What does CARB Legal Mean?
The California Air Resources Board, or CARB is in charge of regulating all the emissions from vehicles in California. CARB is basically the California equivalent to the EPA, but with a much bigger focus on regulating smog causing emissions. It’s a big deal and the CARB legal emissions standards are the strictest in the nation.
Of the many emissions that cause smog and other issues depending on their location, the system that regulates all of the standards is called LEV, or Low Emission Vehicle. CARB goes through and highlights the emissions that they want to regulate, and then states what the standard is for either a vehicle or a part on that vehicle. The standard will then state that as long as your part or vehicle passes the standards that CARB has set, the emissions are regulated to the point that they will not trigger any warnings in their emissions systems and will pass their inspections , which is the case for CARB legal cold air intake systems as well, as long as the cold air intake meets their standards.
They also go through and state an approved modification for each vehicle, sort of like how our EPA gives the Green Air symbol when testing a part, but a lot more thorough. They give details on every single piece what was tested, what was replaced, and how you can achieve those results as well. This ensures that CARB knows exactly what is going on under the hood, that you haven’t removed any of their emission control systems, and gives them a way of regulating if a illegal modification is attempted. If you try and run the emissions without a catalytic converter, you are in violation of the law. The same thing can be said if you try to use a non-CARB approved intake.
How to Tell if a Cold Air Intake is CARB Compliant?
As with any change to your performance components or other aftermarket products, it pays to look into whether what you want to buy is legal for your state. In this case, we’ll be looking at CARB legal cold air intakes in California, and what you should look for if you want to ensure you’re getting a unit that complies with the required emissions standards.
Starting off, what do we mean when we refer to "CARB compliance?" Each state has its own government agency that monitors emissions from cars in order to ensure they meet the required standards. The federal government has their own agency with the same function. At the state level, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) handles emissions regulations, including emissions from aftermarket parts. 98% of U.S. emissions regulations are determined at the federal level, but California is an exception, and has the most stringent regulations. The laws differ from the federal laws in academic technicalities, but they don’t differ much otherwise. CARB compliance is essentially the same thing as federal compliance in most other states.
Cold air intakes are essentially allowed in all their forms, anywhere in the country. After all, they’re just funneling cooler air into your engine, and they actually lower emissions by enabling your engine to run more efficiently. Because of this, it’s general practice to provide a Clean Air Act certificate to prove that your product will not result in any negative emissions outcomes (which would be highly unlikely in 99% of cases).
However, California has laws that are substantially more stringent than the federal Clean Air Act, so if you plan on driving your modified, non-CARB legal car in California, you may run into some issues with the Cops. This is a situation we see far too much of, as many sellers do not explicitly specify whether or not their part is CARB compliant, leaving buyers across California to guess.
The AutoEmissions.com list of qualified CARB compliant cold air intakes is a great way to know ahead of time whether what you’re considering will hold up to California’s ultra-stringent requirements. If your product is not on that list, your best bet is to search for one that is supplied by one of the brands listed there.
Your first concern should always be whether or not your cold air intake has pre-existing CARB Certification, so keep an eye out for that. You will know it’s CARB certified if the unit has an EO (Executive Order) number clearly visible. The Executive Order number is a product grouping system that was created by the California Air Resources Board to avoid having to issue separate certificates for each and every auto part that’s been judged to adhere to the requirements of California Vehicle Code Section 27156 and 13 CCR 1960.1. If the product has these sticker, or another executive order identifier, you can be fairly certain that you have a CARB consistent product.
If the product does not come with a sticker (which is not uncommon, given how small they can be), you need to either leave the sticker on the box or call the manufacturer to find out what the EO number is. Generally, you can find this information online as years’ worth of databases are available (for instance, the EO process characteristic database). If the product does not have a sticker, the fine for using or selling the product is in the ballpark of $2500, which can get pretty steep, so ensure you’ve taken care to verify whether the unit you’re about to buy is safe and reliable. Of course, driving illegally modified cars in California can lead to even greater penalties, so be sure you’ve done your due diligence before getting your new cold air intake.
