It takes about 10 years for the catalytic converter to get clogged by carbon and sulfur deposits. If your catalytic converter is clogged, you will notice a reduction in your engine’s performance. The reason why is that the engine is filled with exhaust that has backed up out of the catalytic converter and back into the engine. Here are other signs you have a clogged catalytic converter.
Acceleration Lag
Another thing that is going to lag is your vehicle’s acceleration. Your vehicle will not respond as quickly as it normally does when you press down on the accelerator. Consequently, it will be difficult to pick up speed when you need to. Replacing the catalytic converter resolves this problem.
Poor Fuel Mileage
With gas prices as high as they are these days, you may want to replace the catalytic converter as soon as possible. Because the engine and acceleration are performing poorly, your vehicle will burn more gasoline. It will also burn more gasoline if the main computer chip at fuel to the combustion chamber in an effort to resolve the performance problems. Simply put, you will get poor fuel mileage.
Dark Engine Exhaust
The excess fuel and the clogged catalytic converter will combine to create dark exhaust smoke that will flow out of your vehicle’s tailpipe. Unfortunately, you will continue to have the exhaust smoke until you replace the catalytic converter and restore your engine’s performance.
Strange Exhaust Odors
In addition to the exhaust being dark, it will also smell strange. You will detect an odor of rotten eggs floating up from underneath your vehicle and in the engine bay. This is the smell of burning sulfur that is released when the hot exhaust flows over the sulfur deposits inside the catalytic converter.
Overheating Engine
The clogged catalytic converter will also overheat underneath your vehicle. Consequently, this excess heat will rise into the engine and overheat the engine. In fact, your engine may overheat every time that you drive your automobile until you have the catalytic converter replaced.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, as you can see, a lot goes wrong with the catalytic converter is unable to do its job. Consequently, the main computer chip in your automobile will turn on the check engine light. It does this to let you know there is a problem that needs your attention.
This problem needs our attention, too, so call us today to set up a service appointment for your automobile.
