Table of contents: Gasoline engines 🠇 Diesel engines 🠇
1. The catalytic converter is a reliable and simple device that does not require any maintenance, but there are some features that the owner should be aware of if he wants the converter to function properly throughout its entire service life.
Gasoline engines
- a) DO NOT use leaded gasoline or LRP fuel in vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter. Lead will deposit on the precious metal catalytic coating, reducing the efficiency of neutralization and ultimately causing the neutralizer to fail.
- b) Always maintain the ignition and fuel systems properly according to the maintenance schedule.
- c) If the engine misfires, do not operate the vehicle (or at least keep its use to a minimum as much as possible) until the fault is corrected.
- d) DO NOT push or tow the vehicle as this may cause unburned fuel to enter the catalytic converter, causing the converter to overheat after the engine starts.
- d) DO NOT turn off the ignition at high engine speed.
- e) DO NOT use fuel additives or motor oil additives: they may contain substances harmful to the catalytic converter.
- g) DO NOT operate the vehicle if the engine is burning oil, which is accompanied by a noticeable plume of blue smoke.
- h) Remember that the catalytic converter operates at very high temperatures. Therefore, after a long run, DO NOT park your vehicle on dry brushwood, in tall grass or over dry leaves.
- i) Remember that the catalytic converter is a FRAGILE component. Do not hit it with tools when servicing.
- k) In some cases, the exhaust smells like hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg-like). This is a common symptom for many vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter. The problem should disappear after the car has traveled several thousand kilometers.
- l) The service life of a catalytic converter used on a regularly serviced and properly operated vehicle should be 80,000–160,000 kilometers. A neutralizer that has lost its effectiveness must be replaced.
Diesel engines
2. Refer to the information given above in points e), g), h), i), which relate to the gasoline engine.
[Original is located at: peugeotbook]