Catalytic Converter

skintscotsman

I just got my catalytic converter replaced on my car.

My car seems 'nippier' since the replacement cc was fitted.

My imagination?

Surely something that regulates the emissions from the exhaust gases won't affect the power output?

skintscotsman

anyone???/

Mr_Grumpy_7

Might not be your imagination.

The engine managment system monitors the exhaust gases and makes adjustments to ensure thay stay in spec. From experience, when a catalytic converter fails the engine looses power and the engine management light comes on. It could be that with the 'cat' on its way out, the ECU was attempting to keep the exhaust gases in spec at the expense of engine power.

skintscotsman

Mr_Grumpy wrote:

Might not be your imagination.

The engine managment system monitors the exhaust gases and makes adjustments to ensure thay stay in spec. From experience, when a catalytic converter fails the engine looses power and the engine management light comes on. It could be that with the 'cat' on its way out, the ECU was attempting to keep the exhaust gases in spec at the expense of engine power.

I don't think my engine management system would be thta sophisticated, it is an 11 yr old ford. do you think there would be any monitoring of emissions in such an old car?

xzibit

Have you ever seen a cat cut in half? There is a VERY fine honeycomb structure inside, which SERIOUSLY effects the flow of exhaust gases through the exhaust. If you de-cat your car with a replacement straight through pipe, you can gain 5-10bhp depending on the engine, though it is illegal and would most likely fail the MOT.

If your cat had failed, the struture probably had broken down, and was possibly upto 50%-70% blocked. Therefore your car would have been slowly losing power. By fitting a new cat, you will now have more power!!

skintscotsman

xzibit wrote:

Have you ever seen a cat cut in half? There is a VERY fine honeycomb structure inside, which SERIOUSLY effects the flow of exhaust gases through the exhaust. If you de-cat your car with a replacement straight through pipe, you can gain 5-10bhp depending on the engine, though it is illegal and would most likely fail the MOT.

If your cat had failed, the struture probably had broken down, and was possibly upto 50%-70% blocked. Therefore your car would have been slowly losing power. By fitting a new cat, you will now have more power!!

Have never really examined the workings of cat to be honest, although went on howstuffworks.com and it makes sense now.