Last updated on July 8th, 2023 at 03:09 pm
It is known that your catalytic converter lifespan will come to an end after running many thousands of miles. Once this happens, you’ll experience lots of symptoms, which may include loss of performance, illumination of the check engine light, and rattling noises that are very annoying coming from underneath your vehicle.
Due to the replacement of this part can be expensive, you may want to find ways to manage it until you get it to your mechanic. But while driving, you’ll discover your car losing power and acceleration, stalling outs if exhaust flow is severely restricted, and having jerky movements.
But what are the effects of driving with a bad catalytic converter? I will answer this question subsequently, but first…
When the catalytic converter of your car is bad or clogged, one question that comes to mind is can drive a car with a bad catalytic converter, and if so how long? In this post, we will talk about if driving with a bad catalytic converter is safe and How Long Can You Drive with A Bad Catalytic Converter
What is a Catalytic Converter: Driving with a bad catalytic converter
So before we get started let’s first look at what is a catalytic converter that way you will understand the importance of resolving your catalytic converter problem whenever you notice one.
And for you to notice when the catalytic converter has issues, you might have to read this article earlier on 5 Symptoms of bad and clogged Catalytic Converter. I also responded to the question “Can a clogged catalytic converter cause a misfire” in the article and some other topics on a clogged catalytic converter which is not discussed in this post.
Let’s get started:
What is a catalytic converter and how does it work?
In simple terms, we can say that a catalytic converter is a component or device in a car exhaust system that regulates gas emission within the internal combustion system of the car.
A catalytic converter is set up in the exhaust systems to deliver the right oxidation and to reduce toxic by-products like carbon Monoxide from fuel to a less harmful substance like carbon dioxide and others.
So if vehicles were to be running without a catalytic converter, the thing is we will be having the car produce so many harmful by-products that would hot us all.
Dangerous gasses like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons could have been overly abundant and caused more considering the number of vehicles produced and use on a daily basis.
But because there is a catalytic converter in cars, it reduces the production of these toxic waste and instead it converts them to less hazardous and harmful ones like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen gas are what is produced.
Related article:
Driving with a bad catalytic converter
So if your car catalytic converter goes bad is okay to still drive with it and how long can you drive with a bad catalytic converter? Well if you want my honest opinion, I will say it really not right for your continuous drive with a bad catalytic converter.
And here are my three main reasons for this.
- Pollution- You will be polluting the air badly and if everyone were to leave their catalytic converter unattended to, you can imagine what will become of nature, ozone layer and the air we breathe.
- Performance issue– You will be reducing the life value on the vehicle and endangering your car engine.
- Legal Issue- Driving with a bad catalytic converter is illegal in some countries. So if you drive your car with a damaged catalytic converter not only will you be harming yourself and the environment, but you will be attracting a huge fine for not obeying the law.
So the next question popping in your mind now is “How Long Can You Drive with A Bad Catalytic Converter?” and we are getting into that. Catalytic Converter Heat Shield Rattle.
How Long Can You Drive with A Bad Catalytic Converter?
The answer to this question will depend on how badly the catalytic converter is damaged.
So if it is just a minor issue on the catalytic converter then your car could still be driven indefinitely but if the catalytic converter is clogged or blocked to the point where the outflow of gas from the exhaust is not easy going, then you might be able to drive the car for some kilometers before the car starts losing power and it keeps decreasing in power till there is now not enough power supply to continue running the car.
Mind you, though you can drive indefinitely with a bad catalytic converter, I don’t support this because a long time driving your car with a bad catalytic converter can cause unexpected problems to other components of the car that will eventually affect your car engine.
I am sure you know if your car engine is bad it very expensive to repair or replace? So why not start by solving the lesser problem on your car so they don’t deteriorate and cause bigger problems.
You might want to read this article to see how expensive it is to replace a car engine.
And for ways that bad or clog on the catalytic converter could damage your car, please read this post on Can a clogged catalytic converter cause a misfire
Can You Still Drive With A Bad Catalytic Converter?
Yes, you can still drive with a bad catalytic converter. This is because most catalytic converter issues don’t prevent you from driving, but you shouldn’t drive your car at all when you notice that your catalytic converter is plugged in completely.
However, in case you stay in smog checks areas, you won’t be legally allowed to drive your car except if you replace the damaged converter.
Driving With A Bad Catalytic Converter Safe
It isn’t too dangerous when you drive with a bad catalytic converter. Once a small part of your catalytic converter is plugged in, there’s still the possibility to drive your car normally.
However, any vehicle whose catalytic converter is malfunctioning won’t be able to pass a vehicle inspection. When this happens, you won’t be able to legally drive your vehicle.
