A catalytic converter is more than just a legally mandated piece of equipment for your vehicle. On top of protecting our atmosphere from damage and keeping air breathable, this device is necessary for your fuel system to operate at its best. If you are sensing something is wrong in the function of your vehicle, it just might be the catalytic. This list will offer some hints to determine if it’s time to update your converter.
1. Needing More Gas than Usual
When driving, your engine uses a variety of calculations to determine how much gas is necessary to meet your demands. Fuel can only be used if the correct balance of air is also present, and when your converter is clogged this will no longer be possible. With a blockage, old air can not pass through the system and occupies the space where new air would otherwise be entering, resulting in fuel being sprayed but wasted.
2. Reduced Horsepower
Things like age or an excessively rich mixture of fuel to air can cause your converter to become blocked with a build-up of deposits. Without the correct balance of these two elements, your car will experience a reduction in its overall horsepower. This is often one of the earliest signs that your converter is about to go out.
Issues like this one will become exceptionally apparent when trying to accelerate to overtake a lane or when beginning motion after a stop. In both instances, you will witness a sort of lagging in speed from what you would normally expect.
3. Unexpected Noises
Within the converter are layers of metal, honeycombed films. Normally these layers serve to filter the exhaust gases and allow them to contact the catalyst element, allowing for proper conversion of toxins. They can become damaged, however, and become loose within the device. Once broken into pieces, a rattling sound will be heard from beneath the vehicle, especially at start-up.
If the volume of the noise is exceptionally loud while applying pressure to the gas pedal, this may be a sign that your converter is gone entirely. Without the converter present to control airflow, the tailpipe will make a “roaring” sound during acceleration. This situation will also result in failure of any emissions tests your vehicle may be subject to.
Your vehicle can only offer you its best fuel usage and horsepower if its equipment is operating efficiently, and the converter is a vital part of that system. If you have noticed any of the symptoms listed here, it may be time to shop for a new converter. Visit Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram to update your catalytic and know you’re getting the greatest performance possible from your engine.
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