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How to Use Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaner – [Explained]

automotiveain

29 September 2024

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If your vehicle fails an emission test or faces a situation where the check engine light is on because of an issue with the catalytic converter, you should know that the main reason behind the situation is- your vehicle’s catalytic converter is not in a good condition.

The way you can get rid of this situation is by changing your car’s catalytic converter. But buying a new catalytic converter is very expensive. Besides, you’ll have to spend some money on the mechanic who’ll replace it for you, unless you’re a DIYer.

In such a case, an inexpensive way to get rid of the issue is using a catalytic converter cleaner.

What is a Catalytic Converter Cleaner?

A catalytic converter cleaner is typically a liquid that reaches your fuel and exhaust system through the fuel tank and cleans the carbon build-up and other deposits from it. As a result, the emission comes under control again to help you to pass the emission test. Also, the check engine light goes off.

Cataclean is a catalytic converter cleaner that you can depend on. Besides cleaning the catalytic converter, it also cleans the vital components of the fuel system and exhaust system. It comes with a formula that is accepted in all 50 states. So, to lower the hydrocarbon emissions of your vehicle, you can take help from it.

How to Use Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaner

Using Cataclean cleaner is an easy task. It doesn’t need any expertise. Below is the process of using a liquid cleaner for your catalytic converter.

Step 1- Read the instruction

Just like any other product, Cataclean comes with instructions written on the label. Before starting using it, you’ll have to read the instruction carefully and make sure you’ve understood what it says.

Step 2- Reach to expected gas level for the amount of cleaner

The label of Cataclean tells that a specific amount of fuel is needed inside your fuel tank. Make sure that your fuel tank contains the exact amount of fuel. If you don’t have enough in your fuel tank, fill it to reach the amount. If your fuel tank has more than the expected amount, drive your vehicle to reduce the amount of fuel.

Step 3- Pour the liquid into the tank

Break the seal of the bottle containing the cleaner and pour the inner liquid into the fuel tank. Empty the bottle and pour the whole liquid inside your petrol tank. Once you pour it, it gets mixed with the fuel but doesn’t change the chemical structure of the fuel.

Step 4- Drive the car for a few minutes

After you pour the cleaner inside the tank, it is time to go on a ride. Drive your vehicle for 15-20 minutes to allow the cleaner to enter into the exhaust system of your vehicle. Check the error code if it is gone or not. If it is not gone, drive for a few more minutes.

You can also drive until the tank is empty to make sure that the cleaner has gone through the fuel system and exhaust system fully. This will make the error code cleared.

Step 5- Refill your tank

Once the tank is almost empty, refill it. Now you can drive naturally. The Cataclean is already in action and working to fight carbon and other deposits. Your car’s exhaust system will be cleared after a while and the emission will be reduced.

Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaner Review

Among the catalytic converter cleaners, you’ll find in the market, Cataclean is one. It works for clearing the carbon build-up from the fuel system and exhaust system together where most of the cleaners focus on cleaning the exhaust system only. So, from Cataclean, you’re getting two for the price of one.

As it focuses on cleaning all the components including oxygen sensors, cylinder head, fuel injectors, and others, your vehicle’s fuel efficiency increases a lot. Besides improving fuel economy, it also fixes rough idle, hesitation, hard start, etc.

The best thing about the Cataclean catalytic converter cleaner is its versatility. It comes with such a formula that works safely for almost all types of fuels, including- gasoline, diesel, and hybrid. However, you can’t use this for two-stroke engines or oil/gas mix engines.

Being a 50-state legal catalytic converter cleaner, it helps you to fix issues with carbon emission from anywhere. Depending on the vehicle condition, it can help you to reduce up to 50% carbon emission without any effort.

Typically it is suggested to use Cataclean 3-4 times a year to get the peak performance from your engine. But I guess using twice a year would also work decently.

Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaner Video Review

How does Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaner Work?

Cataclean catalytic converter cleaner is designed to clean the carbon and other accumulations through chemical reactions without harming any other elements in the exhaust system. The way it works is really simple.

Once you pour the cleaner into the fuel tank, the liquid gets mixed with the fuel but doesn’t change its structure. When you drive the car, fuel starts running through the system. Being carried by the fuel, the cleaner also runs through the system.

While running through the fuel system, it cleans the carbon and other harmful accumulations. In the combustion chamber, it turns into an acidic vapor that comes out through the exhaust system. At the time of coming out through the exhaust system, the vapor cleans the components of the exhaust system as well as the catalytic converter.

Once the accumulations are clear and the fuel and exhaust system is clean, the car starts performing like the way it performed previously. You won’t face any issues that you were facing before using it.

When should You Use Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaner?

A catalytic converter cleaner works on the exhaust system to make it clean by reducing carbon and other deposits. So, you should use it when you’ll notice problems related to the exhaust system and carbon emission. Below are the situations in which you can use a bottle of Cataclean cleaner.

• If your vehicle fails the emission test because of excess carbon emission
• When the check engine light is turned on because of an issue caused by catalytic converter
• When the performance of your vehicle drops significantly without any visible reason
• If your exhaust gas smells like rotten egg
• If you face hard start or muted acceleration
• If you face poor performance in fuel economy

These are the issues that indicate that your exhaust system and catalytic converter have some issues that are needed to be solved. Cataclean works great in such cases.

Is it a Good Decision to Use a Cleaner instead of Replacing the Converter?

When answering to this question, you’ll have to consider one thing- the distance served by the catalytic converter.

Typically, a catalytic converter is supposed to serve you for around 100,000 miles. If your catalytic converter has already served you this distance and you’re facing issues, it is a wise decision to replace the converter instead of trying a cleaner.

But if your catalytic converter hasn’t served you this much distance yet, trying a cleaner would be a good decision indeed. Replacing a catalytic converter will cost you a huge amount of bucks. On the other hand, a cleaner is not that much expensive. So, in such a situation, try a catalytic converter cleaner to get the problem solved. If the cleaner can’t solve the problem, maybe you’ll have to change the converter.

So, the bottom line is- using a catalytic converter cleaner is a better decision than replacing the converter if your catalytic converter hasn’t served you around 100,000 miles yet. If the distance is served, you should go for replacing the catalytic converter.

Final Verdict

A catalytic converter cleaner is an inexpensive yet effective solution for a lot of problems related to the exhaust system of your vehicle. So you can use it without having any hesitation. Just make sure that you’re getting a cleaner that is from a trusted source. Quality cleaners are very important to make sure that you’re spending bucks for something that works.