Do you want to minimize the carbon footprint of your vehicle where during the internal combustion process, there are exhaust gases that are emitted as a result of the fuel and the air mixture being ignited? These gases are toxic and could be dangerous air pollutants if released into the outside air. Still, most cars are made with a catalytic converter that reduces the toxic levels of exhaust gases before they are released. However, the disadvantage of these catalytic converters is that they get dirty, resulting from not using the converter or having internal combustion problems.
If you notice any change in your fuel economy or notice a rotten egg smell from your engine, you need to clean your catalytic converter cleaner immediately. When the catalytic converter is dirty, using the best catalytic converter can make a real difference. Read on if you want to understand more about catalytic converter cleaners and their benefits.
What is the most effective catalytic converter cleaner?
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What is a Catalytic Converter Cleaner?
A catalytic converter cleaner aims to eliminate leaning your catalytic converter to ensure flawless functioning of the vehicle's converter since the catalytic converter usually falls prey to oil, dirt, and any other buildups. These may cause your vehicle to have catalytic converter problems and perform poorly, resulting in a failed emissions test. You don't need to replace a catalytic converter with a new one as using the best catalytic converter cleaner will leave your fuel system working as well as new.
However, there are many popular catalytic converter cleaners in the market today, and all of them claim to be the best, so choosing the best can be a daunting task. Therefore, we have researched and compiled the best catalytic converter cleaners in the market with their pros and cons and a detailed buying to help you know what to look out for.
1. DURA LUBE Severe Catalytic and Exhaust Treatment Emissions Test Catalytic Cleaner
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DURA LUBE Severe Catalytic and Exhaust Treatment Emissions Test Catalytic Cleaner 16 fl. oz, 1 Pack,...
- ADD WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT or ERROR LIGHT IS ACTIVATED
- USE BEFORE OR PRIOR TO REPLACING CATALYTIC CONVERTER
- PROTECTS CATALYTIC SYSTEM FROM OIL POISONS AND MAINTAINS...
- Reduces phosphorus and zinc retention levels at catalyst inlet
- HELPS LOWER TAIL PIPE EMISSIONS
DURA LUBE catalytic cleaner is the best choice for a good cleaning if you are interested in a mid-ranged cleaner that is still super effective in removing contamination and buildups. This system cleaner helps keep your catalytic converter safe from any oil poisons. This may include the soot or residues that accumulate on the cat and, therefore, increases emissions. The product is safe enough for engines using diesel and some ethanol-containing flex fluids, which help clean your system.
DURA LUBE catalytic cleaner also minimizes the retention of phosphorus and zinc in the catalyst inlet. This is beneficial as these residues can lead to lower performance and blockage of your converter. In addition, the cleaner prevents and also resolves the OBD error code that may help reflect the malfunction of your vehicle's converter. Lastly, one of the most significant advantages is that the DURA LUBE catalytic cleaner lasts for up to 5000 miles, about three months. It also makes an excellent universal fit for all engine types.
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2. Motorkote Catalytic and Exhaust Treatment Emissions Control Catalytic Cleaner
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Motorkote Catalytic and Exhaust Treatment Emissions Control Catalytic Cleaner, MK-10351, 16 fl. oz,...
- Use when warning light is activated
- Use before or prior to replacing catalytic converter
- Protects catalytic system from oil poisons
- Reduces phosphorus and zinc retention levels at catalyst inlet
- Helps clean oxygen ( O2 ) sensor(s), lowers tail pipe emissions,...
Motorkote Catalytic and Exhaust Treatment is a fuel additive. Still, it has a cleaning formula designed to treat and protect the catalytic converter and entire exhaust system from oil poisons, the coolant, and the burnt engine in the exhaust. The fuel system cleaner is meant for use before or before replacing your catalytic converter. The fuel injector cleaner also cleans the oxygen sensors, which will help improve the engine performance and improve fuel economy.
Motorkote Catalytic fuel system cleaner is made of a formula that minimizes zinc and phosphorous levels in the catalyst inlet to improve the overall efficiency. The formula is easy to use, and one bottle will be enough to treat 16 gallons of fuel or one ounce per gallon, where the best results are achieved after consuming all treated fuel in the fuel tank.
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3. Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner
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Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner - 20 oz.
- Cleans, restores, protects the entire fuel system (fuel...
- Restores: Lost power, acceleration, lost fuel economy, and...
- Reduces: Rough idle, engine surge, hesitation, and spark plus...
- Improves: Cold start performance, and fuel stability for up to...
Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner is one of Chevron's top names for fuel additives. The fuel system cleaner works from the tank to a combustion chamber, and it contains the patented PEA technology.
Chevron Techron Concentrate cleaner removes carbon deposits and ensures that the particles don't accumulate in the future. In addition, the cleaner keeps all the engine parts clean to maximize fuel utilization, and it works perfectly even on cars with modern engines. Still, it does not support two-stroke gasoline engines or diesel engines.
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4. Cataclean 120018CAT Cataclean Fuel And Exhaust System Cleaner
Cataclean 120018CAT Cataclean Fuel And Exhaust System Cleaner Special Formula For Use w/Gasoline...
- Restores, maintains & helps protect the catalytic converter,...
