Easy Way To Check Catalytic Converter (Simple)

Рет қаралды 227,337

8 жыл бұрын

A very efficient way of testing a catalytic converter for efficiency, especially with a failure of emissions ..specifically a NOX (Oxides of Nitrogen failure).
Ensure engine is at operating temperature and utilize a digital thermometer.
A fairly inexpensive digital thermometer : www.amazon.com/EC-Technology-...
The key is a difference of at least 100 degrees from the inlet and outlet. This typically indicates the catalyst is not taking place and can cause higher NOX readings.
Ensuring that the air fuel management system is dialed in is crucial, as in most occasions these catalytic converters will not fail on their own. Make sure that the air fuel management system is working as designed. (Spark plugs,ignition wires,mass air flow sensor ,fuel injectors ...to mention a few ).
Additionally, as it is highly the case here, if your engine is consuming oil via oil rings or valve train, this oil will eventually embed itself in the substrate of converter and eventually cause damage.
Appreciate the great recent comments and questions and to all of our recent subscribers. I love doing these vids and will kick out weekly. Here are few more vids to check out :
Inside the Garage Videos :
Kia Hub Bearing : • Kia Hub Bearing Inside...
Coolant System Oxidation • Engine Coolant System ...
76 Corvette Repairs : • Classic Car 1976 Corve...
Oil leaks www.youtube.com/watch?v=if5KO...
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Пікірлер: 90

@hanc37 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. Short and to the point.

@edwardthayer9386 5 жыл бұрын

You forgot to mention the temp should be 100 degrees HIGHER coming out the catalytic converter! Thank you for the video though.

@jdv-mc7xo 3 жыл бұрын

at about 50 secs he does mention it

@blower1 2 жыл бұрын

@@jdv-mc7xo Didnt say which way though....just said 100 deg diff, not if it should be 100 higher or 100 lower

@HIMWITHIN Жыл бұрын

Exactly! Thank you for this comment.

@briannolan7818 4 жыл бұрын

Great video. Direct and straight to the point. This is how all instructional videos should be. Thank you.

@Dusty-Shades Жыл бұрын

yep... only 2 mins

@AzBlkHawk 6 жыл бұрын

Right to the point how it should be. Thank you

@Desertcarcare 6 жыл бұрын

Rosario Valencia ~~thanks for stopping by ~~come with us on the show~~ apple.co/2EdrZJE Rock on. ~Frank

@rushslayer8647 Жыл бұрын

So what you’re saying is at that point you need a new engine? BTW, I just subscribed because you were straight and to the point without screwing around and great information I’m looking forward to more videos. Thanks buddy.

@lp.670 6 жыл бұрын

I have to say best dam video I seen yet 👍👍👍I love the quick and to the point...now I got to subscribe...love it love it

@Desertcarcare 6 жыл бұрын

L P. ~ rock on. Thanks for hanging ~Check out our weekly Car Talk over here apple.co/2EdrZJE

@lp.670 6 жыл бұрын

Desert Car Care yes sir you very welcome...I just love getting to the point...no b.s. 👍

@freshair3865 5 жыл бұрын

Cool vid frankie!!!

@Jflowboston1 5 жыл бұрын

Good video

@JadedBloke Жыл бұрын

I had a non oem o2 sensors put in my Jeep, they were reading lean, and now I’m getting p0430 can a lean mixture cause cat failure

@desiefiautoelectrician7150 4 жыл бұрын

I watch all your videos and learn a lot. May Allah grant you long life

@evodog2300 4 жыл бұрын

U mean GOD

@sorinankitt 3 жыл бұрын

@@evodog2300 to Muslims that is god.

@evodog2300 3 жыл бұрын

@@sorinankitt ok so why not say GOD? I mean no disrespect. I just want to know if allah is GOD why not call him that, GOD.

@TruongLe-eo8kh 4 жыл бұрын

Pre cat temp should be 100 lower oe higher than post cat?

@paulmonroe5506 Жыл бұрын

So there should be a 100° difference between the inlet and the outlet?

@catalynconstantin 7 жыл бұрын

Very helpful.

@beverlybrown8872 6 жыл бұрын

good and informative..thanks

@todaysupdate6824 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, my check engine light on today . It say catalytic converter defect . But I have change it one month ago . Anyway I erase the code and check engine light gone . So my question is will it come back again. If so how long it will take to come back. Thanks Golf 5 ( 2008 ) 1.4 patrol engine I drove with bad kat about a week but no engine light on and after I drove another week without Kat no engine light on . When I change my both Kat and drove 500km not engine light. Then I put fuel injector cleaner and drove another 150 km . And after engine light on and it says on my obd2 Kat defect

@kylewoodward7078 5 жыл бұрын

Good video..new subscriber

@chivicsconnectionsmotors 2 жыл бұрын

How do I buy catalyst detector,i need one.

