Removing a Catalytic Converter (Cat Con) - Do you guys think its worth it?

shankar.balan · 20th February 2017, 18:21

One thing that springs to mind is that while one can remove the Cat-Con from a lovely car such as an S Cross, the fact is that whenever and if ever one goes for the PUC, one is likely to fail. Especially in that Diesel 1.6.

Sankar · 20th February 2017, 18:29

It will not fail our PUC checks as long as the testing centres and their equipment are not updated to Euro standards.

Tested and passed the PUC check in my Swift Diesel, Polo 1.5 Diesel and Vento 1.6 Diesel; all with decat pipes. SCross 1.6 Diesel will also pass the test with decat pipe.

Dr.Naren · 20th February 2017, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sankar

It will not fail our PUC checks as long as the testing centres and their equipment are not updated to Euro standards.

Many cars in Europe have also passed emission tests with decat downpipe. This is the reason, they have started checking for the stock cat

Quote:

Tested and passed the PUC check in my Swift Diesel, Polo 1.5 Diesel and Vento 1.6 Diesel; all with decat pipes. SCross 1.6 Diesel will also pass the test with decat pipe.

Yes, I am sure it would pass. Anyways I have to get it done in couple of weeks

Dr.Naren · 13th June 2017, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

the fact is that whenever and if ever one goes for the PUC, one is likely to fail. Especially in that Diesel 1.6.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sankar

It will not fail our PUC checks as long as the testing centres and their equipment are not updated to Euro standards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Naren

Yes, I am sure it would pass. Anyways I have to get it done in couple of weeks

The car has passed emission tests as expected. Please have a look.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ml#post4215329

I have driven more than 5000 KM post decat downpipe and very happy with the performance. Wolf Moto has tailored a good map to compliment the decat mod.

Cheers!!

centaur · 13th June 2017, 09:38

There is this PUC center I know of which doesnt even insert the nozzle into the exhaust. He just notes down the vehicle no and puts in numbers for the emissions which is within the limits. This has happened not once, but twice with me at the same place. Most others, at least for the sake of showing do insert the PUC nozzle into the exhaust. So if you find such a center, even with a removed cat con, your vehicle will pass the PUC with flying colours

sgiitk · 13th June 2017, 09:43

I will not remove the cat-con for two reasons. Bad for the environment, and very likely the 'back pressure' will change, so the engine may not like that either. I must say I did remove the CatCon from my Carb Zen once. Had to do it since at that time unleaded was not available in Manipal. As it turned out Mangalore refinery had been provided unleaded to Manipal for ages.

prithm · 13th June 2017, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by centaur

There is this PUC center I know of which doesnt even insert the nozzle into the exhaust. He just notes down the vehicle no and puts in numbers for the emissions which is within the limits. This has happened not once, but twice with me at the same place. Most others, at least for the sake of showing do insert the PUC nozzle into the exhaust. So if you find such a center, even with a removed cat con, your vehicle will pass the PUC with flying colours

I laughed so loud after reading this. Really humorous centaur.

In fact the road side PUC vans that we guys go to in Hyderabad have the nozzle already clogged up with so much dust and carbon from earlier checks that it is only a miracle if my vehicle's exhaust gas reaches the Gas Analyzer's chamber.

And the values are so random. I checked the readings on the screen, irrespective of how old your car is the values falls in same range. I asked that guy if at all he ever cleans or services the equipment, he mumbled that it was not needed.

Then I knew, I was not paying to check if I am polluting the environment but for name sake. Not sure where all the collected money goes.

Swapnil4585 · 5th June 2019, 18:10

Off topic to the subject matter of this thread but, due to a trapped dog beneath our car, and in the pursuit to free him, I had to cut a wire related to the catalytic converter of the car. Now I want to fix it. How should I go ahead with the work?

a4anurag · 5th June 2019, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swapnil4585

Off topic to the subject matter of this thread but, due to a trapped dog beneath our car, and in the pursuit to free him, I had to cut a wire related to the catalytic converter of the car. Now I want to fix it. How should I go ahead with the work?

Can you post an image of the wire cut and the location?

Happysmiles · 5th June 2019, 20:18

Yes definitely it's worth removing the cat con, if you are getting a remap done. IMO.
After 18 K my 2015 Volkwagen polo gt Tsi 1.2 petrol felt sluggish and needed a mod.
Wolf guys were visiting Mechanix, Pune which belongs to a bhpian.
Removal of cat con and fitting the downpipe (manufactured by International Exhaust, Pune) and Wolf remap made so much of a difference.
Since the polo gt rarely sees the highways and has to go on city errands,
Rajiv from Wolf made a special map for low and mid range power.
Simply outstanding, changed the character of the car.
Bilstein B6, Brembo drilled rotors and pads, Continental tyres were the other mods done.

tharian · 5th June 2019, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swapnil4585

Off topic to the subject matter of this thread but, due to a trapped dog beneath our car, and in the pursuit to free him, I had to cut a wire related to the catalytic converter of the car. Now I want to fix it. How should I go ahead with the work?

