Four Signs You Need To Replace Your Catalytic Converter
Posted on: 14 July 2016
Catalytic converters work to reduce the harmful emissions from your vehicle by converting engine emissions to less harmful exhaust fumes. A damaged or failing catalytic converter can have a wide range of negative impacts on your vehicle. Thankfully, there are a number of warning signs that you can keep your eye out for to determine when you need to see a mechanic to replace your car's catalytic converter.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
If you notice a sudden decrease in your car's fuel efficiency with no changes to your driving habits, your catalytic converter may not be working well. A badly functioning catalytic converter will slow down the venting of exhaust gases, preventing your engine from drawing in fresh air at the optimal rate and decreasing the fuel efficiency of your entire vehicle. You should get this fixed as soon as possible because lowered fuel efficiency will become more and more costly the longer you wait.
Reduced Performance
In the same vein, a damaged catalytic converter can also decrease the acceleration and top speed of your engine for the same reason that it ruins your fuel efficiency: by not venting exhaust gases at an adequate rate, your engine becomes "suffocated" and cannot draw in air quickly enough, leading to reduced performance.
Engine Overheating
Improper venting of exhaust gases from your vehicle's engine can also cause your engine's temperature to rise while operating. If you notice that your engine's running temperature is higher than normal while your driving habits and the weather are the same, your catalytic converter may be clogged or damaged. However, engine overheating can be because of a wide range of reasons, so be sure to consult with a mechanic with any other symptoms you've noticed to determine if the problem actually lies with your catalytic converter.
Engine Backfires
Engine backfires, while not a symptom of damage to your catalytic converter, can be a cause of damage instead. A sudden increase in engine backfires (also referred to as "misfires") can cause the catalytic converter to overheat, which can cause damage to the internal components within the converter. If you notice that your car is backfiring consistently, you should see a mechanic: backfires can be caused by issues in the engine or by the use of the wrong type of fuel for your vehicle, but you should also have your converter checked to ensure that it has not become damaged in the process.
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