Questions and Answers
Catalytic Converter 101
Q. Hello Vin, How are you doing? I would be really grateful to you if you can send me the URL of a site that can let me know everything about exhaust catalytic converters, how they work, how to know if they go bad, when to change them out etc.
Reason is, I live in a third world country. I bought a Honda car from Germany fitted with a catalytic converter. The trouble here is that sometimes, unleaded fuel is not always available and you have to make do with leaded.
This makes the exhaust gas fumes smell funny and I am wondering if the catalytic converter has been affected. I am beginning to have sluggish acceleration and a hotter engine temperature and I wonder what effect it will have if I just take off the catalytic converter eventually and replace it with a straight pipe section???? Thanks for your quick response.
Best regards,
JohnA. The surest way to screw up a catalytic converter is to use leaded gas. The sluggishness, hesitation and engine heating is being caused by the catalytic converter become plugged up. I would remove it, put in a piece of straight pipe and drive off.
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