Here we go again. This morning I received an email stating that the EPA recently levied $1 million in fines to yet another diesel performance parts manufacturer — Sinister Diesel — for tampering with emissions devices. Guys, I guess the Facebook announcements offering delete parts and tuning might not be a good idea.

Sinister Diesel specializes in components designed to be compatible with Cummins, Powerstroke, and Duramax trucks. They offer a comprehensive selection of products such as cold air intakes, fuel tank sumps, oil filtration systems, regulated fuel return kits, and a host of other accessories. Whether you own a Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax truck, Sinister Diesel has you covered when it comes to outfitting your vehicle with top-quality performance enhancements.

Anyway, the email stated that Sinister Diesel pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act by tampering with the monitoring device of an emissions control system of diesel trucks.

In the EPA’s most recent crackdown, Sinister entered into a plea agreement as part of a joint investigation by the EPA and FBI. The company was charged with conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act (CAA) and defraud the United States, as well as a second CAA violation by “tampering with the monitoring device of an emissions control system of a diesel truck. The fine levied is $500,000. But unfortunately for Sinister, there’s more.

The company must also pay an additional $500,000 fine under a simultaneously filed civil consent decree. This alleges violations of manufacturing and/or selling emissions defeat devices to disable emissions controls. The civil consent decree prevents Sinister Diesel from making these devices, and from transferring related intellectual property to other entities.

When referencing court documents, it was stated that the EPA said Sinister Diesel was engaged in selling parts and software used to disable emissions controls from its 2010 incorporation through April 2020.

There are a lot of diesel enthusiasts making serious power and keeping their truck’s emissions intact.

The agreement also requires Sinister Diesel to ensure compliance with these requirements and will implement an internal training program and notify its distributors and former customers about the settlements.

Sinister Diesel noted that its products were intended for off-road use only. However, prosecutors didn’t believe that and said the company knew its products were being sold with the intention of being used on the road.

“Between October 2015 and July 2017, sales data from Sinister indicates the company sold nearly 36,000 defeat devices and that as much as 25 percent of the company’s revenue was made solely from its defeat products at one point in time. In November, the company will be officially sentenced and will face “a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense,” according to the Justice Department.

The EPA closed more than 200 similar cases against companies making or selling diesel emissions defeat devices as of April 2022. Based on cases investigated between 2009 and 2018, the agency estimates more than 550,000 diesel pickup trucks had their emission controls removed.

Guys, I am all for making more power with our diesel trucks, but as you can clearly see, if we really want to keep out of the prying eyes of the government, we are going to have to play within the rules thrust upon us. In other words, deleting the emissions equipment is not a good idea.