Catalytic Converter Life? (long) (archive)
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Posted by Clyde on March 18, 2001 at 01:34:11:
(posted from: dialup-63.210.127.43.losangeles1.level3.net (63.210.127.43))
BACKGROUND:
The OEM cat on my 87 535i had been hit by prior owner, and I replaced it with a DEC converter almost exactly 2 years and 30,000 miles ago. Last week I went for a California smog check, and was labelled a Gross Polluter: NO was 2400 ppm, well above the 1000 ppm limit at the 15 mph test. HC and CO were in spec, but not really very low. CO2 and O2 were not unreasonable. Because the emissions were lower for the second test, I suspected the car may not have been properly warmed up. Two things killed that theory:
1. My wife had been complaining the exhaust smelled "gassy" for several weeks.
2. While checking my O2 sensor response (which crisply swings through low and high voltages) I heard the knocking and rattling of loose catalyst from my unit while at idle. QUESTION:
The car runs and idles well. I'd like to know what kind of service life others have experienced with aftermarket converters. Is two years typical? Would be nice to know before I go on a witch hunt for underlying causes of "premature" failure. Only other item might be non-uniform injector performance, but the O2 sensor response suggests things are okay with the injection system and DME. Cap, rotor, wires were replaced 3 years ago.
I notice that most ceramic substrate converters only guarantee the catalyst for 2 yrs/25K miles (pipes are guaranteed for 5/50).
TIA.
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