A catalytic converter is an essential component of modern cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust gases and thus suits modern pollution requirements. Nevertheless, it is possible that it may turned out to be clogged or breakdown, in which circumstance a replace or cleaning is necessary. In this article we are going to look at how to clean a catalytic converter on Toyota RAV4? To do this, first of all, we will describe the scenarios in which it may be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Toyota RAV4, then, how to perform this cleaning to recover the overall performance of the catalytic converter of your car.

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Why would you want to clean up the catalytic converter of your Toyota RAV4?

In this first section we will show you why it may be beneficial to clean the catalyst of your Toyota RAV4 . Indeed for some of you it might seem logical but most of you do not understand how it works and the outcomes dirty catalytic converter .

Role and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Toyota RAV4

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The catalytic converter of your Toyota RAV4 has the function to get rid of harmful exhaust gases related to the procedure of your engine. Indeed, it is one of the main elements that fight against the pollution discharged by your Toyota RAV4. It will transform these harmful gases into water or non-polluting gases. In order to transform these gases, the catalyst of your Toyota RAV4 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 necessary to avoid clogging the catalytic converter of your Toyota RAV4. If you are considering making adequately long trips 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 component and keep best engine effectiveness.

Results of a dirty or faulty catalytic converter on Toyota RAV4

We will now see what can be the outcomes of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Toyota RAV4 . This will enable you to distinguish the symptoms that should notify you to a breakdown of your catalytic converter, here is the list of symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter:

  • The catalytic converter of your Toyota RAV4 is blocked: As we stated earlier, if you make too short journeys 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 Toyota RAV4 may come on, do not hesitate to seek advice from our content 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 times as well have complications.
  • A metallic noise originating 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 Toyota RAV4

Before we finish with the step you are likely most curious about, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Toyota RAV4? We will show you why it may be relevant for you to accomplish this cleaning. Indeed, a catalytic converter is a very expensive component (about 500 euros with the installation, the price can fluctuate depending to the engines). Furthermore to being no longer good for passing the technical control , you may 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 regularly will save you a lot of money.

How do you clean the catalytic converter from its Toyota RAV4?

Finally here is the step that you are most certainly most keen on in this article, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Toyota RAV4? Know that this process is very simple, and that there are two methods to do it:

  • Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Toyota RAV4 on a regular basis: This approach is especially effective for people 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 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 regularly at high rpm . If you can before and later on do an exhaust gas analysis to check that you have recovered healthier exhaust fumes after the process. You can accomplish this process every 15 000km.

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Whenever you have any further questions about the Toyota RAV4, do not hesitate to consult our Toyota RAV4 category.