5th Gen: Clogged Pre-cats

[maxima-shawn]

02 157k

Replaced the main OEM cat once with an aftermarket and within a year it was clogged again so I gutted it. Now I seem to be having the same symptoms starting again. Last time I had these symtoms the rear cat was clogged. Now being that the rear cat has clogged twice I can only imagine what the 2 precats look like. I am now stuck with an expensive decision to replace them. I have thought about gutting the 2 precats as well but I am concerned with noise and performance. Will there be any performance issues? I was also thinking about purchasing a set of cheap headers. Will headers remove both precats? Any advice? Trying to get by as cheap as possible to keep the car running for another year or 2.

Thanks.

[islandmax]

You can get a set of 4th or 5th gen stock headers, that way youll be able to use a fed spec y pipe.

[DanNY]

why not figure out why your cats are clogging in the first place...no?

a factory car (without turbo/NO2) should not run so poorly that it will clog the cat in such a short time.

[Maxx0831]

IF you get headers they will eliminate both precats and leave just your main cat. I see alot of guys on the big org gut there precats out instead of changing them or getting headers. Gutting your precats is cheaper then getting headers.

[1sikmax]

interested thread im also lookiing for answers ,wat i know best way to go is buyin headers ,but sorry to hack ur thread but wat headers are good

[maxima-shawn]

Originally Posted by DanNY

why not figure out why your cats are clogging in the first place...no?

a factory car (without turbo/NO2) should not run so poorly that it will clog the cat in such a short time.

I agree, the valve stem seals are worn and I burn a bit of oil. Its this that fowls the cats. I'm trying to buy a bit more time to save money, pay off another debt and get next years tax return before I trade it in and buy another car.

Originally Posted by islandmax

You can get a set of 4th or 5th gen stock headers, that way youll be able to use a fed spec y pipe.

So stock 4th and 5th gen headers fit the 5.5 and have the cutouts for the o2 sensors?

[islandmax]

4th gen headers are shortys (they dont have o2 sensor bungs), you need them to be able to use a fedspec y-pipe (you have a cali spec now). Then you can get a warpspeed y and weld 2 extra bungs into it (I can weld them in for cheap).

[packetattack]

Maxima-shawn, moved your thread to the IHE section.

[VIP Maxima]

I believe seafoam cleans the cats outs. drop a bottle in the tank and fill it up. do this twice and see if it helps

[nismo_star]

you can gut it all out, you will get a bad drone inside the car around 2700rpm, cheap header is an alternative, but certain ones may not fit correctly. Can you describe the problem you are having ?

[maxima-shawn]

Originally Posted by VIP Maxima

I believe seafoam cleans the cats outs. drop a bottle in the tank and fill it up. do this twice and see if it helps

I was under the impression based on all my reading that one cannot clean a catalytic converter. To repair is to replace. Can you please explain the logic behind how the seafoam will work? I'm willing to try it regardless as it can only help in other ways and it's cheap.

Would someone be able to post a picture as to where the seafoam should be sucked in?

[islandmax]

Seafoam wont clean tour cats. When used in the gas tank it will clean injectors.

[VIP Maxima]

Originally Posted by maxima-shawn

I was under the impression based on all my reading that one cannot clean a catalytic converter. To repair is to replace. Can you please explain the logic behind how the seafoam will work? I'm willing to try it regardless as it can only help in other ways and it's cheap.

Would someone be able to post a picture as to where the seafoam should be sucked in?

http://www.seafoamsales.com/gasoline-engine-faqs.html

Will Sea Foam® harm my catalytic converter?

No – quite the opposite. Sea Foam® actually helps to clean the catalytic elements, restoring its efficiency, and reducing that “rotten egg” odor you occasionally smell from some catalytic converters that aren’t working properly

for $8 a can at walmart, id give it a shot. dump a can in the gas tank and fill it up. do this treatment twice and see what happens.

[islandmax]

^Better off putting it through the intake manifold. His cats are clogged with burned oil, not much you can do about that.

[din9lebrah]

how badly does your car burn oil?