- a) Leaded gasoline cannot be used on vehicles with a catalytic converter. Lead is deposited on the surface of the noble metal, reduces the efficiency of the converter and can cause it to fail. In this case, the oxygen sensor becomes contaminated with lead, which requires its replacement.
- b) Perform maintenance of ignition and fuel systems according to the schedule (chapter 1). Follow the replacement schedule for the air and fuel filters, as well as the spark plugs. If the air-fuel mixture is excessively rich due to careless maintenance, unburned fuel residues penetrate into the converter and burn in it, causing the element to overheat and the converter to fail.
- c) If the engine misfires, do not drive the car (or reduce driving to a minimum) until the fault is fixed. Misfires cause unburned fuel to enter the converter, causing it to overheat, as mentioned above. For the same reason, do not allow the engine to fail to start or start with difficulty. The fault must be identified immediately by yourself or entrusted to a specialist.
- d) Avoid driving when the tank is completely empty.
- d) Do not tow or push the vehicle to start the engine unless other starting options exist, especially if the engine and exhaust system are at normal operating temperature. Starting the engine in this manner will allow unburned fuel to enter the catalytic converter, causing it to overheat as noted above.
- e) Do not switch off the ignition at high speeds, in particular, do not close the throttle valve abruptly before switching off the ignition. If you switch off the ignition at a speed higher than idle speed, unburned fuel will penetrate into the converter. This is dangerous, as it can ignite on the hot converter element and damage it.
- g) After starting a cold engine and driving a short distance, it is advisable to drive a longer distance the next time. If you drive a short distance by starting a cold engine, since the converter does not reach operating temperature, unburned fuel will accumulate in it, some of which will be released into the atmosphere, and some will penetrate into the element, causing it to overheat, as described above.
- h) Do not use oil or fuel additives. They may contain fractions harmful to the catalytic converter. For the same reason, do not apply silicone-based sealants to any engine or fuel system components, and do not apply exhaust sealant to exhaust system components located upstream of the catalytic converter (downstream). Even if the sealant itself does not contain additives harmful to the converter, its particles may contaminate the element, causing local overheating,
- i) Stop driving if the engine is burning oil excessively, which is noticeably different from the normal blue exhaust smoke. Unburned carbon particles can clog the converter passages and reduce its efficiency. In some cases, the element may overheat.
- j) Remember that the catalytic converter operates at high temperatures and its outer parts need time to cool down. Therefore, do not leave the car in undergrowth, among tall grass or a pile of dry leaves.
- l) Remember that the catalytic converter is quite fragile - protect it from impacts during maintenance.
- m) Sometimes you can smell a sulfurous smell from the exhaust system (similar to the smell of rotten eggs). This is typical for all cars equipped with catalytic converters. After a run of several thousand kilometers, this effect disappears. When using low-quality fuel with a high sulfur content, the manifestation of this effect is enhanced.
- n) With proper maintenance of the vehicle, the service life of the catalytic converter corresponds to a mileage of about 80,000...160,000 km. If after this the efficiency of the catalytic converter decreases, it should be replaced.
(A copy of the article is available on the website: FORDBOOK)