If you are searching for the best catalytic converter cleaner, then you have a clogged catalytic converter, or you did not pass the emission test. >> View The Best Catalytic Converter Cleaners << A catalytic converter is responsible for converting the bad emissions coming out of your vehicle to less harmful gasses. If the catalytic converter is not performing correctly, a catalytic converter cleaner can fix the issue most of the time. However, if the catalytic converter’s problem is more complicated, then you might need to replace the whole part. The catalytic converter cleaner is one of the cheapest solutions to fix the catalytic converter’s issues. It can get rid of all the dirt clogging the converter quickly. Even if you do not have a current problem in your vehicle’s catalytic converter, it is recommended that you use a cleaner at least four times a year.
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In this article, we will start with background information about the catalytic converter, the main reasons causing a catalytic converter to clog, and the ten best catalytic converter cleaners for the year 2020.
What Does the Catalytic Converter Do?
Combustion engines provide the appropriate power to the vehicle to move. However, these engines also produce harmful emissions.
Think of the catalytic converter as an emission filter. Although the converter does not filter anything, it CONVERTS the vehicle’s harmful emissions into less harmful gasses.
When the emissions pass through the catalytic converter, a chemical reaction occurs between the emissions and the metal parts of the converter. As a result of the chemical reaction, the harmful emissions are converted to specific, less dangerous products.
Catalytic converter’s problems occur when the vehicle is running “rich.” In other words, if the air-fuel mixture has more fuel than the required, there will be unburnt fuel in the cylinders. The unburnt fuel can build up carbon in the catalytic converter causing it to clog.
What Causes is Catalytic Converter Clogging?
The most common cause for catalytic converter clogging is when the car runs rich or when the air-fuel mixture has more fuel than the optimal. The unburnt fuel can cause carbon to buildup in the catalytic converter, and therefore, the converter will clog.
One of the first reasons for a rich air-fuel mixture is problems with the spark plugs.
You need to know how often you should replace the spark plugs by reviewing the vehicle’s owner’s manual. If you do not have a copy of your vehicle’s manual, you can search for it and find it online.
The vehicle’s owner’s manual can tell you exactly when to replace the spark plugs, how many spark plugs do you need for your car, how much should each spark plug cost you, and how much of labor effort cost to expect.
Therefore, if you do not remember when you changed your spark plugs, it might be time to change them.
The vehicle’s come with four, six, or eight cylinders; therefore, you need to know how many to buy and if you can see by each separately.
Once you have changed your spark plug, it is now the time to use a catalytic converter cleaner.
Will the Catalytic Converter Cleaner Solve the Problem?
A lot of people ask the same question and wonder if the catalytic converter cleaner will solve the problem forever.
The answer to this question depends. If the catalytic converter has a relatively small amount of clogging, you can simply use one bottle of catalytic converter cleaner and solve the issue.
However, if the dirt and clogging is a decade worth of carbon buildup, you might need to use more than one bottle of catalytic converter cleaner to get rid of the problem entirely.
Lastly, if the catalytic converter has severe problems, unfortunately, you might not have any other option than replacing the whole part.
In general, it is recommended to clean your catalytic converter four times every year.
The cleaner is a cheap solution when it is compared to the cost of replacing the catalytic converter.
Can I Drive My Car If the Catalytic Converter is Clogged?
A Clogged catalytic converter will not stop the car from moving unless the clogging is severed.
If the catalytic converter is lightly clogged, you can drive your vehicle just fine.
However, you need to note that the vehicle will not perform as it should be. In other words, you will have significantly less fuel efficiency, and you will pay more for gas.
Besides, the vehicle will emit thick smoke that might be offensive to some people.
On the other hand, if the catalytic converter is completely clogged, you will not be able to drive the vehicle at all. In this scenario, it is most likely that the cleaner will not be able to fix the problem, and you will need to replace the whole part.
How Long Will My Catalytic Converter Last?
The catalytic converter is one of the parts in the vehicle that does not go bad so often.
The catalytic converter can las for quite a long time. For instance, if you bought a brand-new car, the catalytic can last up to 100,000 miles, if not more, without needing to repair it.
Usually, the catalytic converter has very minimal problems, and if you had to replace it, you do not need to worry about it for a couple of years.
Therefore, if you are planning to get the catalytic converter cleaned, make sure to deep clean it to save yourself time and effort since you might not need to open it for a long time.
What Are the Best Catalytic Converter Cleaners?
If you decided to clean your catalytic converter, there are many options to choose from.
However, you need to evaluate each option and see what works best for you.
For example, some catalytic converter cleaners can be pricy but can deeply clean your converter.
Besides, pay attention to what the cleaner cleans in addition to the catalytic converter. For instance, many cleaners will not only clean the converter, but they can also clean other parts like the oxygen sensor, the fuel injectors, and others can help clean the entire exhaust system.
Below is a list of the ten best catalytic converter cleaners.
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Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaner
The cetacean catalytic converter cleaner can achieve up to 50% emission reduction for hydrocarbon gasses.
