Lifespan of FZJ80 Catalytic Converters?
- Thread starter CSA
- Start date
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NLXTACY
Wits' End
Very likely.
If you’ve experienced a blown headgasket then 100% it’s no better than straight pipe
If you’ve experienced a blown headgasket then 100% it’s no better than straight pipe
Get a magna flow (1 cat separate with other cat with down pipe) from O'Reilly auto parts, they are CARB certified...I payed about 950 if I remember right...way cheaper than OEM 
inkpot
SILVER Star
I would not invest the $$ in new cats unless you fail a smog test
Inkpot just gave you some great money saving advice! If it were me, I'd listen to his sage advice.
I swapped mine out with a single magnaflow and it improved my MPGs by about 2 per gallon, and the truck seemed to run a good bit smoother. I never had a check engine light come on so that was kind of strange, but the exhaust smell and heat coming from the OEM cat was a good giveaway that it was time to replace it.
When fully warmed up, a catalytic converter should be at least 100 degrees hotter out the outlet than the inlet. An infrared thermometer is an easy way to check this.
nukegoat
Should have bought a Jeep
Another good way is by measuring the o2 readings after the cat versus before the cat. The computer actually does this for you and will throw a P0420 code if it detects issues
CaptClose
SILVER Star
Besides pollution, the smell, and the noise... what’s the drawback of deleting the cats? I’m assuming I’ll throw a few CEL codes for the missing o2 sensors. Anything else? I live in a no smog zone.
inkpot
SILVER Star
Check engine lite will be on all the time?
CaptClose
SILVER Star
Isn't there a chart somewhere with the cat inlet and outlet Temps? Or at least what they're supposed to be at operating temp or something?
Check out this thread on O2 sensor waveforms and catalytic converters.
OBDII Emissions - Catalyst Monitor Not Ready
Need a Bluetooth OBD2 reader and the TorqueLight app.
Watch the upstream (#1) and downstream (#2) O2 sensor waveforms while you drive around.
You can get a good understanding what's working and what's not.
And - good working cats should read a couple of hundred degrees hotter at the exit than the entrance, with an IR thermometer.
So they say. Have not been able to observe it yet, myself.
And #2 - Working upstream (#1) and downstream (#2) O2 sensors along with proper cat operation is expected by the ECM.
If it doesn't see what it expects, may get pissy and go into limp home mode with much less than ideal fuel control, power, etc.
OBDII Emissions - Catalyst Monitor Not Ready
Need a Bluetooth OBD2 reader and the TorqueLight app.
Watch the upstream (#1) and downstream (#2) O2 sensor waveforms while you drive around.
You can get a good understanding what's working and what's not.
And - good working cats should read a couple of hundred degrees hotter at the exit than the entrance, with an IR thermometer.
So they say. Have not been able to observe it yet, myself.
And #2 - Working upstream (#1) and downstream (#2) O2 sensors along with proper cat operation is expected by the ECM.
If it doesn't see what it expects, may get pissy and go into limp home mode with much less than ideal fuel control, power, etc.
Last edited:
FYI....
forum.ih8mud.com
The Catalytic Converter
forum.ih8mud.com
NLXTACY
Wits' End
FYI....
The Catalytic Converter
According to SEMA the proper burn in is 500 miles.
Are they all the same? I dunno.
