5 Steps to Clear a Clogged Catalytic Converter by Yourself
Additives no good? Don’t worry, you can also remove and clean your catalytic converter the old-fashioned way.
1) Remove the catalyst
Remove the catalytic converter from your car. There are usually two bolts on the upstream side of the exhaust and two on the downstream side. On some vehicles, the catalytic converter is integrated into the exhaust manifold. In these cases, it will be a little more difficult to remove the catalyst.
Remove the downstream O2 sensor if it is attached to the catalytic converter. You may need a special O2 sensor socket to make this easier.
2) Clean the catalytic converter with a pressure washer.
A pressure washer is a great way to remove stubborn deposits and dirt. Use a low power setting (about 800 psi) and be careful not to put your hands in the spray. Clean the honeycomb structure with a pressure washer.
3) Soak in soapy water
Place the catalyst in a bucket of hot soapy water for an hour. This will loosen any deposits that the pressure washer didn’t catch.
4) Rinse and repeat
Wash the catalytic converter with a pressure washer. If you still see dirt on the honeycomb, repeat the process but soak the device for longer.
5) Allow to Air Dry Completely
Once you are satisfied with the cleanliness of your catalytic converter, allow the unit to air dry completely. This may take a day or more depending on the weather. Once the catalytic converter is dry, reinstall the catalytic converter and O2 sensor.
Conclusion
Some catalytic converter cleaning products are great as a preventative measure, but if you have a high mileage catalytic converter, they won’t do much good. In some cases, replacing the catalytic converter is your only option.
If you choose to replace your catalytic converter, keep in mind that many vehicles are sensitive to aftermarket catalytic converters. Some vehicles may display trouble codes even with a brand new aftermarket catalytic converter. In this case, you may have to resort to a more expensive OEM catalytic converter.