Without catalytic converters, the air in our cities would quickly become dangerously thick with pollutants. As your engine expels its emissions through the exhaust system, the cat cleans them up, turning nitrogen oxide and other toxic fumes into far more benign gases. If your cat runs into trouble, you’ll soon notice the following problems. If you do, don’t hesitate to visit your local Ford dealer for cat repair or replacement.
Excessive Heat Under Your Car
One reason cats are located under your car rather than inside is because of how hot they run. A cat will typically run at around 1,200 to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit: this high temperature helps the catalytic process that cleans your emissions.
But clogged or faulty cats can sometimes overheat, in which case they can reach up to 2,000 degrees and might turn bright red. This incredible heat can rapidly destroy the mesh inside the cat and is dangerous for other reasons. If you suspect a malfunctioning cat, pull over and look under your vehicle. Just don’t put your hands near an overheating cat in case you get burnt.
Sluggish Engine Performance
When a cat stops working properly, the flow of emissions through your exhaust system can become restricted. This creates a backup of gases that prevents sufficient fresh air from entering the engine at the front of your car.
As a result, the engine becomes starved of oxygen, and the combustion process will suffer. You’ll soon notice your engine misfiring and losing accelerative power.
Plummeting Gas Mileage
With the cat causing engine inefficiencies, your fuel economy will fall, as well. Each full tank of gas will no longer last you as long as before.
Thickened Exhaust Smoke
When the engine becomes oxygen-starved as a result of a clogged cat, the overly rich fuel-air mixture inside the combustion chambers can lead to unburned fuel leaking back into the exhaust system. This creates an additional danger to the cat.
When unburned fuel reaches the extreme heat of the cat, it can sometimes ignite. If it does, your cat will be destroyed, and you’ll see black smoke billowing from your tailpipe.
A Smell of Sulfur or Rotting Eggs
One of the noxious emissions that your engine produces has a strong smell of rotten eggs. This sulfury smell is usually a clear sign that your cat is no longer doing its job properly.
How a Ford Dealer Can Diagnose Cat Trouble
When you take a car with the above issues to your dealership, the technician first needs to determine if the problems originate from the cat or not. They can use diagnostic tools to interface with your car’s onboard computer and gather data.
They’ll also measure the temperature of the cat and neighboring exhaust system with an infrared thermometer or pyrometer. And if there are engine problems, they can detach sections of exhaust piping upwind of the cat and run the engine to see if the misfiring lessens.
Have your cat repaired today at Lundeen Bros Ford of Annandale. We provide excellent vehicles and a hassle-free car buying and servicing experience.
Connect with us