- 3L packaging – Treats up to 30 gallons of fuel
- Packaging versions to cater to Gasoline, Diesel, and Marine...
- Safe for gasoline, E10, E15, and E85 fuels
- Does not alter fuel composition
Cataclean 120018CAT fuel and exhaust cleaner take your automobile to another level, and it has excellent benefits for your entire fuel and exhaust systems. The formula does this by eliminating any harmful carbon buildup which may be in the critical vehicle systems.
Cataclean 120018CAT fuel and exhaust cleaner come in a generous three-liter size bottle, and it can treat up to 30 gallons of gasoline. Once you apply the formula, it can benefit vital parts of your fuel system, such as fuel injectors, cylinder heads, and oxygen sensors. In addition, it features an effective emission system treatment that works on all gasoline engine types.
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5. Solder-It (CAT-1) Catalytic Converter Cleaner
Solder-It (CAT-1) Catalytic Converter Cleaner - 16 oz.
- Helps eliminate "rotten egg" odor
- May help in passing emissions control test!
- Helps clean oxygen sensor
- Extends time between tune-ups
Solder-It Catalytic Converter Cleaner is designed to remove contamination giving the nasty rotten egg smell caused by a poorly running engine which may be old spark plugs or a leaky fuel injector. The smell in your exhaust system is related to the part of the device's function where the hydrogen sulfide will be turned into sulfur dioxide. It is exactly what you need for your gas tank, and it will give the best results when you have about a quarter of a full tank, and you can drive for 50 miles before you need to refill.
Solder-It fuel additive helps scrub the insides of your catalytic converter to remove deposits and remove carbon dioxide buildup that may make it lose efficiency. In addition, when you use it as directed, it can help clean your O2 sensors and ensure that they are reading correctly, and this extends the time between the required tune-ups.
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Benefits of a Catalytic Converter Cleaner
1. Improved fuel economy
Clogged injectors give your vehicle a sluggish feel, and this means you will speed more time pressing the gas to maintain speed, which means too much fuel is burned and takes more time filling up. Notably, injectors that may stick open or have one or more tiny nozzles can dump a lot of fuel into your engine, and this sends your expensive unburned fuel out of your pipe.
2. Improve Performance of your Engine
One of the significant benefits of these cleaners is they improve your engine performance. When the hydrocarbon emissions are improperly combusted, they can stick to some parts of the engine. When you use a fuel system cleaner to remove deposits and carbon buildups and unclog your injectors, and this will add power and, as a result, improve the fuel and catalyst system efficiency.
3. Prevent costly repairs
Lack of maintenance of your fuel system can cause expensive problems, and a poorly running engine that needs more fuel can damage the catalytic converters and O2 sensors. Clogged injectors may cause overworking of your fuel pump, and this will be a costly replacement.
4. Help meet emission requirements
The clogged fuel injectors and a gummed-up fuel system may have a significant effect on your car's emissions. If you live somewhere with the emissions test, then an injector cleaner is the difference between passing and failing on the emissions test.
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Catalytic Converter Cleaner
1. Type of Cleaner
There are several basic types of fuel system cleaner where one is for gasoline engines, which includes hybrids, and the other is for diesel engines. Since there are differences between the two fuel system types, they are not that interchangeable. Therefore, ensure you use the entire fuel system cleaner designed for the fuel your vehicle will use, even though some specific cleaners may be compatible with diesel and gas.
2. Engine Compatibility
If you drive a regular gasoline-powered vehicle, you will have nothing to worry about since almost all catalytic converter cleaner products are compatible with your vehicle. However, if you drive a diesel-powered or a hybrid vehicle, you must check how compatible the engine is. Premium cleaners are blended to suit a range of engine types, and therefore you need to keep an eye for that.
3. Frequency
A fuel system cleaner will change how often you will need to use it, where a new well-maintained vehicle that uses gasoline from reputable stations and often has an oil change will work fine. If your vehicle runs poorly and doesn't show the check engine light, you may need a more robust cleaner to remove carbon buildup and any deposits.
4. Fuel Quality
You may not have to get the most expensive gasoline to ensure you are using the best quality. However, if you fill your fuel tank from somewhere that adds detergents in the tank, then you will most likely need a fuel system cleaner soon.
5. Size
A catalytic converter cleaner is available in different shapes and sizes, and most of them come in either single-use applications, and some need more than one bottle. Some are packed in large containers, which are great for multiple treatments, and these are preferred for the catalytic converter cleaners used regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Catalytic Converter Cleaners
1. How to use catalytic converter cleaner?
If you have a dirty catalytic converter cleaner or if it's slightly clogged, it will work wonders for your vehicle. You will need to follow a few steps, and they include:
- Pouring the bottle contents into your gas tank
- Driving your vehicle for about 20 minutes
- Resetting all errors, you get from the monitor and filling up the gasoline to half the tank
2. Can you clean a clogged catalytic converter?
Yes, you can clean the clogged catalytic converters if they are not too clogged with some additives, but you may need to get a catalytic converter replacement if it's too clogged. Most of these additives are used to reduce any hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides while cleaning up the carburetor, fuel lines, combustion chamber deposits, fuel injector, and intake valves that may lead to high emissions.