A catalytic converter is an important part of recent cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust gases and thus meets modern pollution requirements. However, it is possible that it may become clogged or breakdown, in which case a replace or cleaning is important. Today we are going to check out how to clean a catalytic converter on Bmw Serie 5? To achieve this, first of all, we will explain the circumstances in which it might be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Bmw Serie 5, then, how to accomplish this cleaning to retrieve the efficiency of the catalytic converter of your car.

clean-catalytic-converterbmw-serie-5

Why would you want to clean up the catalytic converter of your Bmw Serie 5?

In this first part we will explain why it might be important to clean the catalyst of your Bmw Serie 5 . Indeed for some of you it may seem obvious but most of you do not understand how it works and the results dirty catalytic converter .

Function and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Bmw Serie 5

.
The catalytic converter of your Bmw Serie 5 has the function to eliminate harmful exhaust gases related to the process of your engine. Indeed, it is one of the most important parts that fight against the pollution discharged by your Bmw Serie 5. It will convert these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting gases. In order to convert these gases, the catalyst of your Bmw Serie 5 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 important to avoid clogging the catalytic converter of your Bmw Serie 5. 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 optimize the life of this element and preserve best engine effectiveness.

Results of a dirty or faulty catalytic converter on Bmw Serie 5

We will now see what can be the results of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Bmw Serie 5 . This will allow you to identify the manifestations that should notify you to a malfunction of your catalytic converter, here is the list of signs of illness of a faulty catalytic converter:

  • The catalytic converter of your Bmw Serie 5 is clogged: As we stated earlier, if you make too short trips like 50% of people, it will not have the time to start functioning and the catalytic converter will clog up with exhaust gases.
  • Switching on the engine light: : Following a clogged catalytic converter, engine light of your Bmw Serie 5 may come on, do not hesitate to seek advice from our article to find out 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 more often than not also have complications.
  • A metallic noise originating from the exhaust: In case 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 Serie 5

Before we end with the step you are likely most keen on, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Bmw Serie 5? We will explain why it might be relevant for you to perform this cleaning. Indeed, a catalytic converter is a very expensive part (about 500 euros with the set up, the price can vary according 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 interest 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 Bmw Serie 5?

Finally here is the stage that you are likely most interested in in this guideline, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Bmw Serie 5? Know that this procedure is very basic, and that there are two methods to do it:

  • Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Bmw Serie 5 on a regular basis: This technique is specifically valuable for people 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 motor vehicle center for about 20 euros. All you have to do is add it to your fuel straight 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 verify that you have recovered healthier exhaust fumes after the procedure. You can perform this procedure every 15 000km.

.

In the event that you have any additional questions about the Bmw Serie 5, do not hesitate to consult our Bmw Serie 5 category.