Carbon build up in catalytic converter

W

wilson ind

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

Local young fellow has ford ranger with what seems to be
a plugged converter. What may dissolve or clear carbon?
Possible DEF fluid??Extra oxygen from O2 tank while
running? Any other ideas? Thanks

 

Gambles

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

The get-rich-from-watching-my-YouTube-videos guy by the name of Scotty Kilmer says you can take off a catalytic converter and wash it like anything else. Of course, he's not a real mechanic. IMO, it needs to be replaced. If you honestly do have a way of getting it clean, please let us know.

 

J

jimg.allentown

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

If a catalytic converter is plugged, it is most certainly NOT carbon buildup. They run too hot for carbon to build up. When catalytic converters plug up, it is usually because they have gotten too hot, and the substrate has melted or partially melted.

 

G

grayrider

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

I could tell you how to fix it but the YT Police would certainly chime in and have a lot of negative comments, send me an email if you want

 

S

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

No real solution that I have found, heard lots of remedies that 'might' give some temporary relief.

There is a reason the converter is clogged. Oil consumption, or excess fuel.

Without solving the problem, even a new converter will be short lived.

 

D

David Snipes

Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

Take it off and punch out the innards and reinstall, unless you have to pass emissions tests.

 

5

504

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

By the way,you can buy new ones on Amazon for less than a hundred bucks.

 

showcrop

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

(quoted from post at 15:15:02 05/27/22) I could tell you how to fix it but the YT Police would certainly chime in and have a lot of negative comments, send me an email if you want

Click to expand...

What do you care about negative comments when you are sure that it works and could help other people also.

 

B

Barts Dad

Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

The only remedy is replacement but you need to fix the cause first. Universal converters come sizes according to pipe size and engine displacement. Good luck!

 

C

caterpillar guy

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

Drop it out and put a pipe in place of it.

 

I

in-too-deep

Well-known Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

X2

 

J

JDB

Member

• May 27, 2022

• #1

X3

 

S

SDE

Well-known Member

• May 28, 2022

• #1

I think putting some acetone in your gas tank was suppose to clean it. But don't take my word for it. Google it.

 

A

ASEguy

Well-known Member

Location

Festus MO

• May 28, 2022

• #1

With all due respect, was it diagnosed to be clogged, or is that an assumption based on (performance issues, MIL on).

 

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

• May 28, 2022

• #1

Bill,
My mom had a muffler that rusted shut.
The only way to know if you have a carbon build up or part of the converter breaking apart would be to cut it apart. You may tap on the converter and listen for a rattle.
I've replaced converters. I know some people that remove the converter instead of replacing it.

 

W

whereswaldo

Member

• May 28, 2022

• #1

Don't call him out on it; I tried nicely to correct him one time and within a day, my comment was removed. or 'Censored-something he claims he's against.

 

R

rdandersom

Member

• May 28, 2022

• #1

Assuming you dropped the exhaust ahead of the converter to test it. There is no way to clean one that I ever heard of. We had a GMC pickup get its converter plugged at 20years old. It wouldn't go faster than 35 mph downhill with your foot on the floor. We deleted the cat.

 

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

• May 28, 2022

• #1

My mom's car wouldn't go 35 mph. The
Muffler was the reason. Block.

 

D

dpendzic

Well-known Member

• May 29, 2022

• #1

i had a code 0420 on my pickup--used a can of cataclean and it cleared up