A catalytic converter is an essential component of contemporary cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust fumes and thus matches modern pollution specifications. However, it is possible that it may turned out to be clogged or malfunction, in which circumstance a replace or cleaning is fundamental. Today we are going to look at how to clean a catalytic converter on BMW 5 Series? To do this, first of all, we will show you the situations in which it may be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your BMW 5 Series, then, how to execute this cleaning to recover the performance of the catalytic converter of your car.
Why would you want to clean up the catalytic converter of your BMW 5 Series?
In this first part we will show you why it may be beneficial to clean the catalyst of your BMW 5 Series . In truth for some of you it may seem obvious but most of you do not understand how it works and the results dirty catalytic converter .
Role and functioning of the catalytic converter of a BMW 5 Series
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The catalytic converter of your BMW 5 Series has the task to eliminate harmful exhaust fumes related to the procedure of your engine. In truth, it is one of the main elements that fight against the pollution discharged by your BMW 5 Series. It will convert these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting fumes. In order to convert these gases, the catalyst of your BMW 5 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 therefore essential to avoid clogging the catalytic converter of your BMW 5 Series. If you are considering making enough long trips to heat it up frequently (count more than 10 kilometres for the catalyst to reach the right temperature), this will allow you to optimise the life of this element and maintain best engine overall performance.
Results of a dirty or faulty catalytic converter on BMW 5 Series
We will now see what can be the results of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on BMW 5 Series . This will allow you to distinguish the manifestations that should notify you to a malfunction of your catalytic converter, here is the list of symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter:
- The catalytic converter of your BMW 5 Series is clogged: As we stated earlier, 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 5 Series may come on, do not hesitate to consult our content page to identify how to switch it off.
- A faulty lambda sensor : The catalyst works in close connection with the lambda sensors downstream and upstream of it, they will review the air flowing inside it, if it is clogged the sensors will often also have problems.
- A metallic noise coming from the exhaust: In case the catalyst is dead you should hear this noise which means that the ceramic is damaged.
Why you should clean the catalytic converter of your BMW 5 Series
Before we end with the step you are almost certainly most keen on, how to clean the catalytic converter of a BMW 5 Series? We will show you why it may be important for you to accomplish this cleaning. In truth, a catalytic converter is a very expensive component (about 500 euros with the set up, the price can differ depending to the engines). In addition to being no longer good for passing the technical control , you may be at risk of over-consumption of fuel . At last, the last interest is that cleaning a catalytic converter is not that expensive and doing it frequently will save you a lot of money.
How do you clean the catalytic converter from its BMW 5 Series?
Finally here is the step that you are most certainly most enthusiastic about in this article, how to clean the catalytic converter of your BMW 5 Series? Know that this process is very basic, and that there are two approaches to accomplish:
- Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your BMW 5 Series regularly: This strategy is especially effective for persons who mainly do short trips . To do this, nothing could be easier, 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 locate 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 frequently at high rpm . If you can before and afterwards do an exhaust gas analysis to examine that you have recovered healthier exhaust fumes after the procedure. You can accomplish this procedure every 15 000km.
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If you wish more guides on the BMW 5 Series, go to our BMW 5 Series category.
