Confusion continues to swirl in the diesel truck community regarding the legality of deleting emissions equipment in 2025. Sparked by political shifts and online rumors, many truck owners wonder if the rules relaxed, allowing the removal of components like DPF and EGR systems.

Powerstroke Channel recently investigated and recently interviewed three people from the diesel performance industry who provided much-needed clarity: is deleting a diesel now legal?

Charlie Fish of KC Turbos

Charlie, owner of the performance turbo manufacturer KC Turbos, tackled the legality question head-on. He stated firmly that despite widespread misconceptions fueled by online videos, “there is no law that I know of that has actually changed anything regarding diesels” that would make deletes legal.

While acknowledging rumors of potential future changes, he stressed nothing currently permits the wholesale removal of emissions gear. Charlie also shed light on why many owners seek deletes, pointing less towards outright performance goals and more towards issues with aging trucks.

“Once they get old… they’re no longer reliable,” he explained, adding many owners delete out of frustration, being “tired of being broken down on the side of the road.” He noted that achieving good performance with emissions equipment intact is possible, but finding tuners focusing on quality “emissions-on” tunes remains a challenge.

Jake Hopkins of Fass Fuel Systems

Jake Hopkins, founder of Fass Fuel Systems, debunked the recent buzz around “31 deregulatory acts” from the EPA. He clarified these were primarily announcements that the EPA would review certain regulations, not actual changes to the law. “Nothing has changed, no new laws.

The Clean Air Act’s the same,” Hopkins confirmed, referencing Section 203, which prohibits tampering. While federal enforcement rarely targets individual truck owners, Hopkins warned that businesses selling deleted products face inconsistent but potentially severe penalties, including prison time. Addressing legal solutions, he mentioned Fass’s own products carry CARB approval.

He also described their separate EGR filter kit as a way for owners in strict areas to “eliminate the EGR problem without eliminating the EGR” by filtering soot before recirculation, thereby improving component life for those who cannot legally delete.

Matt of Gearhead Tuning

Matt, owner of Gearhead Tuning and a diesel tuner himself, provided perspective on emissions tuning and enforcement history. He attributed the major crackdown in recent years partly to increased public awareness (citing the story of a congresswoman getting “coal rolled”) and the massive Volkswagen “Dieselgate” scandal, which raised regulators’ suspicions about ECU tampering.

Matt explained the complexities of tuning within emissions constraints and managing NOx and soot while working with systems like EGR. Looking forward, he proposed a potential legal path via a “Right to Repair” or “tier down” system. This concept might allow owners of older, out-of-warranty trucks to pay a fee and legally modify their vehicle to meet an older emissions standard, provided it doesn’t smoke.

While acknowledging the potential for abuse, he felt it addressed the real-world problem of unaffordable repairs on aging work trucks. Regarding the future, Matt expressed a strong belief that internal combustion isn’t disappearing soon, stating, “I don’t think anytime soon that the internal combustion engine is going away.”

What’s the Bottom Line?

The investigation made by Powerstroke Channel paints a clear picture: despite rumors, deleting a diesel remains illegal under federal law in 2025. The industry experts talked about the ongoing conflict between regulations, the high cost of repairing aging emissions systems, and the desire for reliable vehicles.

What do you think about the current state of the diesel industry and these regulations? Is a shift towards alternatives like hybrid or EV powertrains the only answer, or can solutions like the right to repair provide a viable path forward? Let us know your take on the experts’ insights.