Catalytic converter: operation, maintenance and price

Catalytic converter, also known as catalyst, plays an important role in limiting harmful exhaust emissions from your vehicle. Thus, it is one of the mechanical parts required for the emission control system in your vehicle and requires periodic maintenance.

💨 How does a catalytic converter work?

Located on exhaust line, the catalytic converter is on particulate filter at the exit from the engine of your car. Implemented in 90 years with the Euro I environmental standard, it is part of an ecological approach to reducing pollutant emissions produced by car.

This was done without fail from 1994 on all new vehicles equipped with electronic injection and lambda probe.

Catalytic converter or catalyst is playing the role of the transformerBy using a chemical reaction, the polluting flue gases in the emissions are much less polluting to the environment.

Internally, it has a honeycomb-like structure in order to obtain a large surface for processing gases. Surface covered palladium, rhodium or radium which cause a chemical reaction to convert gases. This reaction is possible when the pot reaches a high enough temperature, which on average is 400 ° C.

The catalytic converter is often single bedwhich means that it has 3 channels, each of which allows chemical transformation at the same time with the other two.

⚠️ What are the symptoms of an HS catalytic converter?

Your vehicle's catalytic converter is a wearing part with a lifetime 100 to 000 kilometers... If it no longer works properly or is dirty, you will be notified of the following symptoms:

• The engine is losing power : the lambda probe and the catalytic converter do not work, and it is more and more difficult for the engine to gain speed;
• Excessive fuel consumption : since the engine is no longer running, it needs more fuel to move forward;
• Jerks in the engine : the engine stalls more often when you are in the car;
• Metallic noise comes from the exhaust pipe : if the pot ceramic is damaged, the bits can come off and get stuck in the exhaust pipe;
• The engine light will turn on dashboard : Your car is polluting the environment too much and the engine may go into reduced performance mode.

It is important to note that you should not neglect to maintain or repair your catalytic converter because in the long run you will no longer comply with pollution protection standards while driving a car. So it won't let you get through technical control... Therefore it is necessary to clean or change the pot and then return visit required.

💧 How to clean the catalytic converter?

To prevent too frequent clogging of the catalytic converter, needs to be maintained by cleaning from this. Thus, you can take a professional workshop to achieve this against 50 for 80 € or do it yourself, as it is a very simple maneuver that even a beginner to auto mechanic can do.

First of all, you will need cleaning agent for catalytic converter... It can usually be found on various internet sites or from a car supplier. It should be poured into the fuel tank after it is half full.

A second time drive an hour on the fast lane motorways to clean the system of contamination by heating it.

💸 How much does it cost to replace a catalytic converter?

Failure of a catalytic converter can result in the failure of many components necessary for the proper functioning of the engine. Therefore, it is necessary to act quickly if the catalytic converter is out of order. Depending on the model and age of your vehicle, replacing the catalytic converter can cost from 300 euros vs 1 euros.

If you properly maintain it with regular cleaning, you can extend its life and thus avoid having to change it every 100 kilometers, but rather every 000 or 150 kilometers.

A catalytic converter is often confused with a particulate filter, but both play different, albeit complementary, roles. Limiting the toxicity of gases emitted from vehicles is becoming an increasingly important issue among manufacturers to meet the needs of motorists and keep pace with the progress of environmental legislation!