A catalytic converter is a vital part of recent cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust gases and thus suits modern pollution requirements. However, it is possible that it may turned out to be clogged or breakdown, in which circumstance a change or cleaning is essential. In this article we are going to check out how to clean a catalytic converter on Volkswagen Golf 3? To get this done, to begin with, we will explain the situations in which it may be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Volkswagen Golf 3, then, how to conduct this cleaning to retrieve 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 Volkswagen Golf 3?

In this first section we will explain why it may be beneficial to clean the catalyst of your Volkswagen Golf 3 . In fact for some of you it may seem logical but most of you do not understand how it functions and the consequences dirty catalytic converter .

Function and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Volkswagen Golf 3

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The catalytic converter of your Volkswagen Golf 3 has the function to get rid of harmful exhaust gases associated with the operation of your engine. In fact, it is one of the main components that fight against the pollution discharged by your Volkswagen Golf 3. It will convert these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting gases. In order to convert these gases, the catalyst of your Volkswagen Golf 3 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 important to avoid clogging the catalytic converter of your Volkswagen Golf 3. If you are thinking of making sufficiently long trips to heat it up regularly (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 keep ideal engine performance.

Results of a dirty or defective catalytic converter on Volkswagen Golf 3

We will now discover what can be the consequences of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Volkswagen Golf 3 . This will allow you to discover the manifestations that should inform you to a malfunction of your catalytic converter, here is the list of signs of illness of a defective catalytic converter:

  • The catalytic converter of your Volkswagen Golf 3 is blocked: As we explained above, 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 Volkswagen Golf 3 may come on, do not hesitate to seek advice from our content to find out how to switch it off.
  • A defective lambda sensor : The catalyst functions in close connection with the lambda sensors downstream and upstream of it, they will analyze the air flowing inside it, if it is clogged the sensors will more often than not also have complications.
  • A metallic noise coming from the exhaust: In the event the catalyst is dead you should notice this noise which suggests that that the ceramic is damaged.

Why you should clean the catalytic converter of your Volkswagen Golf 3

Before we accomplish with the step you are likely most keen on, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Volkswagen Golf 3? We will explain why it may be relevant for you to execute this cleaning. In fact, a catalytic converter is a very expensive part (about 500 euros with the set up, the price can vary 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 . 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 Volkswagen Golf 3?

Finally here is the step that you are probably most keen on in this article content, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Volkswagen Golf 3? Know that this process is very simple, and that there are two ways to accomplish:

  • Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Volkswagen Golf 3 frequently: This strategy is especially practical for persons who principally do short trips . To do this, nothing could be easier, 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 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 afterwards do an exhaust gas analysis to verify that you have recovered healthier exhaust fumes after the process. You can execute this process every 15 000km.

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To get more tips on the Volkswagen Golf 3, take a look at the Volkswagen Golf 3 category.