Best CARB Legal Cold Air Intakes in California
California imposes strict emissions requirements on passenger vehicles through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations. These laws affect all aftermarket automotive products ranging from exhaust systems to engine upgrades to suspension components. If you live in the Golden State and want to make performance upgrades to your car, you’ll have to ensure that all parts are CARB legal. Generally, this means that parts must be compliant with the CARB emissions standards and must be listed on the CARB list of executive orders.
Through their extensive research, CARB has established a list of after-market products that are considered "legal" for street use – they are compliant with the CARB emissions standards and have passed testing by CARB, resulting in the issuance of an executive order (EO). If a product is listed on the EO list as CARB compliant, you can legally install it on your vehicle. If it is not listed on the EO list, you cannot legally install the part on your vehicle in California. It is that simple.
Below is a listing of popular CARB legal intake systems currently offered in California:
AEM
Short Ram System
Cold Air Intake System
Airaid
Cold Air System: MX-5 07-09, Sienna 05-09
MX-5 07-09
Intake System: 350Z 03-06, Pathfinder 05-10, Xterra 05-10
AEM Brute Force Intake
K&N
Spider Performance Air Intake
Air Charger System: Tacoma 00-11; FJ Cruiser 07-11; 4Runner 10-11; Tundra 08-11
Replacement Filter: Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner
TK Series Cold Air Intake (2000-2010 Toyota Tacoma 4.0)
AEM 21-264
Volant
Cool Air Intake: Jeep Grand Cherokee 98-01; Dodge Dakota 97-04
AeroForce
AeroForce Intake System: Tacoma 05-12; Lexus RX350 07-12
Weapon-R Dragon Intake System
Weapon-R Dragon Air Induction System: Dodge Charger 06-11; Stealth for Cobalt SS 06-10; Scion tC 05-10; HHR SS 08-11; Eclipse GT 02-09
Weapon-R Short Ram Intake – Power Flow
Weapon-R Secret Weapon Raams Air Intakes
Weapon-R Engine Cold Air Intake
Weapon-R Cold Air Induction System: BMW M3 E92 08-10; BMW Z4 E85, BMW E30; Mazda Speed6 06-07
Weapon-R Rev Hard Cold Air Induction System: Subaru STi 02-07
Weapon-R Blonde Short Ram Intake Systems
Weapon-R Secret Weapon Raams Air Intake
Fast Intentions Stage II and Stage III Long Tube Headers with Snorkel Upgrade
CPE
Stage II Cold Air Intake System for Mazda 5 06+
RPI BMW E36/46 Rear Upper Shock Mounts
RPI BMW E30/46/91 Rear Shock Mounts
Airaid Cold Air Intake
Volant Super
Volant Diesel Series: Nissan NV3500 12+
Volant Cold Air Intake System for TRD Scion TC 04 (VQ20)
Volant Elite Series Split Intake System
KN FIPK Generation-2 Air Filters
Volant Intake Scoop (037-1037); Shielding Box (263-10044S); Intake Scoop (259-1012); Super (263-1011R)
Airaid MXP Air Intake System for 2005-2010 VW Jetta, Rabbit, GTI, EOS 2.5L
Volant Big Mouth Filter
Weapon-R Dragon Intake System
Weapon-R Cold Air System for Mazda 3 05-09
Weapon-R Air Induction Systems: BMW E39, E55, E60; Chrysler Crossfire 04-08; Mercedes Benz C220 99-02
Procean – Intercooler & Piping Kits
Weapon-R Cold Air System: Toyota Prius 08+
Weapon-R Cold Air System: MK V VW GTI 07-08
Advantages of CARB Legal Cold Air Intakes
The first benefit is the most predictable, and that is improved performance. CARB legal cold air intakes are manufactured with smooth flow paths to maximize airflow and minimize turbulence. Turbulence is bad for an engine’s performance. The increased airflow velocity that the tubing provides, combined with more access to cold air via an enclosed box or heat shield to keep out hot engine bay air and provide filtering from dirt and debris, ensures that a CARB legal intake will outperform the stock air filter time and time again. The second benefit to CARB legal cold air intakes is improved fuel efficiency. By increasing the engine’s airflow, these intakes have the ability to enhance the throttle response and keep fuel charges optimally mixed with air , increasing fuel "burn-off," resulting in improved fuel efficiency. This isn’t going to miraculously save you 10 MPG; if it did, we’d be asking every car owner to go out and buy one. What it does do, however, is keep your fuel efficiency in the optimal range and help ensure you do not get lower than the engine’s advertised MPG. Another added benefit of having a CARB legal cold air intake is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the investment you’ve made is legal and compliant with local laws. This becomes even more important if you live in an area where you have emissions testing. CARB certified products are what everyone should purchase to ensure that they are compliant.
