A clogged catalytic converter is a serious issue for any car owner, but especially for those who own diesel engines. It's essential to know the signs of a clogged catalytic converter and what can be done to repair or replace it.
If you see strange odors when you start your engine, hear a whistling sound, or smell burning rubber, you could have a clogged catalytic converter. A catalytic converter is part of any modern car's exhaust system. Its job is to reduce harmful chemicals the engine produces so that they do not enter the environment as harmful emissions.
Since these chemicals are released at high temperatures inside the engine, they are also the perfect place for unburned hydrocarbons to reside after leaving the combustion chamber. Catalytic converters need special substances called metals (typically platinum and nickel) combined with ceramic honeycomb structures to convert harmful chemicals into less-toxic substances and trap them there until they can be safely released into the air outside as exhaust fumes.
Summary
A clogged catalytic converter will cause your car to run inefficiently. You may notice a decrease in fuel economy and an increase in emissions from your tailpipe. Your vehicle may also run rough and stall.
Breakdown
A clogged catalytic converter can cause several problems with a vehicle, including:
- Poor fuel economy
- Engine misfires
- The engine will run rough.
- The engine will misfire.
- The engine will have reduced power.
- The engine will produce more emissions.
Check engine light is on
WARNING! Don't ignore the smell of burning rubber. When you start your engine, the smell of burning rubber can signal that something is wrong with your car. A burning smell can indicate a serious problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. The smell can come from a clogged catalytic converter or the exhaust manifold, but it will worsen if left untreated. If it is clogged, it won't be able to get hot enough to do its job and will cause a burning smell to emanate from the exhaust. If you start smelling burning rubber from your car, it might be a good idea to take it to a mechanic as soon as possible.
Hear a whistling sound?
If you hear a whistling while driving, you may have a clogged catalytic converter. The sound will be present when you accelerate and disappear when you slow down or stop. You might also hear it while idling in traffic or parked with your engine running. A whistling sound can indicate exhaust gasses are escaping through an improperly adjusted or damaged exhaust system.
Your car smells like rotten eggs
If your car smells like rotten eggs when you start it, it's a sign that unburned fuel is being released into the exhaust. This can be a symptom of a clogged catalytic converter. A clogged catalytic converter can also make your car smell like gasoline, engine oil, or gasoline with a faint smell of burning rubber. When a catalytic converter becomes clogged, it can no longer trap harmful chemicals produced by the engine, which are then released as exhaust fumes.
You might have a clogged catalytic converter.
If you experience any of the symptoms above, you could have a clogged catalytic converter. It's important to note that while other problems, such as a defective exhaust manifold, may also cause these symptoms, a clogged catalytic converter is a serious issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. There are many ways that a catalytic converter can become clogged, but the most common cause is too many large particles of carbon in the exhaust. You can have your exhaust system inspected by a mechanic to see if a clogged catalytic converter is the cause of your symptoms.
How to fix a clogged catalytic converter?
If your catalytic converter is clogged, the only way to fix it is to replace it with a new one. The good news is that catalytic converters are relatively inexpensive to replace, and installation is usually straightforward.
Before you replace your catalytic converter, check for other potential causes of your symptoms. If your catalytic converter is clogged, you will likely notice that your car produces less power than usual. Because a clogged catalytic converter only lets unburned hydrocarbons escape as exhaust fumes, an engine running with a clogged catalytic converter will have significantly less power than usual.
How to prevent a clogged catalytic converter?
Since a clogged catalytic converter can cause severe issues that may require an expensive replacement, it's essential to try to prevent it from happening in the first place. Ensure your car is serviced regularly (recommended every 10,000 miles) to reduce the likelihood that your catalytic converter will get clogged. During this service, your mechanic will check your fuel, exhaust, and the catalytic converter and clear any debris blocking your catalytic converter.