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A vehicle catalyst is an important part of the exhaust system, which is needed to clean up exhaust gases before being released into the air. It is attached to the underbody of a vehicle between the muffler and the exhaust manifold.

A catalytic converter is needed for vehicles with gas or diesel engines. That means, that this part is essential for any internal combustion engine. Every driver should be attentive to the functioning of the catalyst since engine power depends on it. A clogged or failed cat causes a lot of problems starting from high fuel loss and power reduction to engine breakdown.

Some people support the idea to remove the catalyst. A vehicle can be technically operated without this device. You should take into account that it is illegal in many countries and poses barriers to pass a mandatory vehicle inspection. They say that the converter affects the performance of the engine, but that is not exactly true. To avoid negative effects, just keep your catalyst clean and maintained. If you need to replace the device, we suggest you visit autocatalystmarket.com/us/en. On this website, you can easily find many acceptable offers and choose the perfect catalyst at a favorable price.

Bad Catalyst Symptoms

Any experienced driver or even a beginner can easily identify a catalyst malfunction by paying attention to some symptoms.

If you have noticed at least one of the following changes in the operation of your engine, it is better to take your vehicle to an automobile repair shop or at least check the catalyst’s state yourself:

  1. Exhaust system problems. Most exhaust system failures are associated with a bad catalyst. That is why when the first symptoms appear, you should check the catalyst first of all.
  2. The car started accelerating much slower than before.
  3. The Check Engine light is on.
  4. An increase in fuel consumption.

These are the most typical symptoms of a bad catalyst. If you have recognized your situation, it is recommended to check the device as soon as possible.

Ways to Inspect the Catalyst Yourself

There are two easy methods to go without a car mechanic. The first one is visual inspection, for which you need a pit or a car lift. Remove and examine the device, it should be unclogged and have no deformations. In most cases, the cause of bad operation can easily be seen.

Another method for catalyst control is a backpressure test. It is enough just to check the exhaust gases backpressure and compare the data with reference values. You need to drive your vehicle over an inspection pit, remove the oxygen sensor, and connect a pressure gauge with an adapter hermetically. Then it is time to start the engine, reach rotation speed of about 2500-3000 rev/min, and measure back pressure during 10-15 secs. The reference values (averaged): 0.3 kgf/cm2 — the catalyst is fine, 0.36 kgf/cm2 — a normal value for a not tuned engine, 0.5 kgf/cm2 or higher — there are obvious catalyst problems.

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