Tag Archives: exhaust system

Symptoms of a Bad Catalytic Converter

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There are many ways to determine if your car has a bad catalytic converter and needs repair.  Often you run into subtle issues way before your car warns you that you have a problem with your emission system.  By understanding these issues, you can help diagnose the problem or aid your mechanic in accurately resolving the problem.

Oxygen Sensor Failure

The exhaust system has an O2 or Oxygen Sensor that monitors the level of oxygen emitted in the exhaust.  A check engine light will illuminate on your dash warning you of the problem.  Sometimes the sensor will fail but if you have other symptoms of a bad catalytic converter it may not be the sensor.  In either case, a mechanic will have to diagnose the problem further.

Low Engine Power

Low engine power at idle or stalling when the engine is cold is a good indication of a needed catalytic converter repair.  When you start your car when it is cold, the choke kicks in for higher engine RPMs to warm the engine.  Normally this is around 1000 RPM with the choke on and 750 RPM when it is off.  If tachometer drops lower to that or the engine stalls when backing out of your driveway, it is a good indication that your exhaust system is clogged.

Decreased Acceleration

A common sign after your car warms up is decreased acceleration.  This is noticeable when stepping on the accelerator to pass a car, getting up to speed onto the freeway or trying to maintain a consistent speed when going uphill.

Overheating

If there is any restriction to the exhaust, your car may overheat.  Your temperature gauge could indicate that your car is running hotter than normal as the gauge approaches the upper temperature range.  You should know that approximate temperature range your car operates during the year and any abnormal readings should be checked out regardless.

Bad Exhaust Odor

A common symptom with a bad catalytic converter is the rotten egg smell.  In this case, the converter is not removing enough sulfur from your exhaust.

Poor Gas Mileage

Your car will exhibit poor gas mileage if your exhaust system is failing.  Gas mileage declines with the age of your car, but a sudden drop may indicate that your catalytic converter is becoming clogged.  Simply record the distance you drive between filling up your tank to the full level and divide that by the number of gallons you purchased.  This number will give you the MPG for your last trip.  Your car may drop about 10 percent in gas mileage efficiency over time, but if it drops down to about 20 percent, have your mechanic check out your car.

The Smoke of Car is Blue

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Car exhaust can tell the problem of your car like when blue smoke from exhaust can be notice while driving. When there is smoke with blue color coming out the tail pipe of car one thing is sure, the engine burns oil inside the combustion chambers. Why is the engine burning oil? Well several reasons why an engine burns oil and this can be identify depending on the condition.

When you notice the car to loss power while driving uphill aside from the blue smoke from exhaust then the symptoms can be traced to a bad rings. Engine has component we call ring inside it, the purpose of the ring is to prevent the engine oil from getting inside the combustion chambers. Since the ring serves as seal for keeping the oil inside the chambers therefore when the ring is bad, small amount of oil will leak inside the chambers, this oil will then burn out the result is a blue smoke from exhaust comes out the tail pipe. How is a bad ring affecting the power? Well, when the ring is bad the engine compression will become weak, as you may not know compression is so important for the engines to generate power, if the compression is weak engine power will also become weak, this weak power can easily be noticeable especially when driving uphill.

When you encounter a blue smoke from your car tail pipe, bring the car immediately to the car shop that specializes in engine repair then ask the mechanic to check the ring the mechanic will probably conduct wet compression test to confirm if the engine has a bad rings. If the problem is indeed a bad ring then ready yourself for a costly repair. However, if the car is still under warranty then no need to worry since your car will be covered. But also consider engine replacement as alternative for repairing bad ring because sometimes it is cheaper to replace the engine than doing the bad ring repair. Check your option before agreeing with the mechanic recommendations to avoid costly repair.

Reduce Emissions by Repairing Your Catalytic Converter

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The catalytic converter plays an important role in your car’s exhaust system by removing harmful pollutants from the exhaust. But sometimes you need to have your catalytic converter repaired which is often costly.  The good thing is that the converter has a 7 year or 70,000 mile warranty; the, bad thing is that catalytic converters often fail long after warranties expire.

The first indication that your converter is no longer working is when you fail your biannual emissions test.  This test determines the pollutant levels of Carbon Dioxide (C02) and Ozone (O2) in your exhaust and fails your car if it exceeds levels set by your state.

Sometimes your engine is the cause of the emission failure, but often you catalytic converter just needs replacing.  Your mechanic will determine the source of your car’s problem.

If you take your car to a dealer, the dealer usually replaces the entire exhaust system all the way down to the muffler.   This is a costly repair.  You may want to look at alternative solutions such as taking your car to a Muffler Repair Shop.

The Muffler Repair Shop will cut out the faulty converter and weld in a new one.  This repair will cost a fraction of the cost.

Before you have your emissions retested, “break in” your converter by driving your car for a few days.

By repairing your catalytic converter, your car will emit less pollution that is harmful to the environment.  With a simple replacement of the converter, you can save money which could be come a costly repair.

Photo Credit: Podknox