Cleaning Catalytic Converter
- Thread starter Kafka15
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541joseph
New member
You don't you replace it but I guess you could try using compressed air backwards through it
PitbullRescuer
New member
Yes actually. I had a CEL for a bad cat on one of my 4Runners. Believe it or not, Mr Gasket CataClean works great. I did some research and apparently the light comes on at 96% efficiency. (Which is bullshit IMO) It's well worth the $24 to try it.
Hmm. Well I wouldn't clean it if it was me. I would take it to the scrap yard, or local muffler shop and cash in, but that's probably just me since I have done it to most cars I own. And my 98 4runner I bought last November didn't have a cat so I couldn't cut it off if it was bad. But on the other hand I know the general rule of thumb is to replace it, or like Pitbull stated try that stuff. I don't have emissions and I am not a follower or a leader. I do what I please so my advice is just that, mine. =)
Nelsonmd
New member
Yeah, i'd definitely try some cleaners before just scrapping it and getting a new one; that isn't cost beneficial or time beneficial. You can try some of the cleaners that you just run through the fuel since they are so cheap and convenient. You can also check out youtube for some videos on taking the cat off and cleaning it manually (I think using fabric detergent, or something like that...). I haven't done it, but others have I guess, so that might work too, though it's alot more work than just dumping some stuff in your gas tank.
Lol, I realize your gonna say its not cost beneficial but explain that if you don't mind Nelson. Is there a reason that a Magnaflow high flo cat isn't any good, besides just personal opinion? If there is some sort it proof that it's bad I would be interested to hear.. I have had 4 3rd gens, two I scrapped the cats off of and replaced both with a Magnaflow cat, made more money off the old cat than the new one costs. Sure quality may not be OEM, but it worked excellent for me, no CEL, no emissions, saved $$. I realize that you said you hadn't cleaned a cat before but others have, I will say the same thing you said about scrapping one out, that just does not Sound cost efficent.... Doug
3rzrunner
Member
dude wtf.
There is a reason a SCRAP YARD will give you MORE for the old OEM cat than it is to buy a brand spanking magnaflow. The OEM cat is on another level of quality. #1 the OEM cat it self is made from t304 steel while the cheapo magnablow is made from 409. #2 is the reason why the magnablow is so much cheaper THE INSERT INSIDE IS A CARBON BLEND not a precious metal (Platinum and iridium blend) Carbon blend insert do not handle vibration, they dont last long and cost zipo to make.
that is the dumbest thing to throw away a high quality lifetime part (unless it's melted down) and put a cheapo low quality part.
Lmfao.. Lol.. This is why I don't post on here much.. Everyone is a ASE tech as well as me huh.. Yea opinions vary like the parts for our trucks do.. And please explain how low quality magnaflow is that it won't work.. I do use them, and I am not stupid, hard headed Yea.. Before you clean your burnt out cat, google, than google some more..
And Yea I don't care to be flamed on here. OP asked for opinions on cleaning his cat, I just stated my opinion. Don't like it? Good, I don't like a lot of things but I am far from wrong on this subject. It is not going to do any good in the long run cleaning a bad cat, it may Clean it a little but when they go bad, they tend to need to be replaced.. Of course you can try the headgaskets in a can, the cat cleaner in a can, stop leak, bars leak etc on our vehicles when you spring a leak too.. Sounds easier than just replacing the part that went bad right? LOL. So much for doing your own thing, best just Clean it as suggested than spend the rediculous amount for an OEM cat that is superior quality to the crappy magnaflow brand.. 
There is a war going on here. but watch this LONG video and learn more about cats than you ever wanted to know, plus a little about chickens, big oil and gas, and perhaps a little at the end about lucid dreaming.
shootmymime
New member
Meth injection has been proven to clean the innards over a period of time.
Also what about motor vac.
Also what about motor vac.
Good video. And I am sorry I voiced my opinion and the parts I use. I agree, it's not near OEM quality, but it was what I did and it worked. I am sure that cataclean has its advantages as well if you need to try to Clean it, go for it and report back after 50k or so, I would like to see results. Again I apologize for my opinions, I hope you get it cleaned up nicely =)
Nelsonmd
New member
The reason you got a negative reaction from people is because you misrepresented my statement, not because we are "all ASME tech's".
I said that it isn't cost or time beneficial to just replace the CAT's without trying any of the cheap cleaning methods. I said nothing about magnaflow's being no good. I mean, if you read any of the other recent CAT threads here, you'd see that I have told a bunch of people that I got a good deal on a pair of eastern catalytic CAT's and they took care of my P0420 code too, so I am not against replacing them with aftermarkets if it is needed.
If you post the specific prices you got for your old CAT's and what you paid for the magnaflow's, then you might convince some of us, but the prices that I have seen for used CAT's versus new cats, the math doesn't add up for me. And frankly, I think it's silly or downright dumb to scrap an OEM part that isn't broken, doesn't need servicing, and has most of it's life left just so you can downgrade to a cheaper aftermarket one (I say this because you said you replaced yours without even having a CEL). Half the reason most of us even have toyotas are because they are so reliable, and an aftermarket CAT won't last as long as an OEM one. If it's shot, it's shot, but you might as well give cleaning a chance before you take it to a shop or spend hours taking the old one out and putting a new one in.
Doug, just because I disagreed with you doesn't mean I was insulting you. You told me to show proof of my opinion, but why don't you do the same, show us some proof that Magnaflow is just as good as OEM and can be bought for less than the cost of scrapping a old non-working OEM CAT. Quid-pro-quo.
Agree completely Nelson. I kinda do my own thing to my cars and I don't post a lot for the reason my ideas or opinions are only that, opinions and just because something works for me, or I like this or that, it may not work for someone else or they may not like the quality of the product I use. I learn a lot from the forums when it comes to short cuts and easier ways to wrench on my runners and that's why I am here. Never made a build thread on any of my 4runners but sometime I plan too. Thanks for clearing up my question. I love my 4runners and it's hard to beat the reliability of them OEM or aftermarket.
