![]() If your vehicle’s catalytic converter is failing or has gone bad, the “Check Engine Light” will illuminate on the dashboard. When the cat is bad, the conversion doesn’t take place so some of the unburnt gases containing the smelly hydrogen sulfide exit your exhaust. Gasoline contains a small amount of sulfur which converts to hydrogen sulfide during the combustion process.Ī catalytic converter that’s working like it’s supposed to, converts the smelly sulfide into odorless sulfur dioxide. If you smell something that seems like rotten eggs, it’s a tell tale sign of a failed catalytic converter. Here are 6 common symptoms letting you know your catalytic converter is clogged or bad. Though not common, rocks, road debris, or potholes can all damage or crack the outside shell of a cat or the hangers that support it.Ī dented catalytic converter often means that parts of the fragile ceramic catalyst have broken off inside and functionality of the cat is reduced. Worst case, exhaust flow is completely blocked and backpressure builds back up to the engine which can cause overheating and other problems.įinally, physical damage to the cat can occur. If this is allowed to go on long enough, these carbon deposits will clog the catalytic converter so it can’t do its job. In addition, failed gaskets, bad valve seals, or worn piston rings can cause oil or antifreeze to enter the exhaust system and coat the ceramic catalyst within the converter with a thick carbon soot. When this happens, the catalytic converter reaches a temperature that’s too high and actually begins to melt the internals of the cat or break apart the honeycomb material. It is most often caused by excess fuel entering the exhaust system due to an incorrect air/fuel mixture, bad spark plugs, incorrect engine timing, failed oxygen sensor, or other issues where fuel leaves the engine’s combustion chamber unburned. But in some cases, a cat will go bad and need to be replaced.Īlmost all problems with a catalytic converter are because of an engine issue. ![]() What Causes a Catalytic Converter to Go Bad?Īs mentioned earlier, most catalytic converters will last the lifetime of a vehicle. ![]() ![]() The internal structure of the cat consists of a honeycomb design made up of precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium.Īt a high temperature that a catalytic converter is designed to function at (about 800 degrees F), a chemical reaction occurs where the end result are safer elements that come out of your muffler such as oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide. See Also: What is a CAT-Delete? How Does a Catalytic Converter Work?Īfter a vehicle is started up, the toxic gases produced by the car’s engine pass through a catalytic converter. These toxic gases almost single handedly ended the classic muscle car era in the 70’s and are responsible for much of the smog found in large cities. Its job is to filter out or “convert” the harmful gases (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons) a vehicle produces before they enter the atmosphere. Some higher end vehicles now have two cats in-line which further reduces harmful emissions gases. Most cars on the road today have one catalytic converter but many with dual exhausts have two (one unit for each set of pipes). It’s positioned between the exhaust manifold and the resonator or muffler. Gasoline Engines – Before 1981 (and Diesel Engines)Ī catalytic converter, also commonly referred to as a “cat”, is part of the exhaust system.What Causes a Catalytic Converter to Go Bad?.
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