Can the Three-Way Catalytic Converter Still Be Used After Water Ingress?
3 Answers
The three-way catalytic converter can still be used after water ingress. Below is an introduction to related content about water-damaged vehicles: 1. Specific definition of water-damaged vehicles: The vehicle starts to accumulate water, and internal components suffer damage due to the water. Water-damaged vehicles also have corresponding flood levels. 2. Classification of flood levels for water-damaged vehicles: Flood level one is when water just reaches the vehicle's chassis, flood level two is when water reaches half of the wheels, flood level three is when water almost completely submerges the tires, flood level four is when water reaches the engine hood, flood level five is when water completely submerges the engine hood, and flood level six is when water submerges the roof.
Last year, my car's catalytic converter got flooded while driving through deep water. At the time, the exhaust sounded very strange, and the engine light came on. I took it to the repair shop for inspection, and the mechanic said the catalytic converter has a honeycomb structure inside, which can easily rust or clog if water gets in. However, as long as there isn't too much water, it can still be used after drying. They used a heat gun to dry it out, letting the moisture evaporate slowly. After driving a few kilometers, the emissions returned to normal. My car is still running fine now without replacing the catalytic converter. The key point is not to keep the engine running too much after water enters, as the water may evaporate but could corrode the internals. The advice is to stop and dry it out as soon as possible if you've driven through water, and check the exhaust system. When driving normally, avoid deep water areas, especially during rainy days when driving through waterlogged roads—be cautious, as damaging the catalytic converter can be troublesome to fix and may also affect emissions tests.
Someone asked if a catalytic converter can still be used after water gets in? It depends: if the water hasn't soaked for too long, drying it out might save it. The core of a catalytic converter is the catalyst coating on a metal or ceramic honeycomb structure, and water can degrade the coating or cause the structure to expand and block the pores. After water gets in, try driving for a while to let the heat dry it out, but monitor whether the emissions are normal; if that doesn't work, use compressed air to blow it out. In severe cases, the catalytic converter may be scrapped and need to be replaced, costing thousands. Reminder: Water ingress is common when driving through high water levels, so prevention is best: avoid driving through flooded areas and check the undercarriage after heavy rain. If dealt with promptly, you can save a lot of money—don't delay to prevent the catalytic converter from being completely damaged and affecting the entire exhaust system.
