How long does a catalytic converter last? The question may seem very simple to your ears, but it’s a very complex question, and it is a very important parameter that we need to explain about the catalytic converter lifetime. We will explain all the information and all the important terms most simply to understand the general things about the lifetime of a catalytic converter.
What is a catalytic converter?
We need to start from the very beginning and be very simple. A catalytic converter is a system that reduces the toxic gases and toxic exhaust fumes to less toxic exhaust fumes to expel into the environment. In different laws and different governmental statements, the use of catalytic converters is generally required. If you remove your catalytic converter for some reason, you can face very big fines and very big lawsuits.
How does a catalytic converter work?
The working mechanism of a catalytic converter is very simple. There are intricate channels inside the catalytic converter that the exhaust fumes are pushed through before the tailpipe.
There are specific chemicals inside these channels that catalyze the chemical reaction to reduce these harmful gases or hold these harmful gases before expelling them into the atmosphere.
How long does a catalytic converter last?
And here we can dive into the answer to this question. Most OEM parts are generally designed to last around 50,000 miles or 10 years. It’s a very long period, and you will not need to change your catalytic converter on a very strict basis.
So, different kinds of parameters affect the lifetime of the catalytic converters.
Importance of maintenance
Maintenance is one of the most important parts of the life of a catalytic converter. What does it mean? It means regular cleaning of the intricate channels of the catalytic converter is very important. Over time, there will be a very big and very bad accumulation of dirt from the exhaust fumes in the intricate channels. This can cause the catalytic converter’s working efficiency to decrease.
In maintenance, you can clean your catalytic converter by simply taking it off the vehicle and cleaning it with special cleaning agents. Also, there are special cleaning agents that you can add to your fuel, and they cleanse the exhaust system and the catalytic converter.
But if you take care of the maintenance of your car, the maintenance specialists will take care of the cleaning of your catalytic converter, and its life will be much longer.
OEM Parts
Once you buy a car or vehicle, it comes with a catalytic converter which is an OEM part the designer of this vehicle has chosen. So, if you need to replace a catalytic converter with a new one, you should prefer the OEM part. However, there are lower-priced options that you can choose. These lower-priced selections can offer a cost benefit, but the lifetime of these lower-priced spare parts will not be the same as the OEM part.
Usage
The lifetime of your catalytic converter is dependent on the usage of your car by the driver. If you drive your car aggressively, which is not preferred, the catalytic converter’s lifetime will be much shorter.
Conclusion on how long a catalytic converter lasts
These are the general statements that we can make about the life of a catalytic converter in your vehicle. As you understand, different parameters affect the lifetime of a catalytic converter, and you need to take care of these important factors. If you have additional comments and questions about the catalytic converter system in cars, you can leave them below without any hesitation.
You can also check the other related topics and contents about catalytic converter systems on this website.
Can You Drive Without a Catalytic Converter? Things to Know!
