Most people don’t give much thought to their car’s catalytic converter, but trust me — it does a heap of work keeping your exhaust fumes cleaner, especially when you’re sitting in Hamilton traffic down Victoria Street or crawling through the Claudelands Bridge on a foggy winter’s morning. That little unit under your wagon is there to help the environment and make sure your ride passes its WOF. The thing is, catalytic converters can slowly get blocked up with all sorts of muck — especially if you’re doing a lot of short city trips, or hammering over speed bumps out Te Rapa way. If things start to clog up, you’ll notice the car’s a bit down on power, using more fuel, or maybe even popping up a check engine light. If you want to keep everything humming along (and maybe avoid forking out for a pricey replacement), here are three essential steps for giving your catalytic converter a proper clean.
1. Remove the Front Oxygen Sensor and Check Things Out
First Step: Get a Look Inside
Right, before going straight in with chemicals or sprays, we always start by taking out the front oxygen sensor. Sounds a bit technical, but it’s usually just a case of undoing it with the right socket. The sensor is usually near the front of the converter, easy to reach from underneath — even in something low-slung like a Mazda Axela or one of those zippy little Suzuki Swifts folks in Rototuna love. Once that sensor’s out, you can have a decent look inside using a torch. Sometimes you’ll spot smashed honeycomb or big bits clogging it up. If it’s all busted up inside, cleaning won’t do the trick — might be time to check out when to replace your car’s catalytic converter. If it just looks sooty or gummed up, you’re good to go for cleaning.
2. Apply a Direct Cleaning Solution
Get the Gunk Out the Right Way
After checking there’s no major damage, we use a decent catalytic converter cleaner made for direct use — not the pour-in-the-tank sort, but the type that actually goes in through the oxygen sensor hole. Tools for the job matter: on a rough day in the workshop, we’ve cleaned everything from well-loved Toyota Estimas that shuttle families to Morrinsville, to little Fiats belonging to students at Wintec, and even hybrids clocking up serious mileage doing Hamilton-to-Te Awamutu commutes. These direct cleaners break down soot and built-up guff inside the converter. Takes a bit of patience — and don’t forget to follow the instructions on the bottle! Using a catalytic converter cleaner now and then can keep things flowing nicely, especially if you’re often stuck in stop-start traffic down Kahikatea Drive or taking on the infamous potholes out by Dinsdale.
3. Refit and Take It for a Decent Drive
Time to Test it Out on Real Kiwi Roads
Once the cleaner’s had time to soak and do its magic, just screw the oxygen sensor back in — don’t cross-thread it! Then, give your car a good run. We usually send folks out for a longer test drive: maybe a trip out towards Cambridge on SH1, or a loop through Hillcrest and out to Glenview, where you can give the engine a proper stretch. The key is to let it get nice and hot, so the cleaning stuff burns through and clears out the last stubborn deposits. Don’t just idle around the block, especially in a Euro like a Peugeot 308 or an older Honda Stream — they need a proper warm-up to get the converter fully clear. Learn a bit more here about repairs and replacements if you’re curious.
Final Thoughts
All up — keeping your catalytic converter clean is just another part of car service Hamilton drivers need to think about, especially with the stop-go city driving and our dodgy weather extremes. A good clean can save you cash down the track and keep those noisy check engine lights at bay. Sure, plenty of DIY drivers give this a go, but if you’re not keen on crawling under your Hyundai Tucson or you’ve got a stubborn hybrid with a weird setup, book it in with us at Grimmer Motors. Our technicians have seen everything from turbo Subarus to elderly Nissan Serenas, and we’ve got the gear, know-how, and honesty to sort your car right.
Grimmer Motors gives you:
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Technicians who know NZ car problems inside-out — and how to fix them for our local roads
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Advanced diagnostics for those weird, hard-to-spot faults
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An honest reputation Hamilton-wide, from Frankton to Chartwell
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The full works for exhaust, emissions and more — so you can confidently tackle that next WOF Hamilton check
Pop in for a yarn, or get your booking sorted online. Your car (and the air we breathe) will thank you for it.