A catalytic converter is an essential part of contemporary cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust fumes 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 essential. Today we are going to check out how to clean a catalytic converter on BMW 3 Series? To get this done, to begin with, we will describe the scenarios in which it might be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your BMW 3 Series, then, how to conduct this cleaning to retrieve the overall performance of the catalytic converter of your car.
Why would you want to clean up the catalytic converter of your BMW 3 Series?
In this first section we will describe why it might be significant to clean the catalyst of your BMW 3 Series . In truth for some of you it may seem obvious but most of you do not know how it works and the outcomes dirty catalytic converter .
Purpose and functioning of the catalytic converter of a BMW 3 Series
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The catalytic converter of your BMW 3 Series has the task to get rid of harmful exhaust fumes related to the procedure of your engine. In truth, it is one of the main components that fight against the pollution discharged by your BMW 3 Series. It will transform these harmful gases into water or non-polluting fumes. In order to transform these gases, the catalyst of your BMW 3 Series 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 BMW 3 Series. If you are thinking of making adequately long journeys to heat it up regularly (count more than 10 kilometres for the catalyst to reach the right temperature), this will enable you to optimize the life of this part and maintain best engine performance.
Outcomes of a dirty or defective catalytic converter on BMW 3 Series
We will now see what can be the outcomes of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on BMW 3 Series . This will enable you to detect the symptoms that should inform you to a malfunction of your catalytic converter, here is the list of signs of illness of a defective catalytic converter:
- The catalytic converter of your BMW 3 Series is clogged: As we stated above, if you make too short journeys like 50% of people, it will not have the time to start working and the catalytic converter will clog up with exhaust fumes.
- Switching on the engine light: : Following a clogged catalytic converter, engine light of your BMW 3 Series may come on, do not think twice to consult our content to find out how to switch it off.
- A defective lambda sensor : The catalyst works 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 the catalyst is dead you should hear this noise which suggests that that the ceramic is damaged.
Why you should clean the catalytic converter of your BMW 3 Series
Before we end with the step you are probably most keen on, how to clean the catalytic converter of a BMW 3 Series? We will describe why it might be important for you to accomplish this cleaning. In truth, a catalytic converter is a very expensive part (about 500 euros with the set up, the price can vary 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 . Finally, the last benefit is that cleaning a catalytic converter is not that expensive and doing it regularly will save you quite a lot of money.
How do you clean the catalytic converter from its BMW 3 Series?
Finally here is the stage that you are probably most interested in in this content, how to clean the catalytic converter of your BMW 3 Series? Know that this process is very basic, and that there are two techniques to do it:
- Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your BMW 3 Series regularly: This approach is especially valuable for persons who principally do short trips . To do so, nothing could be less complicated, from time to time, make a long trip (about 30 minutes to enhance 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 find some in a car 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 regularly at high rpm . If you can before and later on do an exhaust gas analysis to examine that you have recovered healthier exhaust fumes after the process. You can accomplish this process every 15 000km.
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If you want more tutorials on the BMW 3 Series, go to our BMW 3 Series category.
