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CAT Bath !
britishtrident - 26/6/12 at 06:28 AM

Interesting snippet from the US apparent you can improve the performance of and underperforming coked or oil coated cat by taking it off and washing it in a washing machinge soap powder solution. So a soak overnight in Aeriel and a good rinse through before IVA or MOT is in order.

Agriv8 - 26/6/12 at 06:48 AM

Oh car Cat as apposed to feline sort .

I wander if Bio or Non Bio is best ?

ATB agriv8

BigLee - 26/6/12 at 07:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Interesting snippet from the US apparent you can improve the performance of and underperforming coked or oil coated cat by taking it off and washing it in a washing machinge soap powder solution. So a soak overnight in Aeriel and a good rinse through before IVA or MOT is in order.


I actually did this last week on the tin top. I only really wanted to do the DPF, but the cat and DPF form 1 chamber so impossible to do one without the other. I used neat TFR rather than washing powder, then blasted with steam. The car has never been this quick! Turbo spools much quicker and revs more freely. Replacement was quoted at £700. This cost £60. Well worth it as my mpg is now climbing too.

rash12 - 26/6/12 at 08:27 AM

whats TFR ?

BigLee - 26/6/12 at 08:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rash12
whats TFR ?


Traffic Film Remover. Basically the stuff they spray on your alloys and front bumper before it gets washed. Normally diluted to avoid damage to paint.

chillis - 26/6/12 at 09:20 AM

This could only be of any use on diesel DPF's and we are currently testing the effectiveness of this for slow running stationary plant engines.
DO NOT do this to your gasoline cat or your likely to be buying a new one.
The catalyst itself works chemically - any oil or dirt residue would be burnt away by the reaction temperatures which can reach 1000°C. Washing it with deturgent is only likely to 'wash off' the chemical wash coat whcih was 'washed' on in the frist place leaving the cat non-reactive. If you have oil on your catalyst you need to fix that problem first then run the engine gently at first then progressively up to high load and speed to generate a sufficiently high temperature to burn off the deposites, typically over 400°C.
As for diesels they only get clogged up and dirty when poodling around. Give it a clogg full up the road to get the temps over 400°C and the soot and dirt will also be burnt off. Much easier than taking it of and putting it through the washing machine.
Where do people here this stuff, was it put about by a cat manufacturer to sell more cats?

BigLee - 26/6/12 at 09:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by chillis

As for diesels they only get clogged up and dirty when poodling around. Give it a clogg full up the road to get the temps over 400°C and the soot and dirt will also be burnt off. Much easier than taking it of and putting it through the washing machine.
Where do people here this stuff, was it put about by a cat manufacturer to sell more cats?


In fairness, mine gets hammered everywhere. The reason behind me needing to do it was the hidden tank of Eolys Oil had run out, so it hadn't regen'd for a while. Either way, it drives SO much better.

coyoteboy - 26/6/12 at 12:30 PM

I too would be really worried about washing a catalytic surface, seems like a good way of damaging the surface coating that does the job. DPF - sure, just a bunch of wire wool in there, but not on a £700 cat.