Catalytic Converters & Systems

If your vehicle is titled as 1975 model year or newer, it is required by law to have a catalytic converter installed. Many states and counties require emission testing with California being the most strict on requirements. If your vehicle doesn't have the correct cat converter installed, you will not pass the emissions check and be unable to register your vehicle so that it can lawfully be driven. Having the proper catalytic converter will help keep you in compliance and pass local and federal laws.

Catalytic converters contain a honeycomb of precious metals. When the exhaust from the engine passes through the honeycomb, it reacts to the platinum, palladium, or rhodium inside and transforms to harmless gasses like water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. This reduces fumes that create smog and other environmental impacts and makes air safer and cleaner to breathe for people and animals.

A catalytic converter for car or truck applications (sometimes researched online or pronounced mistakenly as a "Cadillac converter") transforms harmful compounds (like hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitric oxide) created from combustion inside engines into safe gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Late-model vehicles have oxygen sensor bungs installed in the front and back of the converter to test the air and fuel mixture and confirm that the converter is properly functioning. Adjustments are constantly made by the fuel injection computer to keep the air / fuel ratio correct.

Catalytic converters are expensive because of the metals that are required inside them. The honeycomb structure that the exhaust gas from the engine passes through is typically made from platinum, palladium, or rhodium. These metals convert the harmful compounds into much safer gases after they make contact and have been found to be the most effective. Due to their rarity, the price of a catalytic converter is high.

The inside of a catalytic converter is usually made with platinum, palladium, or rhodium. These metals are very expensive resulting in a high cost to purchase a converter. This is also the reason why thieves crawl under vehicles and steal converters that they can then sell to metal recyclers for enough money that makes it worth committing the crime. The exterior shell of a catalytic converter car and truck is commonly made from aluminized steel or stainless steel materials.

All gasoline-powered vehicles from 1975 to present in the United States left the factory installed with and are required to have a catalytic converter. Vehicles with diesel engines were not required to have catalytic converters installed until the 1990 model year.

On a properly running engine, a truck or car converter will last 10 years or more before requiring replacement. Engines that are improperly maintained can create a clogged converter condition that will need to be replaced much sooner. Converters can also corrode and rust out, depending on the climate and conditions, resulting in broken hangers, flanges, and leaks.