I guess it is the O2 sensor wire. If it is, I guess you will have to replace the full length of the wire, and it probably comes with the O2 sensor.

Jeroen · 6th June 2019, 00:31

I removed the cat on my 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider. Initially also the lambda sensor, but I had to put that back on as the engine was running very rich with massive backfire.

This is a 2.0 l engine about 110 BHP. Without the cat you probably get maybe 3-5 BHP extra. More importantly low rev torque improved and the sound.

Not sure on any legal ramifications in India. These days in the west it is almost impossible to legally remove the cat. If you do it still needs to be installed for the yearly MOT.

My car is one of the last ones where you could legally remove the car without any legal concerns.

As a general rule, if you don't do a remap or anything else removing the cat will give you a few extra BHP, most noticeable in low rev torque and a better sound
Heroen

20th February 2017, 18:21	#106
shankar.balan BANNED Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,368 Thanked: 23,148 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/2 (8)	Re: Removing a Catalytic Converter (Cat Con) - Do you guys think its worth it? One thing that springs to mind is that while one can remove the Cat-Con from a lovely car such as an S Cross, the fact is that whenever and if ever one goes for the PUC, one is likely to fail. Especially in that Diesel 1.6.
	(2) Thanks

20th February 2017, 18:29	#107
Sankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Location Posts: 5,766 Thanked: 9,053 Times	Re: Removing a Catalytic Converter (Cat Con) - Do you guys think its worth it? It will not fail our PUC checks as long as the testing centres and their equipment are not updated to Euro standards. Tested and passed the PUC check in my Swift Diesel, Polo 1.5 Diesel and Vento 1.6 Diesel; all with decat pipes. SCross 1.6 Diesel will also pass the test with decat pipe.
	(4) Thanks

13th June 2017, 09:38	#110
centaur BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: -- Posts: 897 Thanked: 1,169 Times	Re: Removing a Catalytic Converter (Cat Con) - Do you guys think its worth it? There is this PUC center I know of which doesnt even insert the nozzle into the exhaust. He just notes down the vehicle no and puts in numbers for the emissions which is within the limits. This has happened not once, but twice with me at the same place. Most others, at least for the sake of showing do insert the PUC nozzle into the exhaust. So if you find such a center, even with a removed cat con, your vehicle will pass the PUC with flying colours
	(1) Thanks

13th June 2017, 09:43	#111
sgiitk BANNED Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,969 Thanked: 4,788 Times	Re: Removing a Catalytic Converter (Cat Con) - Do you guys think its worth it? I will not remove the cat-con for two reasons. Bad for the environment, and very likely the 'back pressure' will change, so the engine may not like that either. I must say I did remove the CatCon from my Carb Zen once. Had to do it since at that time unleaded was not available in Manipal. As it turned out Mangalore refinery had been provided unleaded to Manipal for ages.
	() Thanks

5th June 2019, 18:10	#113
Swapnil4585 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Pothole Town Posts: 518 Thanked: 356 Times	Re: Removing a Catalytic Converter (Cat Con) - Do you guys think its worth it? Off topic to the subject matter of this thread but, due to a trapped dog beneath our car, and in the pursuit to free him, I had to cut a wire related to the catalytic converter of the car. Now I want to fix it. How should I go ahead with the work?
	() Thanks

5th June 2019, 20:18	#115
Happysmiles BHPian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: pune Posts: 151 Thanked: 260 Times	Yes definitely it's worth removing the cat con, if you are getting a remap done. IMO. After 18 K my 2015 Volkwagen polo gt Tsi 1.2 petrol felt sluggish and needed a mod. Wolf guys were visiting Mechanix, Pune which belongs to a bhpian. Removal of cat con and fitting the downpipe (manufactured by International Exhaust, Pune) and Wolf remap made so much of a difference. Since the polo gt rarely sees the highways and has to go on city errands, Rajiv from Wolf made a special map for low and mid range power. Simply outstanding, changed the character of the car. Bilstein B6, Brembo drilled rotors and pads, Continental tyres were the other mods done.
	(1) Thanks

6th June 2019, 00:31	#117
Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 8,093 Thanked: 50,794 Times View My Garage	I removed the cat on my 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider. Initially also the lambda sensor, but I had to put that back on as the engine was running very rich with massive backfire. This is a 2.0 l engine about 110 BHP. Without the cat you probably get maybe 3-5 BHP extra. More importantly low rev torque improved and the sound. Not sure on any legal ramifications in India. These days in the west it is almost impossible to legally remove the cat. If you do it still needs to be installed for the yearly MOT. My car is one of the last ones where you could legally remove the car without any legal concerns. As a general rule, if you don't do a remap or anything else removing the cat will give you a few extra BHP, most noticeable in low rev torque and a better sound Heroen
	(1) Thanks