Prolong your Cats Life
There are several things you can do to ensure your CAT has a long and healthy life:
1. When fitting the catalytic converter dont use exhaust paste in front of the cat. When the exhaust paste hardens it can break off in chunks and destroy the monolith.
2. Always use the correct fuel for your car.
3. Never use a fuel additive without first reading the instructions to find out if it is suitable for use with a catalytic converter. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer of the additive.
4. Never attempt to bump or tow start your car. This causes unburned fuel to be injected into the cat, which makes the monolith overheat and melt.
5. Never tow anything that is too heavy for your vehicle to cope with. For example, an overloaded caravan will actually push a car along when it travels downhill. This sends unburned fuel into the exhaust system and can cause the monolith to melt down.
6. Have your car regularly serviced to your car manufacturers specifications. In particular make sure the engine is running properly. A poorly tuned engine can cause the monolith to break down or become covered in soot, which stops it working correctly.
7. Take care when driving through deep puddles, fords, or parking when there has been heavy snow. The cat operates at an extremely high temperature, and when it comes into contact with water or snow it cools down rapidly. The steel shell cools more rapidly than the monolith, and in extreme circumstances the monolith can be crushed as the steel shell contracts.
8. Dont park your car over long grass or anything similar. As the cat operates at such a high temperature it can actually set the grass on fire!
9. Drive slowly over speed bumps or very bumpy roads to reduce the chance of the exhaust system being grounded. This could cause impact damage to the cat.