Clogged Catyltic Converter. How do I make it hollow?

[DavemanUT]

On the way down to the ATL swap meet, my '91 Ranger's cat. converter became almost completely clogged, and I could barey go 60mph. So I cut the pipe between the converter and the muffler, and I'm trying to pound all the junk out of the converter. However, it's really hard. I'm pounding with a pipe, and I'm barely doing any damage. Does anyone know a secret to softening up the junk inside of one? Water? WD-40? Gas? Anything?

D.C.

 

[notfred]

By clogged, do you mean there's something stuck in it, or do you mean that it's working as it's supposed to, but you think that you're car will gain 20hp if you take it off?

 

[DavemanUT]

Sorry, I accidentally hit enter before I had time to explain. It's clogged, as in 60mph, 12 miles per gallon.

D.C.

 

[Ronstang]

If it is truly plugged and you hollow it out you will create a giant expansion chamber in your exhaust and the damn thing will probably backfire when you let off the gas, not to mention you will probably not pass a smog test. Spend the damn money and have it replaced properly.

 

[DavemanUT]

<< ill probably backfire when you let off the gas, not to mention you will probably not pass a smog test >>



Probably a little bit, but we don't have smog tests in Knoxville, so I'm home free. I just want to make it home, and I will mess with it there. I'm in Atlanta right know, but have to go back to Knoxville tomorrow.

D.C.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I think that it's also illegal to remove a cat from a vehicle that came equipped with one from the factory. You're not likely to get caught, but it is still illegal. Best thing to do is to just bite the bullet and have it replaced.

Also, just curious but what causes a cat to become clogged? My '88 Accord has 205,900 miles on it and the cat's not clogged at all. Still getting 30 mpg on a tank.

ZV

 

[Nefrodite]

take it off and your emissions go way way up, no point since your handy just buy yourself another.

 

[DavemanUT]

<< I think that it's also illegal to remove a cat from a vehicle that came equipped with one from the factory. You're not likely to get caught, but it is still illegal. Best thing to do is to just bite the bullet and have it replaced. >>



That's part of the reason I don't want to remove it. They won't ever know if it is hollow.



<< Also, just curious but what causes a cat to become clogged? My '88 Accord has 205,900 miles on it and the cat's not clogged at all. Still getting 30 mpg on a tank. >>



I had a plug that misfired. That partially clogged it. Then, I had to push the gas more to compensate for the partially clogged converter. This caused more gas to go into the cylinders, some of which was not burned, thus causing it to become even more clogged.

D.C.

 

[Rallispec]

ZV, i've never heard of one getting clogged either.. my 93' civic had 160k miles on it and never got clogged.

 

[notfred]

pull it off and drive with open headers till you can get a new one

 

[amdskip]

just disconnect the exhaust from the cadillac and leave room for the junk to come out

go out into the country and blow the crap out of it, this all illegal of course

 

[DavemanUT]

I thought that may work Skip. Last time, all the stuff just came out. I figure by the time I'm half way home, most of it will have blown out. It's just REALLY loud.

D.C.

 

[DDad]

Sigh- wish you had asked BEFORE starting!
Which engine does your Ranger have? Assuming its a 2.9- look a bit furthur up- it should have 2 converters (1st is right at the Y pipe)- and odds are the front one is plugged.
Lots of things can cause a plugged converter- one of the most common is a miss in the engine- pours raw fuel down into the converter which melts the ceramic "biscuit" causing the gases to backup.
Not that I would know about such things (after all, it's illegal), but I would use a air hammer with a "extendeded" chisel bit- the one used for cutting sheet metal usually works OK

 

[DavemanUT]

<< Lots of things can cause a plugged converter- one of the most common is a miss in the engine- pours raw fuel down into the converter which melts the ceramic "biscuit" causing the gases to backup. >>



This is what happened.



<< Not that I would know about such things (after all, it's illegal), but I would use a air hammer with a "extendeded" chisel bit- the one used for cutting sheet metal usually works OK >>



Wishing I had one!

D.C.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

<< ZV, i've never heard of one getting clogged either.. my 93' civic had 160k miles on it and never got clogged. >>



It does happen and I heard that they can glow cherry red from the heat when it does.

 

[Emulex]

hammer + crowbar = broken ceramic. Then use the crowbar to drag the pieces out.

Wow you just gained 10hp too no cat

 

[SuperSix]

What a bunch of misinformation.

Use a pry bar and just beat the crap out of it.

My car ran fine with a hollowed cat, passed emissions, and ran low 13's.

 

[BlackOmen]

If the word "catalyst" appears anywhere on your ignition sticker under the hood, then you are required to have a catalytic converter of some form on there, even if your state doesn't require emissions testing. Since your state doesn't require emissions tests, pull it off, remove the wire mesh like shield inside the cat. Do this on both sides, also remove anything inside. Notice however, that if your state ever does requre emissions tests, you will need a new cat.

 

[flot]

Get a huge long screwdriver, pry bar, or small diameter piece of iron pipe (maybe 1/4"?) and beat the hell out of it with a large hammer. You should be able to shatter the catalyist material that way. Seriously doubt it would have any negative effects, except of course 1) to the environment and 2) you won't pass emissions.

Basically just keep at it. Especially if it's already melted, you could have problems. I don't think there are any solvents that would help, you just have to muscle it out.

 

[LoneWolf1]

Catalytic converters are designed to last the life of the car. The clogging indicates that there is a problem elsewhere in the engine that needs to be looked into. You might want to stop by your favorite Ford dealer or independent shop and have them test things out for you.

 

[Howard]

Actually gutting the cat won't do much to the power output of the engine (air doesn't have to go through the honeycomb, but the turbulence adds backpressure).

 

[Zenmervolt]

<< It does happen and I heard that they can glow cherry red from the heat when it does. >>

I didn't mean to imply that it didn't happen, I've seen cars where it has happened, I just didn't know the cause and I was wondering if it was somehow exceptional that my car hadn't had it clog up yet.

ZV