Anybody have any experience with resolving a clogged catalytic converted issue using fuel additives that claim to be able to resolve the issue? Just wondering if anybody has had any luck with additives or did you just replace the converter.
It’s for my son’s older truck (Nissan Xterra) with just short of 100K miles on it. The idiot light is on and the code says catalytic converter. Also the car is struggling when accelerating which is a common problem when the cat is clogged.
I’m asking not in order to save $20 bucks on additives but in order to avoid additional stress an the engine as he drives around waiting for the cleaner to do it’s thing - if in fact it even works as claimed.
I’ve never heard of them working but I only know a couple people who have tried. I think most people figure that if the bottle costs $20 and a new catalytic converter is $1000, if the bottle has even a 2% chance of working, it’s worth it. Perhaps they work that often.
Yeah, was afraid of that. Seems too good to be true.
Before you go spending a lot of money, be sure it is actually a clogged cat. It is probably not. Clogged Cat is noticeable by poor gas mileage, and sometimes performance.
One of the symptoms is noticeable reduced performance. The vehicle struggles when accelerating and feels like it’s laboring. I’m assuming this may be an indication of back pressure on the engine. He hasn’t noticed if it’s running hotter or not.
So follow up question… has anyone removed the cat and was still able to pass emissions?
Removing or disabling the catalytic converter is illegal under federal law 42 USC 7522(a)(3)(A) says it is illegal:
for any person to remove or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regulations under this subchapter [governing automobile emissions controls] prior to its sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser, or for any person knowingly to remove or render inoperative any such device or element of design after such sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser
If you have emissions inspections in your state, removing or disabling the cat will violate state law and cause you to fail the emissions inspection.
I know if sucks but minimizing your car’s emissions is one of the things you can do to keep our air cleaner for everyone. Please fix it correctly. If money is an issue, California has a program to subsidize the cost of maintaining emissions equipment for low-income owners. I don’t know where you live but perhaps there is something similar.
I had an issue on my 160k mile, 2005 Cadillac where the OBD was throwing a catalytic converter code about a week before the inspection was due. The parts house suggested trying CataClean before taking it to the shop.
It’s not cheap, about $30, but figured I’d give it a try. It was a bet against going to see my mechanic.
Followed instructions on the bottle and let it do its thing. I put it in with under a quarter tank and drove until I was around minimum fuel before filling up.
What did it do inside the exhaust system? I have no idea, but the check engine light went out, I passed inspection, and I haven’t had the light come back on since (it’s been about 10 months now). I consider that a win and since the only change was the addition of the CataClean, I’m happy to take that as cause and effect for a sample of 1.
Yeah, that’s the same product I picked up as well.
We cleared the code and waiting to see if it comes back. If so, going to dump it in the tank and see.