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There are many companies on the web today selling what they call a 'high flow' or 'performance' catalytic converter. We get calls almost everyday from customers wanting to know how much a 'high flow' or 'performance' catalytic converter will cost for their car. Well this may come as a surprise to some and will really bust the bubble of what some companies are selling.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A HIGH FLOW OR PERFORMANCE CATALYTIC CONVERTER!! A catalytic converter has no moving parts nor is chambered like a muffler, or have elaborate packing like a muffler. It's interior is not designed to move exhaust gasses along more quickly such as having a spiral core.A catalytic converter is designed to reduce harmful exhaust gasses.that's all! Basically all aftermarket cats have a ceramic substrate (the guts) that during manufacturing is coated with a solution of platinum, palladium and rhodium.
This coating is what causes the catalyst reaction once the converter reaches a certain temperature supplied by the vehicles exhaust gasses. These substrates are made like a beehive honeycomb and are comprised of 400 cells per square inch across their surface. In theory, an aftermarket cat is higher flow than it's O.E.
Counterpart, because the O.E. Converter has a substrate made up of 700 cells per square inch, so the exhaust flow with an aftermarket converter is a little freer, but not dramatically! We do carry a few universal converter numbers that have a but they are like I said, universal. They sometimes require extensive welding and cutting of the original exhaust system, so for many applications these are just not practical.Okay that's it!! There is no Magic 'Super Free Flow' Catalytic Converter out there and any company that tries to sell you one is not quite telling you the truth, The sad thing is, there are some web sites claiming they have High Flow Performance Cats, and by the way at a huge inflated price, when in fact all you will be buying is the same converter you would buy anywhere else for half the price. So that's the story in a nutshell. But if you're still determined to find a High Flow catalytic converter or your buddy told you he got one from XXX Auto Parts, try to remember what you've read here and ask some real questions about the product.
Like how many cells per inch are across the surface of the substrates or how many grams of precious metal wash coat is baked into the substrate? If it's below 25 say thank you and leave quickly. If the coating is less than a 25 gram mixture the cat will not do the job, and it will set off the check engine light.
You might be surprised to find questions like these will throw most sales people for a loop. Most will have no clue what you are talking about, so just be careful. Okay, if you are now totally confused about the myth of High Flow, Go Flow, Mo Flow catalytic converters and would like to talk more about them.give us a call we'd be happy to hear from you.
The Catalytic Converter (also known as CAT) is a very important component of the exhaust emissions system. It's job is to reduce the Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions to a minimum by means of starting an oxidation chemical process.Modern catalytic converters are designed to last around 10 years or around 100,000 miles or more if the vehicle receives the appropriate maintenance.However, if the engine isn't running properly under certain conditions (like rich air/fuel mixture or deficient ignition system) its longevity can be greatly reduced.Due to the internal CAT design, unburnt fuel particles could potentially destroy the catalytic converter very quickly.
A huge concentration of HC in the exhaust gases combined with the CAT high operating temperatures literally “melt it” from the inside out. The chemical process (catalysis) occurs when the HC, CO, and NOx gases enter the converter. The ceramic-coated honeycomb panels are designed to work at high temperatures (400°C or more) creating the optimal conditions for the oxidation-reduction process.Nitrogen oxides are reduced to nitrogen, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor, while the carbon monoxide is oxidated to carbon dioxide. The hydrocarbon particles present in the exhaust are oxidated to carbon dioxide and water.The resultant CO2, nitrogen and water are safely emmited out through the exhaust and are not considered pollutants. Engine hesitation during accelerationA bad catalytic converter will essentially block the exhaust gases coming from the engine and this could produce misfires that reduce the overall engine performance. Engine misfiresA deteriorated CAT may cause engine misfires that in turn will affect the vehicle power. Increased emissionsA bad catalytic converter will increase all emissions which could be a problem if you live in an area with smog checks.