@yvetterenee8256 9 ай бұрын

Frank resembles Brady Anderson. 😊

@dendro1717 7 жыл бұрын

short good video!

@Desertcarcare 7 жыл бұрын

John Carpa ..thanks for stopping by ! -Frank.

@joshpierson15 7 жыл бұрын

Great Video and to the point!

@Desertcarcare 7 жыл бұрын

Josh Pierson ...thanks brother. Working my best to keep it to the point. Rock in. ~Frank

@Desertcarcare 7 жыл бұрын

"Rock on" ( darn fat fingers).

@mikemurphy7519 4 жыл бұрын

Sorry to inform you, but you have it wrong. The temperature should be higher on the outlet. If it is hotter on the front end, it is plugged.

@Desertcarcare 4 жыл бұрын

Mike Murphy ~ appreciate clarification if we weren’t clear ~ a 30-100 degree difference of the outlet from inlet indicates catalyst /chemical reaction is taking place ~ as we are to help as many ~ always appreciate the input !

@mikemurphy7519 4 жыл бұрын

@@Desertcarcare One additional point, on many newer cars, the catalyst can have no difference in temp from front to rear because the engine is running so efficiently. Using the temp test is no longer a reliable way to condemn a CC.

@Desertcarcare 4 жыл бұрын

Mike Murphy ~ excellent point ! Perhaps we will do an updated vid here soon ! Thanks again Mike

@atwoodfitness3438 Жыл бұрын

Hi I have P0420 code.. but no problems with the car at all. Some say O2 sensor others says cat converter. What's your thoughts? Like I said I'm not having any issues just that code

@JimmyJiveJones Жыл бұрын

I wanna say catalytic converter is on the way to failing, but not quite there yet.

@TalkwithDennis23 6 жыл бұрын

Do New cars face catalytic converter problem? Bcuz I was told that my 2016 Chevy Malibu has this problem.

@Desertcarcare 6 жыл бұрын

Kesselee Dennis ~yes sir. But please make sure they have tested for defect ~no guesswork. Stick with an original GM Cat if in the budget.

@popeyesailor8744 5 жыл бұрын

Most independent shops would be fast to diagnose a catalytic converter for most smog related issues. Best bet, especially for a new-ish vehicle, would be to take your vehicle to the dealership so they can properly diagnose the issue. The catalytic though should be covered under warranty from the factory

@brianw.520 Жыл бұрын

So would a failing cat cause a misfire without throwing a code? Have a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica that misfires on start-up. Coolant loss, dealer told me the engine was damaged, warped. I installed a new engine but when I was hooking up the cat I noticed white powder and cubes coming out, probably about 3 tablespoons worth. Was this the issue the whole time??? I get it could cause a misfire but also a coolant loss?

@Desertcarcare 11 ай бұрын

Based upon history of engine - definitely would replace Cats. Not sure about that misfire ?

@bluesdirt5889 6 жыл бұрын

What would be the normal temp. Drop across a CC ?

@fdeguilla Жыл бұрын

I believe it shouldn't be a drop, he neglected to mention that it should be a rise in temperature

@eeiko321 4 жыл бұрын

Hang on, so to clarify. The inlet and outlet SHOULD have 100 deg difference?so if the Cat is stuffed, then its one temp?

@mikemurphy7519 4 жыл бұрын

No, this guy has it wrong. The cat in this video is bad. The temp should be higher on the outlet.

@dreon1005 3 жыл бұрын

So if my car is real loud when i start it up is my catalytic converter?

@Desertcarcare 3 жыл бұрын

Hard to say ..but if your vehicle was parked overnight and it wasn’t making any noise prior ~ more than likely stolen cat converter.

@shadetreeautomotiveenthusi1284 3 жыл бұрын

So was the cat good or bad? I understand the oil foul.

@Desertcarcare 3 жыл бұрын

We ended up advising to NOT spend a penny here as the bigger issue was an engine concern ~ that CAT was loaded with oil ~ thanks for stopping by ! ~ Frank

@shadetreeautomotiveenthusi1284 3 жыл бұрын

@@Desertcarcare Thanks Frank... I guess he did have worse problems, he had an Astro, hahaha. I watched your video because I'm playing around with an E350 with an aftermarket Torpedo cat. It'll burn your eyes out at the pipe AT AN IDLE. But when you run it at about 80mph for 15 minutes, the cat lights up and performs like it should. 10 minutes later, at an idle, the cat temp drops and we're back to the eye burning (NOX). Conclusion: After going through all of the EVAP system, and getting a temp reading at 450 F on the cat welds front and rear AFTER a high speed drive. Then after 10 minutes of idling, getting a temperature of about 250 on the weld, and 175 on the rear weld. This Walker Aftermarket cat has to go. Thanks for the video again Frank.

