Since the introduction of Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems for diesel pickup trucks around 2007 (DEF systems came later), removing said equipment, also known as “deleting” has been extremely popular.
Especially early on, as these emissions parts were failure-prone—and cost THOUSANDS of dollars to repair.
However, in 2024, deleting can be a risky proposition. In the last few years, the federal government (the EPA, in this case) has made it painfully, expensively clear that removing emissions equipment is illegal—period.
Despite what you might read in Facebook groups, or what that “one guy” told you, there are NO legal loopholes where deleting is legal. It is not legal for race vehicles, off-highway vehicles, or any other way you might use a truck.
According to the EPA, if your diesel pickup had emissions equipment when it left the factory, that emissions equipment cannot be removed or disabled for any reason.
Yes, the federal government, military, and certain agencies do operate diesel trucks without emissions equipment. But that’s an entirely separate conversation.
My truck, my rules.
But the risk of fines, lawsuits, and jailtime hasn’t stopped tens of thousands of diesel truck owners from deleting the emissions equipment from their trucks. This is largely because the EPA hasn’t (yet) tried to punish the end-user.
Instead, they’ve collected millions of dollars in fines from the shops, parts manufacturers, and tuners that made deleting possible.
That said, certain states have begun cracking down on owners who choose to delete.
From simple “fix-it” tickets, all the way to requiring owners to crush their trucks (yes, it has happened), the days of deleting seem to be dying. Even for owners who can get away with it, finding a reliable source for delete parts, and the tuning required to install them, has become a minefield of potential problems.
You see, when the EPA really started cracking down around 2017, dozens of brands, tuners, and stopped offering delete parts—almost overnight.
It took several years for the crackdown to take full effect, but in a very short timeframe, most of the reputable options for EGR and DPF deletes, along with the supporting tuning, disappeared.
Deleting vs. Emissions-On
So, what options are modern diesel owners left with? We won’t blow smoke (pun intended), there are plenty of people who still choose to remove emissions equipment. And, many of them get away with it.
While it’s not nearly as easy as it once was, with enough work, research, and luck, removing emissions equipment without running into major issues is possible.
However, there are also plenty of owners who cannot/will not take the risk. The potential to get scammed, receive stolen tune files, or run into issues with inspections or local law enforcement is all too real.
Thankfully, a new day has dawned for the owners who want to retain the federally required emissions systems.
Thanks to innovators like Kory Willis of PPEI, Ryan Milliken of Hardway Performance, and now, Spencer Ekstam of FASS EGR Solutions, improving your diesel truck’s performance and reliability without deleting is better than it has ever been.
So, what about the L5P Duramax?
If you drive a 2017+ Chevrolet/GMC truck with the Duramax diesel, you’re probably aware of the potential issues with the emissions systems. And, up until recently, you only had two options—delete it, or deal with it.
Some industry experts expect 2017-2024 GM trucks with the L5P Duramax to experience EGR-related failures within 125,000 miles of new.
But, things have officially changed. With the introduction of FASS EGR Filter Kits, maximizing the life of your L5P engine while drastically reducing repairs no longer requires illegal modifications.
Engineered specifically for the 2017-2024 L5P Duramax, these kits remove 85% of the particulate matter (soot) that normally circulates throughout your EGR system and engine. Without an EGR filter, this soot builds up quickly, which can clog the EGR cooler, valves, and leave heavy deposits of soot throughout your engine.
But wait, it gets worse. That particulate matter is an abrasive, which can dilute oil, damage cylinders, and more. By eliminating 85% of it through filtration, we expect L5P owners to increase the life of EGR components by 6x or more!
Emissions-on doesn’t mean problem-prone.
We know that for some L5P Duramax owners, removing problematic emissions equipment or “deleting” is the preferred route—and we don’t blame them. But, as it is a federally illegal thing to do, there is a growing number of owners who can’t/won’t.
And for them, FASS EGR Filter Kits are worth a look. In an hour or less, you can DRASTICALLY improve long-term reliability and performance—right from the comfort of your driveway.
If you have questions about FASS EGR Filter Kits, contact us today!