A catalytic converter is an important component of modern cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust gases and thus suits modern pollution specifications. However, it is possible that it may become clogged or malfunction, in which circumstance a change or cleaning is important. Today we are going to check out how to clean a catalytic converter on Volkswagen California? To achieve this, to begin with, we will describe the situations in which it may be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Volkswagen California, then, how to accomplish this cleaning to recover 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 Volkswagen California?

In this first section we will teach you why it may be beneficial to clean the catalyst of your Volkswagen California . In fact for some of you it may seem logical but most of you do not understand how it functions and the outcomes dirty catalytic converter .

Function and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Volkswagen California

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The catalytic converter of your Volkswagen California has the objective to eliminate harmful exhaust gases associated with the process of your engine unit. In fact, it is one of the most important parts that fight against the pollution discharged by your Volkswagen California. It will transform these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting gases. In order to transform these gases, the catalyst of your Volkswagen California 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 Volkswagen California. If you are thinking of making adequately long journeys 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 component and maintain ideal engine unit overall performance.

Results of a dirty or faulty catalytic converter on Volkswagen California

We will now find out what can be the outcomes of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Volkswagen California . This will allow you to discover the symptoms that should alarm you to a failure of your catalytic converter, here is the list of symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter:

  • The catalytic converter of your Volkswagen California 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 Volkswagen California may come on, do not hesitate to consult our article to identify how to switch it off.
  • A faulty lambda sensor : The catalyst functions 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 generally also have problems.
  • A metallic noise originating from the exhaust: In the event that the catalyst is dead you should notice this noise which means that the ceramic is damaged.

Why you should clean the catalytic converter of your Volkswagen California

Before we accomplish with the step you are probably most interested in, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Volkswagen California? We will teach you why it may be relevant for you to carry out this cleaning. In fact, a catalytic converter is a very expensive component (about 500 euros with the set up, the price can fluctuate according to the engines). Furthermore 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 Volkswagen California?

Finally here is the stage that you are likely most enthusiastic about in this article, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Volkswagen California? Know that this process is very very easy, and that there are two methods to do it:

  • Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Volkswagen California on a regular basis: This approach is especially effective for people who mainly do short trips . To do so, nothing could be less complicated, from time to time, make a long trip (about 30 minutes to optimize 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 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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To get more tips on the Volkswagen California, take a look at the Volkswagen California category.