@Desertcarcare 3 жыл бұрын

@@shadetreeautomotiveenthusi1284 Man - we have had similar issues with aftermarket CATS ~ we always forewarn folks ~ less cost but the volume of precious metals is sometimes no where near the OE . Unfortunately OE can be a mortgage payment ~ yikes Either way ~ rock the week brother ~ check out our weekly show ~ I think you will like 👉 bit.ly/WrenchNation

@whbrown16 6 жыл бұрын

Could a plugged catalytic converter cause misfires?

@Desertcarcare 6 жыл бұрын

William Holmes ~a misfire would cause cat failure over time ~typically a cat restriction will not cause a misfire per se~hope this helps .

@exile9237 4 жыл бұрын

My cats are bad on my 2005 mustang gt and ut seems that they were gone at around 60k miles. Ive never had a check engine light could this mean theres something going on with the engine?

@CurtF94 6 жыл бұрын

What happens if you point that thermometer at the sun?

@Desertcarcare 6 жыл бұрын

CurtF94 ~laboratory tests reveal we would be kerflumpt.

@CurtF94 6 жыл бұрын

Desert Car Care I meant would it measure the suns heat or the airs heat

@Desertcarcare 6 жыл бұрын

CurtF94 ~pretty good at ambient air not so much sun. Really designed for close proximity.

@CurtF94 6 жыл бұрын

Desert Car Care lol just wondered

@Desertcarcare 6 жыл бұрын

CurtF94 ~-all good rock the day ~catch me over here m.facebook.com/wrenchnation/

@wildmustangart1577 11 ай бұрын

How about just a Cat with 380,000 miles on it? Would that be enough?

@oldowl4290 4 жыл бұрын

uhh you don't even actually specify what to look for aside from temperature variation of around 100 degrees and whether or not that indicated whether the Cat is good or bad. You just go right into valve seals and piston rings and then go right into saying the van needs a new engine!!! This video is essentially completely useless apart from pointing out that you can use a lazer. Gee, thanks.

@jdv-mc7xo 3 жыл бұрын

watch it again. At around 50 secs he tells you what the temp should be, around a 100 degree difference.

@TheJaimePowell 3 жыл бұрын

@@jdv-mc7xo try and keep up, would ya bud...?

@jdv-mc7xo 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheJaimePowell why are you telling me to keep up? I’m explaining to Jeff to keep up because it answers what he is complaining about..🤡

@blower1 2 жыл бұрын

@@jdv-mc7xo My cat was 120c on the inlet....so ya saying it should be 20c on the outlet?? lol - that's the point he should have said it should be 100 degree HIGHER, not just difference.

@jdv-mc7xo 2 жыл бұрын

@@blower1 anyone with any sense to be trying to diagnose a cat problem should already know that.

@eeiko321 4 жыл бұрын

I think my cat is either blocked or melted. the new crackle pop tunes can damage cats also

@Kashif.Mehmood 4 жыл бұрын

The Amazon link takes us to a product with shape of a thermometer but contains a title: LOVATIC Flawless Electric Shaver for Women and Men's Legs, Lips, Face with Cordless Electric Razors- Waterproof Hair Removal Device

@Desertcarcare 4 жыл бұрын

Kashif Mehmood ~ very strange ~ sorry about that We are slowly working to revamp channel & update it all ~ thanks for bringing it our attention

@Ben-bd8yf 6 жыл бұрын

Every 4.3 burns oil

@howdididothat1819 Жыл бұрын

Not all true, u may need to do A smoke test for any leaks also

@futureshock7425 4 жыл бұрын

or we can just smash out our cats!

@jmy6050 4 жыл бұрын

Good video.... not great. Too much background noise so you have to shout!

@Desertcarcare 4 жыл бұрын

Mark Young ~ for sure ~ working on mic setup & better sound .

@TheTomar33 5 жыл бұрын

Can't hear a word your saying.

@Desertcarcare 5 жыл бұрын

Working to get sound right --sorry about that --garage coolers are way loud in the background

@ronlacher6818 Жыл бұрын

You should be seeing about 550 to 650f. Not 230 to 270 🤷‍♂️

@evanmiller9829 Жыл бұрын

You did not explain that the inlet temp should be lower than the outlet temp. Some say about 100 degrees or at least 10%. Poor job.

@daltongreen751 4 жыл бұрын

The piston rings are bad. This van needs a new engine hahaha what in the world. What about new rings?

@guguimke5799 3 жыл бұрын

Dude, turn the car off and then talk holy cow