If you have a problem with the catalytic converter in your car, the first step is to think about replacing it. If the device is faulty, you don’t have to throw it away right away. Instead, you can sell the old device through the Autocatalyst platform https://autocatalystmarket.com/en/calculator. This service allows you to find buyers for old ones who can extract precious metals from the parts, which will allow you to return part of the funds. The site offers a convenient calculator that will help you find out the approximate cost of your old filter.
How a faulty filter affects a car
Below are the main problems that you may encounter if you continue to operate a car with a damaged filter element:
- Engine problems. When the filter fails, its ability to clean exhaust gases deteriorates, which can cause engine overheating, loss of power and other technical problems. In some cases, this can lead to complete engine failure.
- Increased fuel consumption. Due to a malfunction of the emission control system, the engine is forced to work under increased load. This, in turn, increases fuel consumption, which makes the car more expensive to operate.
- Increased environmental pollution. A faulty catalytic converter causes the car to emit more pollutants into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which worsens the environmental situation.
- Legal issues. In some countries with strict emission regulations, operating a car with a faulty filter can lead to fines and problems during inspection.
These problems can lead to significant repair costs and reduce the overall service life of your car. Therefore, it is important to promptly correct faults and take care of its technical condition.
Is it possible to drive with a faulty part?
The answer to this question depends on the degree of damage to the filter and the model of the car. In some cases, continued operation is possible, but this is not a safe or long-term solution. If the filter is damaged, it must be replaced to avoid further problems. Temporary measures, such as hiding the fault with special equipment or disabling part of the system, can only delay the solution to the problem, but not eliminate it.
If you decide not to change the filter for now, do not rush to throw it away. On the Avtokatalyst platform, you can not only sell the old filter, but also look at the approximate prices of various models, which will help you figure out how much you can get for the old device.
Temporary solutions and their risks
Here are several temporary solutions that can be considered by owners of cars with faulty filters, but it is important to remember that each of them carries its own risks:
- Removing the damaged part. Some car owners decide to simply remove the faulty filter element. However, this will lead to significant environmental consequences and deterioration in engine performance, as other components of the system begin to work under overload.
- Using tricks. There are devices that allow you to “mask” faults, forcing the car to work as if everything was in order. But this does not solve the problem, but only postpones its solution, which can lead to more serious consequences in the future.
If driving with a faulty filter is unavoidable, limit your speed and avoid high revs. This may reduce the load on the system a little, but it will not solve the underlying problem.
Such measures may improve the situation a little in the short term, but they are not a solution. Sooner or later, you will still have to think about replacing the filter completely to avoid major breakdowns.