A catalytic converter is an important component of recent cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust fumes and thus meets modern pollution specifications. However, it is possible that it may become clogged or breakdown, in which case a change or cleaning is important. In this article we are going to look at how to clean a catalytic converter on Chevrolet Captiva? To get this done, first of all, we will show you the situations in which it might be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Chevrolet Captiva, then, how to execute this cleaning to retrieve the performance of the catalytic converter of your car.

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Why would you want to clean up the catalytic converter of your Chevrolet Captiva?

In this first part we will teach you why it might be valuable to clean the catalyst of your Chevrolet Captiva . In actual fact for some of you it might seem logical but the majority of you do not know how it works and the consequences dirty catalytic converter .

Function and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Chevrolet Captiva

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The catalytic converter of your Chevrolet Captiva has the objective to eliminate harmful exhaust fumes associated with the procedure of your engine unit. In actual fact, it is one of the main elements that fight against the pollution discharged by your Chevrolet Captiva. It will transform these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting fumes. In order to transform these gases, the catalyst of your Chevrolet Captiva a mesh of precious metals which, when the gases pass at high temperature, will break them down by chemical reaction . A catalytic converter can only work from 400°, it is consequently necessary to avoid clogging the catalytic converter of your Chevrolet Captiva. If you are thinking of making adequately long trips 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 element and preserve ideal engine unit performance.

Outcomes of a dirty or faulty catalytic converter on Chevrolet Captiva

We will now discover what can be the consequences of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Chevrolet Captiva . This will enable you to discover the manifestations that should notify you to a failure of your catalytic converter, here is the list of symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter:

  • The catalytic converter of your Chevrolet Captiva 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 fumes.
  • Switching on the engine light: : Following a clogged catalytic converter, engine light of your Chevrolet Captiva may come on, do not hesitate to consult our article 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 as well have problems.
  • A metallic noise caused by the exhaust: In case the catalyst is dead you should hear this noise which results in that the ceramic is damaged.

Why you should clean the catalytic converter of your Chevrolet Captiva

Before we accomplish with the step you are probably most interested in, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Chevrolet Captiva? We will teach you why it might be relevant for you to carry out this cleaning. In actual fact, a catalytic converter is a very expensive component (about 500 euros with the installation, the price can vary according to the engines). Furthermore to being no longer good for passing the technical control , you might be at risk of over-consumption of fuel . Finally, 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 Chevrolet Captiva?

Finally here is the stage that you are most likely most enthusiastic about in this content page, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Chevrolet Captiva? Know that this process is very basic, and that there are two techniques to accomplish:

  • Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Chevrolet Captiva on a regular basis: This technique is specifically practical for people who specifically do short trips . To do so, nothing could be simpler, 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 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 procedure. You can carry out this procedure every 15 000km.

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If you need more tutorials on the Chevrolet Captiva, go to our Chevrolet Captiva category.