What is the purpose of a cataiyic convertor?

Question

Mine has gone bad in my 98 civic and I don't have the money to fix it right now. Will it ruin my engine if I don't have it fixed right away?

Answer 1

A catalytic converter is an emissions control device. It changes some of your exhaust gases into less harmful ones. It will not harm your engine at all if you do not have one. You will not be emissions legal if you take it off, though. If it is clogged your engine may run roughly or not at all. Also, if you have a downstream O2 sensor and your catalytic converter is bad, then your check engine light will probably come on. Bottom line: you won't ruin your engine, but you'll be spewing out more emissions than normal. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

If your catalytic converter is plugged it will cause your engine to over heat and burn the valves. Or if it plugs up bad enough it will stall the engine no matter what your engine will not operate properly.
Catalytic converters are high heat chambers with special metals or fibers that glow almost white hot. It converts engine gasses to a more environmentally friendly gas. It is against the law to operate a auto without one unless it is pre 1974.
Unfortunately this things are expensive. If your auto is on its last leg for a Honda that is about 200 thousand miles if adequately kept try to trade. You can order one online from Auto Zone for 87.00 plus tax and shipping. If you are mechanical you can put it on.

Answer 3

When catalytic converters fail they normally clog up with debris and block the flow of exhaust gas from getting out of the system. this causes extreme performance problems. In the extreme cases it will even prevent the car from starting at all. Most of the time it acts like a governor and limits the engine RPM to a fast idle.

Answer 4

The catalytic converter filter out Hydrocarbons from your exhaust system, which is unburnt fuel. You should get a universal one off of ebay for $50.... that is the cheapest, I would replace it, if you dont you will kill the oxygen sensor after the converter.... so you will be replacing that as well.

Answer 5

The job of the catalytic converter is to "burn" off some of the CO2 in the exhaust gases. It will not ruin your engine by running it with a bad cat but your gas mileage will suffer as will the environment.

Answer 6

Well - i have had one get "clogged up" before - the ceramic stuff inside broke free and clogged up my exhaust. My car ran like crap - would barely move. I dont know whats up with yours. Did it just break free or something?
You can bypass the converter. cut it off and run a pipe through where it was. But if your state has vehicle inspections you will never pass. So if you do that just make it a temporary fix.

Answer 7

it will clog and either stall the engine do to the blockage, blow gaskets, or you will get a big ole exhaust leak........they really are not that expensive, about $200 to 300 to replace......anything higher and you are getting ripped off........

over several monthes time if your car runs at all it will cost you that much in gas.....if you gutted it to keep the car running, if you get caught the fine is really steep..... fix it and protect our air

Answer 8

you need to have it fixed right a way . if it stope,s up completely the en gin will not run right, the converter burns the fumes off of the spent gas through a char col filter system have it checked now.

Answer 9

no you will just burn up oxygen sensors really fast. it is mainly for your emissions. its illegal not to have one on though. plus you will loose gas milage and horsepower.

Answer 10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalytic_converter

Click this.
There is more information on it than you possibly imagine.