A catalytic converter is a vital part of contemporary cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust gases and thus matches modern pollution requirements. However, it is possible that it may turned out to be clogged or malfunction, in which circumstance a replace or cleaning is necessary. In this article we are going to check out how to clean a catalytic converter on Audi A3? To do this, to begin with, we will explain the situations in which it might be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Audi A3, then, how to perform this cleaning to recover the efficiency of the catalytic converter of your car.
Why would you want to clean up the catalytic converter of your Audi A3?
In this first part we will show you why it might be necessary to clean the catalyst of your Audi A3 . Indeed for some of you it may seem logical but most of you do not understand how it functions and the consequences dirty catalytic converter .
Role and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Audi A3
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The catalytic converter of your Audi A3 has the goal to eliminate harmful exhaust gases related to the operation of your engine unit. Indeed, it is one of the most important parts that fight against the pollution discharged by your Audi A3. It will convert these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting gases. In order to convert these gases, the catalyst of your Audi A3 a mesh of precious metals which, when the gases pass at high temperature, will break them down by chemical reaction . A catalytic converter can just work from 400°, it is consequently important to avoid clogging the catalytic converter of your Audi A3. If you are considering making sufficiently long travels to heat it up frequently (count more than 10 kilometres for the catalyst to reach the right temperature), this will enable you to optimise the life of this component and preserve best engine unit performance.
Results of a dirty or defective catalytic converter on Audi A3
We will now find out what can be the consequences of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Audi A3 . This will enable you to distinguish the signs of illness that should notify you to a failure of your catalytic converter, here is the list of signs of illness of a defective catalytic converter:
- The catalytic converter of your Audi A3 is clogged: As we said earlier, if you make too short travels like 50% of people, it will not have the time to start working and the catalytic converter will clog up with exhaust gases.
- Switching on the engine light: : Following a clogged catalytic converter, engine light of your Audi A3 may come on, do not think twice to consult our article to find out how to switch it off.
- A defective lambda sensor : The catalyst functions in close connection with the lambda sensors downstream and upstream of it, they will analyze the air flowing inside it, if it is clogged the sensors will more often than not also have complications.
- A metallic noise caused by the exhaust: In the event that the catalyst is dead you should notice this noise which suggests that that the ceramic is damaged.
Why you should clean the catalytic converter of your Audi A3
Before we end with the step you are probably most curious about, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Audi A3? We will show you why it might be important for you to conduct this cleaning. Indeed, a catalytic converter is a very expensive part (about 500 euros with the set up, the price can fluctuate depending to the engines). In addition to being no longer good for passing the technical control , you might be at risk of over-consumption of fuel . At last, the last benefit is that cleaning a catalytic converter is not that expensive and doing it frequently will save you quite a lot of money.
How do you clean the catalytic converter from its Audi A3?
Finally here is the step that you are almost certainly most interested in in this guideline, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Audi A3? Know that this process is very basic, and that there are two methods to accomplish:
- Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Audi A3 on a regular basis: This strategy is specifically effective for persons who specifically do short trips . To do this, nothing could be easier, from time to time, make a long trip (about 30 minutes to improve the efficiency of the process), thinking of making your engine go up in revs so that the temperature in the catalyst increases and it can be cleaned.
- To use a catalyst cleaner: You can discover some in a motor vehicle center for about 20 euros. All you have to do is add it to your fuel directly in your tank with about half a full tank. Afterwards you will have to drive on a long distance for at least 1 hour at mid-range by trying to go frequently at high rpm . If you can before and afterwards do an exhaust gas analysis to check that you have recovered healthier exhaust fumes after the process. You can conduct this process every 15 000km.
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If you wish more tutorials on the Audi A3, go to our Audi A3 category.
