A catalytic converter is a vital part of recent cars, as it purifies your vehicle’s exhaust gases and thus suits modern pollution specifications. 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 Volvo V50? To do this, first of all, we will show you the scenarios in which it may be interesting to clean the catalytic converter of your Volvo V50, 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 Volvo V50?

In this first part we will describe why it may be important to clean the catalyst of your Volvo V50 . Obviously for some of you it might seem logical but the majority of you do not know how it functions and the results dirty catalytic converter .

Purpose and functioning of the catalytic converter of a Volvo V50

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The catalytic converter of your Volvo V50 has the goal to eliminate harmful exhaust gases related to the operation of your engine unit. Obviously, it is one of the main components that fight against the pollution discharged by your Volvo V50. It will transform these harmful gases into water or nonpolluting gases. In order to transform these gases, the catalyst of your Volvo V50 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 Volvo V50. If you are considering 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 component and maintain best engine unit efficiency.

Results of a dirty or defective catalytic converter on Volvo V50

We will now see what can be the results of a dirty or failing catalytic converter on Volvo V50 . This will enable you to detect the manifestations that should inform you to a failure of your catalytic converter, here is the list of symptoms of a defective catalytic converter:

  • The catalytic converter of your Volvo V50 is blocked: As we stated above, 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 Volvo V50 may come on, do not think twice to consult our article 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 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 the event that 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 Volvo V50

Before we finish with the step you are probably most enthusiastic about, how to clean the catalytic converter of a Volvo V50? We will describe why it may be important for you to perform this cleaning. Obviously, a catalytic converter is a very expensive part (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 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 frequently will save you quite a lot of money.

How do you clean the catalytic converter from its Volvo V50?

Finally here is the step that you are almost certainly most enthusiastic about in this article, how to clean the catalytic converter of your Volvo V50? Know that this procedure is very very easy, and that there are two ways to accomplish:

  • Scrubbing the catalytic converter from your Volvo V50 frequently: This technique is especially valuable for persons who specifically do short trips . To do this, nothing could be simpler, 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 discover 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 frequently 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 procedure. You can perform this procedure every 15 000km.

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To find more tips on the Volvo V50, take a look at the Volvo V50 category.