How to Setup CARB Legal Cold Air Intakes
Installing a CARB-legal cold air intake is generally more of a straightforward, basic process than an open intake. Yes, they may have a few extra parts, but they typically use your vehicle’s existing connection points rather than cutting new holes into the fender/wheel well area.
Tools typically required for the installation include a set of screwdrivers with assorted heads, a socket set and or wrenches, and possibly a drill if a new mounting position is required.
Your first step will vary by the brand of air intake and the year of vehicle. Every instruction booklet will vary as well; but most instructions will inform you if new holes need to be cut. Take the time to read the instructions to avoid damaging your intake during installation.
AS stated above, CARB legal cold air intakes will generally use existing points of attachment from the OEM intake. Most will require removing the OEM intake, which usually has a tube clamp at the base. Use the screwdriver (and perhaps a socket) to unfasten the OEM intake, then discard or save the old intake for future use.
A cold air intake will use either a long bendable tube, or two conjoined sections. Carefully remove either style from the packaging, and align to the existing bolt holes of your OEM intake (for a two-piece style). Afterwards, you will attach the filter, which can go onto the end of the extended tube or onto the "elbow" of a conjoined two-section intake.
Ask a partner to take the intake, since the last step is the tricky part of the installation of a CARB legal cold air intake. You will be placing the cold air intake into the engine compartment, trying to align the screws with the now vacant holes from the OEM intake.
Carefully connect the screws into the holes, hand-tightening each. Always start by connecting all screws first to avoid damage on a one-at-a-time tightening process. You may need to adjust the position slightly to get the screws inline.
You should confirm perfect alignment of the screws, to create an airtight seal, before completing the tightening process on each screw of the unit. After completion of tightening, you will need to start the engine to check the proper function, and closed the hood after confirming that the installation process was successful.
CARB Legal Cold Air Intake FAQ
Can I install a CARB-legal cold air intake myself?
Yes, cold air intakes can generally be installed by enthusiastic car or truck owners in their own garage in just a matter of hours. Simple hand tools are all that’s needed for most installations, and there’s no need for any type of cutting or welding. A few installations might require a hoist, depending on the layout of the vehicle’s engine compartment.
Can a CARB-legal cold air intake damage my engine in any way?
No, a CARB-legal cold air intake is designed to be safe for your driving conditions. The kit will not allow more air into your engine than your vehicle can safely handle. Your engine may even benefit from less carbon buildup on the valves, a benefit of increased air flow.
What does CARB stand for?
An acronym for California Air Resources Board, CARB is a department within the California EPA that was established more than 50 years ago to help improve air quality in the state . The organization performs research on the types of emissions produced by vehicles, and functions as an enforcement agency for dealing with manufacturers and installers who don’t meet the rules and regulations set forth by the state.
Why can’t I just install a regular cold air intake on my car or truck?
Because of the strict emissions laws in place in California, you need to pay a licensing fee of $500 each year to install a cold air intake on your own vehicle. The replacement of the standard cold air intake that comes with your vehicle is seen as a type of modification, and the state requires that you obtain a license before doing so. That makes it very expensive to add a standard cold air intake to your vehicle, compared to the lower price of a CARB-legal one.