Does It Harm An Engine To Drive With A Bad Catalytic Converter?
It is said that whenever any part of your car becomes contaminated, clogged, overheated, or damaged, the engine’s performance will reduce which will lead to engine shutdown. Not replacing your bad catalytic converter immediately could damage other vehicle’s components, particularly the engine.
However, whether it will harm your engine depends. In case your driving distance is shorter, then the bad catalytic converter will not severely harm the engine, and it might not need immediate replacement.
But if you are the type that covers many kilometers regularly, then driving with a bad catalytic converter will harm your engine.
Effects Of Driving With A Bad Catalytic Converter
As said before, you can still drive with a bad catalytic converter. This is because most catalytic converter issues don’t prevent you from driving, but what are the effects of driving with a bad catalytic converter?
Low Engine Performance
Having a bad catalytic converter will make your car engine performance drop. Remember, a catalytic converter is part of a car’s exhaust structure, which is directly connected to the engine. So whenever it fails, the engine fails too.
Lowers Fuel Economy
Whenever a catalytic converter gets bad, it can create a serious slump in gas mileage. There will be back pressure on the exhaust, and this significantly decreases the fuel thermal efficiency of your engine.
Misfiring
A bad catalytic converter causes misfiring of the engine. This happens whenever gas gets heated up until it ignites. Engine misfire takes place inside the engine and can damage engine parts.
The Check Engine Light
The Check Engine Light illuminates after driving a short distance whenever the catalytic converter isn’t working properly. But this component isn’t a sensor, it can be found in most modern cars that have data trouble codes.
The hotness of the Engine
A bad catalytic converter makes the engine heat up abnormally. This happens mostly when driving long distances, the engine areas will get too hot which can burn you when touched. When this happens, it has the possibility of igniting the whole vehicle.
FAQ:
Can a bad catalytic converter ruin your engine?
A bad catalytic converter doesn’t ruin your engine so much, but it depends on how well you drive. However, when the catalytic converter is badly damaged, it can ruin the engine.
Is ok driving long distances with a bad catalytic converter?
No! If you are the type that covers many kilometers regularly, then driving long distances with a bad catalytic converter isn’t okay for your engine. This is because driving a long distance with a bad catalytic converter will damage your engine, causing it to automatically fail.
Can a bad catalytic converter cause a car to shut off
Catalytic converters can indeed last for 10 years or even more, but once your converter is clogged, the build-up in your car exhaust can reduce its performance because of contamination, clogged, or overheat, which will end up shutting down your engine.
How does a car run with a bad catalytic converter?
Your vehicle can function without a catalytic converter. But it won’t be sustained in the long run, however, it will affect its performance. Note that if the catalytic converter is extremely bad, then you might be restricted from driving.
How long can I drive with a bad catalytic converter
Catalytic converter issues don’t prevent you from driving, but you shouldn’t drive your car at all once you observe that your catalytic converter is plugged in completely.
However, in case you stay in smog checks areas, you won’t be legally allowed to drive your car except you replace the damaged converter.
Can a bad catalytic converter cause overheating
My answer is yes! When your catalytic converter is bad it will lead to overheating of the engine. This happens when the ceramic coating has reached its melting point, which will affect the normal flow of the exhaust gases. Once there’s any blockage along its way, this could cause engine overheating.
Can I drive my car with the catalytic converter light on?
You will be fine driving with the catalytic converter light on if you don’t experience much difference while driving. Just like other car parts, you can prevent the catalytic converter from failing by noticing the warning signs and fixing them immediately.
How To Diagnose a Bad Catalytic Converter
Conclusion On Driving With a Bad Catalytic Converter
So I hope I have been able to respond satisfactorily to the question How Long Can You Drive with A Bad Catalytic Converter?
Like I said earlier, your catalytic converter may not affect how your car functions. But when the catalytic is completely bad, you should avoid driving the car. It is illegal in some places to drive a vehicle with a clogged-up catalytic converter. The reason is that it releases smog that can be harmful to the environment. When this happens, then replacement is what you should do.
In most cases, the problems from a bad catalytic converter do not affect the functionality of your vehicle directly, but if you let it linger for so long, it could after other related components that directly affect running your car. things like your exhaust and engine Besides, it is illegal if you keep driving your car with a bad catalytic converter in some country. So the best thing is to do is to change it, repair it, or clean it, if it is having a clogged-related issue.
If you like this post Driving with a bad catalytic converter please share it. You should also read this article on Fixing Catalytic Converter Without Replacing and this one Catalytic Converter Scrap Price List and Worth
