A catalytic converter is an essential component of recent cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust gases and thus fulfills modern pollution specifications. However, it is possible that it may become clogged or breakdown, in which case a change or cleaning is necessary. In this article we are going to look at how to clean a catalytic converter on Ford Ka? To do this, to begin with, we will explain the scenarios in which it might be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Ford Ka, then, how to execute this cleaning to retrieve the effectiveness of the catalytic converter of your car.

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Why would you want to clean up the catalytic converter of your Ford Ka?

In this first section we will explain why it might be important to clean the catalyst of your Ford Ka . Indeed for some of you it might seem obvious but most of you do not know how it works and the consequences dirty catalytic converter .

Role and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Ford Ka

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The catalytic converter of your Ford Ka has the objective to get rid of harmful exhaust gases related to the procedure of your engine unit. Indeed, it is one of the most important elements that fight against the pollution discharged by your Ford Ka. It will transform these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting gases. In order to transform these gases, the catalyst of your Ford Ka 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 Ford Ka. If you are considering making adequately long journeys 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 part and keep best engine unit effectiveness.

Outcomes of a dirty or defective catalytic converter on Ford Ka

We will now see what can be the consequences of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Ford Ka . This will enable you to distinguish the signs of illness that should alert you to a malfunction of your catalytic converter, here is the list of symptoms of a defective catalytic converter:

  • The catalytic converter of your Ford Ka is clogged: As we explained earlier, if you make too short travels 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 Ford Ka may come on, do not think twice to seek advice from our content page to identify 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 review the air flowing inside it, if it is clogged the sensors will often times as well have problems.
  • A metallic noise caused by the exhaust: In the event that 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 Ford Ka

Before we accomplish with the step you are probably most interested in, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Ford Ka? We will explain why it might be important for you to accomplish this cleaning. Indeed, a catalytic converter is a very expensive component (about 500 euros with the installation, the price can differ depending to the engines). Furthermore 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 a lot of money.

How do you clean the catalytic converter from its Ford Ka?

Finally here is the step that you are most certainly most keen on in this article, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Ford Ka? Know that this process is very basic, and that there are two ways to do it:

  • Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Ford Ka frequently: This strategy is specifically effective for people 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 find some in a car 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 later on 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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To get more tips on the Ford Ka, take a look at the Ford Ka category.