Posts Tagged: catalytic converter symptoms
Catalytic Converter Cleaner: Does It Work
Catalytic Converter Cleaner Explained: What’s in It and Does It Work? Quick summary You have a P0420 code and want to know whether catalytic converter cleaner works. Well, yes, sometimes it does. Most of the time it doesn’t. These expensive cleaners may help reduce carbonaceous deposits on the converter’s substrate and slightly improve combustion upstream of the converter. However, they cannot repair a melted, cracked, or mechanically damaged catalyst, replace depleted catalyst material, or reliably reverse serious contamination by noncombustible substances. The chemistry varies considerably between products: formulations may use … Read More
How to Diagnose a Bad Catalytic Converter the Right Way
How to Diagnose a Bad Catalytic Converter: What Experienced Mechanics Actually Look For Quick Summary There are no wear parts inside a Catalytic Converter, so they don’t die on their own; they’re murdered. If they’re fed too much fuel, oil, or coolant, they can overheat and melt. Misfires, internal leaks, cold-water shock, and impacts are the most common causes of catalytic converter failure. In other words, a bad catalytic converter isn’t the cause; it’s the result of another problem. When diagnosing a bad catalytic converter, I never rely on a … Read More