If you have an older car, you understand that the catalytic converter wears out, decreasing your vehicle’s performance. If you are looking for something to improve your car’s efficiency, you can get a bottle of cataclean to help you reduce emissions and then enhance your car’s performance.
The great thing about cataclean is that it helps unclog the fuel injectors and clean the sensors, so you should consider using it at least once every year. Fortunately, it is useful in both diesel and petrol engines so you will not have to buy different types.
However, it also has its shortcomings. So, what are the Problems after using cataclean?
In this article, you will learn everything about cataclean and problems after using it.
What is Cataclean?
Cataclean is an exhaust system and fuel cleaner that helps to reduce the building-up of carbon toxins in the catalytic converter.
Cataclean cleans your catalytic converter and other components of the exhaust system like fuel injectors, oxygen sensors and cylinder head. It lowers hydrocarbon emissions by about half. It is made up of hydrocarbons and other fuel components, which positively impact the combustion of fuel.
Therefore, cataclean is safe to use in diesel, gasoline, and hybrid engines.
Cataclean also uses acetone to help in improving the efficiency of combustion of fuel; since acetone helps burn the energy thoroughly and evenly. Although you pour cataclean in the gas tank, it will not affect your car’s fuel composition.
What Does Cataclean Do?
Cataclean is made up of hydrocarbons and fuel constituents to improve fuel efficiency and prevent the building up of toxins.
Here is how cataclean works;
1. Cataclean Works as Fuel Treatment
Incomplete combustion can occur in an internal combustion engine due to high pressure and temperature. It could also be due to low oxygen for oxidizing the fuel to CO2 and water.
The incomplete combustion leads to harmful components like CO, NOx, and a mix of organic chemicals in the environment.
Vehicles have a catalytic converter to convert the by-products to environmentally friendly and less harmful chemicals.
time, the catalytic converters become less effective because of incomplete combustion, which leads to the building of carbon deposits.
Since Cataclean is made up of acetone, xylene, isopropanol, and long-chain hydrocarbons; they help to;
- Produces oxygen that helps in an oxidizing layer of carbon deposits on the surface of the catalytic converter.
- Produces carboxylic acid vapor that helps clean the catalytic converter and convert hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, which helps in oxidation.
2. Impacts Internal Combustion and Engine Performance
Pre-combustion Effects
Cataclean has solvents that assist in removing deposits that might have been formed in the fuel system before combustion.
The deposits may be on fuel lines, sensors, injectors, or filters, increasing fuel combustion, thus reducing engine performance.
So, acetone in the cataclean helps to enhance fuel efficiency in internal engine combustion.
Post-combustion Effects
The components of cataclean combust with fuel; and the by-products remove deposits like the carbon build-up from your car’s catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, and exhaust system.
The post-combustion vapors from the cataclean revitalize the catalytic converter to remove harmful emissions more efficiently. This cleaning helps improve the catalytic converter’s performance, hence enhancing the car’s overall performance.
Therefore, the cataclean helps clean the fuel system and improve combustion efficiency.
Does Cataclean Work?
Cataclean is primarily used in older vehicles or cars with emission issues.
Although most people disregard the use of any fuel additives, it is great to be open-minded about it; some additives might be damaging, but others can be effective and beneficial when you follow the instructions.
According to its review 79% review on Amazon, it works; its only negative review is from the extreme cases of failure of the user to follow instructions right.
There is so much debate about fuel additives because it is not something you can see. Therefore, consider looking at the fuel economy to gauge whether your cataclean worked after using it.
If your MPG (miles-per-gallon) increases, your car is using less fuel; it means that your cataclean had an impact and something is happening.
Over the subsequent travels, your car’s fuel economy keeps getting better.
Therefore, cataclean is a great option, and it will help your car improve the performance of your vehicle if you use it right. However, it would be best to note that a cataclean will not fix your leaking exhaust system or a collapsed catalytic converter.
Problems after Using Cataclean
Cataclean improves the efficiency of your car, but it can also lead to some issues.
Here are the problems caused by a cataclean;
Change in the vehicle sound
The sound of your car might change after using the cataclean in some vehicles. Some car users find this noise annoying and frustrating.
If this happens after using the cataclean, take the car to an expert for a proper check-up because you may have done something wrong.
Effects on Engine Efficiency
The cataclean helps remove deposits build up on injectors, sensors, gasoline lines, and filters, which causes high fuel consumption and poor engine performance.
After using the cataclean, you might affect the performance of the engine. When there is a high accumulation of carbon, it will lead to losing horsepower, and your vehicle will not use fuel efficiently. That means that you will need more energy for driving your car.
Effects on Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter wears out naturally with time.
Accumulation of carbon is a normal process that shows that your vehicle is operating normally. The wearing out however, leads to less than the normal air to fuel ratio.
So, if your catalytic converter is not functioning well because it is worn out, a cataclean cannot help even after using it.
The only solution will be changing your catalytic converter.
Cataclean Causes Smoke
In some cases, after applying the cataclean, you might see white smoke coming from the exhaust. This smoking leads to staining of the rear bumper.
It is therefore important to note that, if your cataclean is not applied properly, it will affect the functioning of your car.
On Problems after using cataclean
Cataclean is an excellent exhaust system and fuel cleaner that is very easy to use and legal in about fifty states.
When there is so much carbon deposits build up in the catalytic converter, it fails to function effectively. It causes air to fuel ratio that is less than optimal since all the fuel burned is used to run the car. With time, the catalytic converter wears out just like other car parts. So, cataclean is used here to increase the life span of your catalytic converter.
Although a cataclean will not fix your leaking exhaust or broken catalytic converter, it will extend its lifespan.
Are there problems after using cataclean?
Yes! You might experience some issues like noise, poor fuel efficiency, and sometimes smoking from the exhaust, although the cataclean helps improve your car’s performance.
Therefore, if you notice any problem, it would be best to take your car to an expert mechanic to check whether you applied the cataclean properly. An expert will also help to diagnose any other underlying issue in your car correctly.
Hi I’m Marshall based in 1478 Doctors Drive Santa Monica, CA. I’m your DIY Car Repairman with more than 5 years experience in automobile repair, a skill I learned from my old man.
I started this blog to share my experience on both simple and technical aspects of your car.
