# Catalytic Converter

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalytic-converter/48686>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 6, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalytic-converter/48686 "2001-01-06T04:11:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalytic-converter/48686/1 "2001-01-06T04:11:17Z")

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My engine light has recently came on in my car. We had it serviced and they said the catalytic converter was bad on it. We’re supposed to get a new one next week. My question is…am i at any risk of driving this car with a bad catalytic converter? I’m about to make a 600 mile round trip…is there any chance of engine damage or any other problems before i get another one next week?

Thanks,  
Conti

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**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalytic-converter/48686/2 "2001-01-06T04:55:33Z")

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A definite maybe. If it is “plugging up” they can get extremely hot. Fires have been started. It can also put alot of packpressure on the engine, which can give you really shitty gas milage and a crappy running engine.

Hell, I just take mine off 😉  
Then again, if its not serious, nah. You will probably be OK.

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalytic-converter/48686/3 "2001-01-06T05:07:06Z")

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Hard to say. If your light just now came on, like in the last month, and you have not had any catastrophic damage to the catalyst via accident or accidentally filling with leaded gas, then you would probably be safe if you delayed for a bit. Normally, those idiot lights are based on the odometer mileage only, and do not rely on an O[sub]2[/sub] or temperature sensor to determine if the catalyst is _actually_ bad or not.

So the short answer - watch your engine temperature. If the catalyst really is plugged, the high backpressure will cause the car to run a bit hotter. If you notice this, then you should get it checked out.

Also - check your warranty. Many cars have very long emissions component warranties, mandated by law. You may get a free catalyst replacement, depending on the car and years (I’ve seen 10 year/100,000 warranties on catalysts with at least one automaker, I _think_)

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**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalytic-converter/48686/4 "2001-01-06T05:16:07Z")

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Thanks for the advice people.  
Anthracite, you are correct about the warranty…a free replacement will be sent.