List of the Cons of Removing a Catalytic Converter

1. You cannot perform this action legally in several U.S. states.
You must follow a specific process to legally remove your catalytic converter in the United States. These guidelines are offered through 1986 rules that were issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. Several states, such as California, have strict laws on the books which prohibit the removal of a catalytic converter under most circumstances. Unless you know for certain what the outcome would be, speak with your mechanic about the pros and cons of removing this item before doing it on your own.

Federal law in the United States prohibits the removal of a catalytic converter which is functioning properly. A replacement converter is permitted if there is a documented failure of the original one. Serious fines may result if your vehicle is found to be without this device.

2. You may trigger a fault code in your vehicle.
Removing the catalytic converter may create a circumstance where you trigger a fault code in your vehicle. If you have a check engine light, then this will illuminate on your heads-up display. Although you can get around this issue on some vehicles by fitting a spacer on your downstream O2 sensor (the lambda sensor), there is a risk that normal functionality does not return. That would make it a challenge to track actual faults through this warning light.




3. You would create an emissions concern.
The goal of the catalytic converter is to remove the high levels of carbon monoxide created through fuel combustion to replace it with carbon dioxide. You want this device to scrub these gases for you because they contribute to global warming issues, acid rain, ocean acidification, and other forms of environmental damage.

There is the concern that the fumes from your exhaust could reach the vehicle cabin too. If you have an exhaust leak or you drive with the windows down, your lungs won’t appreciate the carbon monoxide. It may do more than induce a headache. It could create life-threatening situations in some circumstances.



4. You will create more noise when you drive.
Although the sound of an engine which is not held back by a catalytic converter sounds healthy, it can also become unhealthy from a noise perspective. If you have the windows down and the engine full, you might exceed 110 decibels without this device. Any noise above 85 decibels is potentially dangerous to your hearing health. Even if the noise isn’t bothersome after the unit is gone, the lack of noise suppression may interfere with conversations, becoming annoying after a lengthy drive, or cause noise complaints while you idle at home. (This is a possible “pro” as well, depending on your viewpoint. See above.)

5. You may use more fuel without a catalytic converter.
The catalytic converter does more than convert harmful gas into something less dangerous. It also squeezes a better fuel economy out of some vehicles. However, some people have reported that once they remove this device, they discover that their miles or kilometers per gallon actually go down. The most common explanation seems to be that they are burning more gas because their O2 sensors are not reading correctly and therefore requiring more fuel usage. Relatedly, there are reports that a notable amount of backpressure is lost.



6. You won’t pass a visual inspection for your vehicle.
If your vehicle must go through an emissions test, then it is essential to remember that there is a visual test in addition to the performance evaluate. When there isn’t a catalytic converter as part of your exhaust system, then your car will fail. Testers are usually required by law to report failures like this, which means an uncomfortable conversation will be waiting for you when you try to drive away. A failure may cause your vehicle to be impounded too.

7. You will lose your low-end torque without a catalytic converter.
The catalytic converters in the past were very restrictive because the exhaust coming from the combustion process was extremely toxic. Modern engines create less of an impact, which means the device creates almost the same effect as a straight pipe for the average vehicle on the road today that is less than 10 years old. If you decide to remove the catalytic converter, then you’ll experience a loss in your low-end torque while operating the vehicle. Your horsepower gains will be slightly better when you run full out. Since this is only legal for off-road vehicles, the benefits may not be the type you want.



The pros and cons of removing the catalytic converter from a vehicle involve performance and aesthetics at the cost of dangerous gas production. Most modern vehicles that are used for daily driving will see a minimal change to their performance by getting rid of this device. You’ll be paying more for fuel if it is gone while running the risk of fouling the air in your cabin. That’s why choosing this course of action is something that you do at your own risk

Brandon Miller has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.

This is rubbish. No cons

dickt:
This is rubbish. No cons

You read my mind