Is it necessary to clean the three-way catalytic converter?
4 Answers
The three-way catalytic converter needs to be cleaned. It is an external purification device installed in the automobile exhaust system, which can convert harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides emitted by automobile exhaust into harmless carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction. The cleaning method for the three-way catalytic converter is: 1. Start the engine and turn it off after the water temperature returns to normal; 2. Pour the cleaning solution into a dedicated device, and connect the device's output connector to the vacuum tube; 3. Start the engine, control the speed at around 2000 rpm, open the flow control valve, and slowly drip the cleaning solution into the intake tract; 4. After cleaning, keep the engine running for 3 to 5 minutes.
I've been driving a taxi for ten years and feel that cleaning the catalytic converter is quite necessary. Before, my car had very sluggish acceleration and the exhaust had a strange odor. When the mechanic opened it up, it was completely clogged with black carbon deposits. After cleaning, the car's acceleration became noticeably smoother, responding to even a light tap on the gas pedal, and fuel consumption dropped by half a liter. If it gets severely clogged, it can burn out the oxygen sensor, and replacing a set costs over two thousand, while cleaning only costs a few hundred. Using regular gasoline can slow down clogging, but for city driving with frequent stops, cleaning it every 70,000 to 80,000 kilometers is very cost-effective.
As someone who runs a repair shop, I've seen my fair share of clogged catalytic converters. This thing is like the lungs of a car – too much carbon buildup and it can't breathe properly. My advice is to consider cleaning it if your car is over five years old or fails the emissions test. There are two common cleaning methods these days: the 'drip bottle' method that doesn't require disassembly, which is convenient for minor clogs; and the disassembly cleaning method which is more thorough but costs about 200 yuan more. Never try to save money by soaking it in oxalic acid – that will corrode the precious metal coating. Just the other day, after cleaning a BMW's converter, the engine check light went off by itself, and the customer said the acceleration no longer felt sluggish.
Just dealt with this last week. My SUV suddenly had the engine light come on at 80,000 km, and the diagnosis showed low efficiency in the catalytic converter. The mechanic said it might be due to carbon buildup from long-term short-distance driving. After cleaning, the most noticeable difference was the absence of that rotten egg smell from the exhaust, and the steering wheel no longer shakes at idle. Now, during every maintenance check, I ask the technician to monitor the exhaust backpressure value. If the data is abnormal, we address it early, which is much more convenient than waiting for a complete blockage.
