by the book so you can stay out of trouble

good luck mate

[Birds]

Yes the police can tell, a simple registration check will reveal it as a GTS-T. Cop would have to have no idea what he is looking for to not spot a turbo in the engine bay. Pod filters can be put on any engine, there is nothing turbo specific about them. Admitting about lying to police on an Internet forum with specific details is something to avoid!

Be aware that insurance companies know about the car being turbo too, and that driving a turbo car on P plates carries with it more implications than the possibility of a fine from the cops...you're giving insurance a valid reason not to pay out on a claim.

Other than that, safe driving

[Shazza24]

Yes the police can tell, a simple registration check will reveal it as a GTS-T. Cop would have to have no idea what he is looking for to not spot a turbo in the engine bay. Pod filters can be put on any engine, there is nothing turbo specific about them. Admitting about lying to police on an Internet forum with specific details is something to avoid!

Be aware that insurance companies know about the car being turbo too, and that driving a turbo car on P plates carries with it more implications than the possibility of a fine from the cops...you're giving insurance a valid reason not to pay out on a claim.

Other than that, safe driving

Birds, although you can put pod filters on any engine i have found some auto's don't like them (idle problems when fitted).

If the cops had any brains they would use wikipedia to understand turbocharging, then inspect exhaust manifolds. Once you know what your looking for, even low mount turbos stand out like dogs balls.

[boiracer]

arent the P plate laws country wide now???

if not and your still a P plater from wherever and already had the car and was legal there, then you shouldnt have an issue (other than having an exposed pod filter which cops love picking on for no reason, turbo or not)

[Miguelone]

With the stock airbox in place DE's & DET's look pretty much identical at a glance. Get a cop who knows what to look for and all it takes is (as has already been mentioned) a look at the exhaust mani for your story to come undone. Get a cop who knows Skylines and (providing you don't have the boot badging) all it takes is a look at your quarter panel GT badges.

I don't know why you would run a pod filter anyway if you're driving a car you aren't allowed as it will just give them a reason to look a little further, chuck the standard airbox back on and it will look heaps less suss.

[Shazza24]

With the stock airbox in place DE's & DET's look pretty much identical at a glance. Get a cop who knows what to look for and all it takes is (as has already been mentioned) a look at the exhaust mani for your story to come undone. Get a cop who knows Skylines and (providing you don't have the boot badging) all it takes is a look at your quarter panel GT badges.

I don't know why you would run a pod filter anyway if you're driving a car you aren't allowed as it will just give them a reason to look a little further, chuck the standard airbox back on and it will look heaps less suss.

True that and a hell of alot less induction noise! Have also seen the odd GTR with blue/white GT badges instead of red/white.

Edited January 1, 2011 by Shazza24

[Birds]

Yep that's true some vehicles do have issues with running a pod but people still use them on anything and everything.

Don't know about the rest of OZ but a pod filter is legal in Victoria, covered or uncovered, as long as it is your only intake modification. But two intake mods and you are up for an EPA notice even if you play dumb to the fairest of cops. A front mount counts as a mod, as does an aftermarket BOV, even plumbed back. Also, they are catching on to alot of things down here...some of the police know more about the cars than their drivers. The last one who checked my car popped off the kick panel with a screwdriver to see if I was running an aftermarket ECU. Did not expect that...

[SargeRX8]

The BOV on the crossover pipe should have been a dead give away. The plate will show its a DET motor. The cluster will show the boost gauge. The manifold is different. The obvious redirection of piping from the throttle body.

I wouldn't risk it man. Its a hefty fine. You cant just remove the turbo either. Its not if the car is turbo charged or not, its what the car was registered as. If you have an NA car and bolt on a turbo, its gonna be registered as a NA car and its legal to drive, but if the cop sees the turbo you will be defected and what not.

[Mayuri Krab]

arent the P plate laws country wide now???

No, P-platers can still drive any car in WA, TAS (NT as well I think).

PODs are also legal in WA as long as it is secured down in at least 2 points.

[mad082]

yeah pods are legal in QLD as long as they are secured with a bracket.

and yes, pods can be fitted to any car.... well actually to and engine. you could put one on a lawn mower if you really wanted to. pretty much no cars come with them fitted as standard though.

as for a cop being able to tell, if they know a bit about cars they won't have any trouble spotting the turbo hanging off the exhaust manifold, whether you have the stock airbox or not.

[Mr Simmo]

Don't forget that you are now able to apply for an exemption as a P plater whilst driving a turbo. Check with your transport office to see if you fill the requirements...

[Miguelone]

Don't forget that you are now able to apply for an exemption as a P plater whilst driving a turbo. Check with your transport office to see if you fill the requirements...

This, I don't know how it is where you are but in Vic you can apply for an exemption if it's your work car and your employer specifies you need it (Works out well if you're self employed except you can only technically drive it to and from work related things) or you can get an exemption if it is a 4 door with less than 125kw per tonne.

[Sunkist]

yeah pods are legal in QLD as long as they are secured with a bracket.

and yes, pods can be fitted to any car.... well actually to and engine. you could put one on a lawn mower if you really wanted to. pretty much no cars come with them fitted as standard though.

as for a cop being able to tell, if they know a bit about cars they won't have any trouble spotting the turbo hanging off the exhaust manifold, whether you have the stock airbox or not.

my DC4 Integra R came with one. but was covered in a stock box, standard crap looking paper filter one, but still a pod lol it was pretty cool

[jahn-15]

when i got done in my 32 the cop noticed my blitz bov, my boost gauge was illuminated also a trio of boost, oil temp,oil presure, under my cd player and i also had no p plates on lost my licence for 3 months, $500 fine.

since then that 32 was crashed by a friend, so i got a bt1 turbo vl then a supercharged stato and im about to get another 32 but its going in my dads garage until i can legally drive it in a year till then im stuck in a excel lol

[syfon]

A poof-filter, oops, a pod-filter is just a type of air filter.

Whether your car is 4cyl-6cyl-8cyl, turbo, supercharged etc, you can have a pod-filter, panel-filter, etc etc.