It does not only clean the catalytic converter; it profoundly cleans the oxygen sensor and the fuel injector.
The Cataclean is suitable for many types of engines, including gasoline, diesel, and hybrid engines. It can also limit the potential of future carbon buildup in the converter.
Some of the drawbacks of this cleaner are the high price and that this cleaner is not suitable for two-stroke engines.
If you drive very often on dirt roads, you might need to consider using this cleaner.
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Hi-Gear HG32705 EZ Catalytic Converter Cleaner
The Hi-Gear HG32705 EZ catalytic converter cleaner has excellent value when compared to the price.
It does not only clean the catalytic converter, but it also cleans the entire exhaust system, the combustion chambers, the pistons, and the fuel injectors.
The Hi-Gear cleaner comes in a very tough can, which gives it more durability as compared to other brands.
On the other hand, the Hi-Gear HG32705 EZ is not available in a multipack and is only suitable for gasoline engines.
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Solder-It CAT-1 Catalytic Converter Cleaner
The Solder-It CAT-1 Catalytic Converter Cleaner is one of the most honest cleaners. As a result, it might take a little time for this cleaner to show results.
That been said, this cleaner might or might not help you pass the emission test. Moreover, the Solder-It works only with gasoline engines
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OXICAT Oxygen Sensor & Catalytic Converter Cleaner
The OXICAT Oxygen Sensor & Catalytic Converter Cleaner is one of the best cleaners so far.
It is a German-based product, and it helps significantly reduce the emission levels.
The OXICAT is suitable for many engine types, and it successfully meets the Stringent EU standards.
On the other hand, the OXICAT is one of the most expensive cleaners, comes in a tiny bottle, and does not come with multipack options.
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CRC 05063 Catalytic Converter Cleaner
The CRC 05063 Catalytic converter cleaner is one of the most robust most energetic filters.
It does not only clean newer converters, but it can also clean older, weaker catalytic converters.
This product is made specially to help vehicles pass the emission test. Experts describe it as the “Guaranteed to Pass the Emission Test”! It works super quickly and shows results immediately.
The CRC, however, comes in a tiny bottle and supports gasoline engines only.
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Sledgehammer Catalytic Converter Fuel System
The Sledgehammer catalytic converter fuel system comes in different packaging as compared to the other cleaners.
Sledgehammer comes in two-step system cleaning.
The first step is very similar to the other catalytic converter cleaners. You simply pour the liquid product in the fuel tank. The second step is where you connect a vacuum to the second bottle, where it starts the decarbonization process.
This product has one of the top performances in this list; however, it is much pricier.
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Red Line 60103 Complete S1-1 Fuel System Cleaner
The Red Line 60103 is one of the most common catalytic converter cleaners. One bottle is enough for a half-filled fuel tank.
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Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner
This cleaner is made by one of the top automobile companies, “The Chevron.”
The Chevron Techron cleaner is one of the most affordable catalytic converter cleaners.
It is the second top sell cleaner in the United States. It has excellent cleaning power compared to its price.
The cleaner comes in 20 or 12 ounces. It has a patented PEA technology that gives the highest efficiency for the lowest price.
The Chevron Techron Cleaner does not support diesel engines or two-stroke gasoline engines.
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Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner & Stabilizer
The Royal Purple Max-clean supports both gasoline and diesel engines. It can increase engine power by 2.6 %.
The Maxclean can reduce future potential carbon buildup. Some experts recommended it as one of the best catalytic converter cleaners in the market.
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Lucas Oil 10013 Injection System Cleaner
The Lucas Oil 10013 is featured for the extensive packaging. It comes in one-gallon containers and can last for more than one-time catalytic converter cleaners.
As we mentioned before, cleaning the catalytic converter is not something you do so often. Therefore, this giant package cleaner is best suitable for trailer trucks and larger vehicles.
The Lucas Oil 10013 is made of oil and additives without any solvents.
The biggest drawback of this vehicle is that you can only use it for diesel engines. In other words, if your car is not a large truck or trailer, you might need to consider any of the other listed products on this list.
Conclusion
The vehicle’s catalytic converter is responsible for converting harmful car emissions into less harmful gasses.
The catalytic converter can get clogged due to the carbon buildup in the system. Carbon buildup can mostly happen due to high fuel concentration in the air-fuel mixture.
A clogged catalytic converter can reduce the fuel efficiency in the vehicle and might cause the car to emit thick white smoke. In some scenarios, a clogged catalytic converter can cause severe damages that require a full replacement to the part. Moreover, a clogged catalytic converter can cause the car to fail the emission test.
Once the catalytic converter is clogged, you need to use a catalytic converter cleaner to flush the dirt and get the converter’s performance back to normal.
There are lots of converter cleaners’ brands. In this article, we highlighted ten of the most common catalytic converters.
If you want to select the best catalytic converter cleaner that works best for you, you need to pay attention to the price relative to the size of the bottle. Besides, you need to consider the scale of cleaning, does the product clean other parts of the vehicle?