It could also cause your car to fail emissions testing. Possible engine overheatingUnder certain circumstances, clogged catalytic converter symptoms could be similar to those of a plugged muffler/exhaust. If the ceramic coating reaches the point of melting this could obstruct the normal flow of exhaust gases causing an overheat condition (in extreme cases the converter could glow red as a consequence of the high temperatures). Gas and rotten eggs smell from exhaust pipeThe failure to burn the remaining HC from the exhaust could cause fuel vapor to reach the tailpipe. The hydrocarbon particles are also responsible for degrading the internal catalytic converter panels, producing the characteristic “rotten eggs” smell.
Depending on the catalytic converter installed on your vehicle, you may need one or more of the following tools:. OBD2 Code Reader. Professional Digital Infrared Thermometer. Professional Automotive Scan ToolAlways refer to the appropriate OEM literature when possible. Original manufacturer diagnostic procedures should always have precedence over a generic workflow.That said, let’s start the diagnostic process!1. Preliminary stepsRecommended tools: OBD2 Code Reader / automotive scan tool Data trouble codes: using an OBD2 code reader take note of any DTC present in the ECU memory. For doing so you only need to connect your code reader and turn the ignition key on (engine off), a state usually known as KOEO.
Data trouble codes clear: now that you know what codes were stored into memory you need to clear them. This is usually done selecting “clear codes” in your tool.2.
Visual Inspection Catalytic Converter inspection: perform a meticulous visual inspection of the catalytic converter. Any sign of exhaust leaks, overheating or excessive corrosion may be an indication of replacement.
Exhaust pipe inspection: similar than before, perform an exhaustive visual inspection of catalytic converter inlet and outlet pipes. Any exhaust leak should be corrected before going any further.Fix any wiring problem before continuing.3. Temperature Live TestRecommended tools: Professional Digital Infrared ThermometerIMPORTANT: depending on the year and maker of your vehicle catalytic converter temperature tests may be inaccurate. This is especially true in late models with ultra-efficient combustion and low HC output. Always refer to OEM literature for official diagnostic procedures. Catalytic Converter functional test: using an infrared thermometer you could quickly have an idea of the catalytic converter condition.
A converter in good shape should have a higher inlet temperature than its outlet temperature when the engine is running at 2000 RPM. The closer the temperatures the higher the possibility of a bad catalytic converter. Scan Tool TestsRecommended tools: automotive scan tool with live data capabilities.IMPORTANT: the following test assumes that your oxygen sensors are working as intended and that you only have catalytic converter related DTCs. Catalytic Converter condition test: using a professional scan tool can save you a lot of time regarding CAT diagnostics. Lock on your display upstream oxygen sensor (pre-converter sensor) and downstream oxygen sensor (post-converter sensor). Start your engine and allow it to reach its normal temperature. Watch the upstream and downstream values.The upstream O2 sensor should be constantly changing between a rich/lean condition but the downstream O2 should be more stable with a tendency to a lean mixture.
Replacing Catalytic Converter Without Welding
If both readings are too similar you can assert that the CAT is faulty. On “V” type engine you may need to repeat this procedure for each engine bank.It's also common for the ECU to store a when the catalytic converter is blocked. There are two ways of cleaning your catalytic converter, removing it from the vehicle or using a special CAT cleaner additive. Remove The Catalytic converter from the vehicleThis is the more difficult way of dealing with any Catalytic Converter problems.
Replacing Catalytic Converter With Pipe
Depending on your vehicle, removing the catalytic converter could be as trivial as removing some bolts or as difficult as cutting the exhaust pipe.Once the CAT is removed you can proceed to clean it using carburettor cleaner, detergent, or special cleaning products. Reinstall the converter when done. Welding or new brackets may be needed to finish the job.Here's a short video showing you how to clean a catalytic converter using lacquer thinner. TheMotorGuy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Pricing DisclaimerProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com or other relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
