I have a 2009 Audi S5 4.2 L V8 I have a check engine light on and the code reads bank one below threshold I changed out the sensor that did not work. the catalytic converters are only two years old,will lacquer thinner work if I use it?
I've never tried that one but watch my video fixing bad catalytic converters Scotty. I use a lacquer thinner the kind they use to thin oil based automotive paint and put one gallon in the gas tank with nine gallons of gasoline already in the tank and it works quite well
Wow! I never would have thought of that one. But that's why you're the pro & I'm not.
Thanks!
Do not use it. Instead, use an appropriate product (cat cleaner products that are designed for this purpose). For more information, search this forum.
One great thing about catalysts is that they are self-cleaning due to the high amounts of heat used to operate them efficiently. So you're basically cleaning the catalysts as you drive. However, they can get seriously clogged from burning oil or coolant, and they start to become inefficient. The more of those little honeycomb looking passages get blocked, the less efficient it gets for emissions and the more restrictive it gets for exhaust flow. Seriously clogged catalysts need to be replaced (you will get a fault code if this is the case and not a faulty O2 sensor). There is a cleaner called Cataclean that supposedly removes these build-ups, but I haven't used it to say whether it works or not. I know catalysts are expensive, but it's better to replace them than to try cleaning them. But in your case, it doesn't seem like you're having catalyst problems, so you shouldn't worry too much.
I'd try the Cataclean first, and if that doesn't do the trick. I'd do the lacquer thinner as a last resort.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5icTmYItwiE
Thank you very much! {black}:cool:
I would personally not use lacquer cleaner as there are some corrosive compounds within it and the potential to damage components in the fuel system. I would rather try catalytic converter cleaner products or even Shell V-power first.
Hey, is it really safe to use lacquer thinner to clean out catalytic converter. I read something from a website saying that it will cause corrosion in the interior of the engine.
First of all, WHY do you want to use lacquer thinner? If your engine isn't running right, then you need to fix the underlying issue.
I've never met anybody who successfully fixed a cat problem with lacquer thinner. It can't cause corrosion though.
It would be best to use a product that is specifically designed to clean catalytic converters.
What about using CATACLEAN from Autozone? Have you heard of this and does it work?
Have not tried it myself. (Never had a need to.)
This has been asked several times, do a quick search in the search box to find some opinions. Most people here would not recommend doing it. If you want to clean a catalytic converter, try pulling it and putting it in soapy water overnight.
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/lacquer-thinner-for-catalytic-converter/#post-183814
What about using CATACLEAN from Autozone? Have you heard of this and does it work?
lacquer is mostly acetone right.
No, it's not.
Lacquer thinner and acetone are sold as a separate products at the store. Acetone flashes off much quicker than LT.
Lacquer thinner is a mixture of mostly Toluene, MEK, and maybe a bit of methanol (aka Methyl Hydrate)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), aka Butanone, is very similar to acetone though. It's used in dry-erase markers.
The seals used in the fuel system are not ordinary rubber. They are cross-linked fluoroelastomers such as FFKM which are very chemically resistant to the cocktail of hundreds of different hydrocarbons and additives in gasoline.
(Refer to the chart here . It should be noted that Viton A is not resistant to ketones)
Gasoline already contains toluene and methanol.
The best way to clean a catalytic converter is to get it really hot, for a really long time. Take the car for a long drive on a fast or hilly highway.
I bought the paint thinner but I'm kind of worried about screwing up the car since it's my daily.
Scotty used lacquer thinner, not paint thinner.
Paint thinner isn't strong enough, and too heavy. I wouldn't use it.
What if use Cataclean regularly to keep exhaust system healthy ?
A properly running engine does not need regular cat cleaning
P0430 (which refers to Bank 2) does not always mean the catalytic converter is the root cause. You have to do the proper diagnostics and confirm (or rule out) that it is the catalytic converter.
For that start here:
https://www.carparts.com/blog/p0430-code-catalyst-system-efficiency-below-threshold-bank-2/amp/
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/postid/82370/
Don’t automatically assume it’s the Cat. Do the proper troubleshooting first (if you haven’t already): see below
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/postid/82370/
Don't believe everything you see online. The answer is NO.
Never use lacquer thinner in an automobile. There are cleaners specifically for catalytic converters available at any auto parts store.
Never put lacquer thinner in your gas tank.
What about using CATACLEAN from Autozone? Have you heard of this and does it work?
I don't have a catalytic converter on my truck. There are several good CAT cleaners out there. I would do some research and read some reviews, not on the manufacturer's web sites.
O- rings that are surly being dissolved because lacquer is mostly acetone right.
Guess what the main components of Cataclean are ...
light petroleum distillate is essentially paint/lacquer thinner
Put it in container of lacquer thinner for a couple hours. If still dirty or clogged, put it back in for another couple of hours.
It does sound like you need a new converter. They aren't going to be cheap either.
I would not use the lacquer thinner trick on a modern fuel injected engine. That is more for the old school cars. Modern cars, you might mess up a sensor or confuse the ECM. Not good.
I will try then an off the shelf cat cleaner, hopefully that would give me a few more months or weeks
Cat replacements are not that common in mexico, most people will just cut the cat off and straight pipe the car, however, there's going to be a new emissions test where I live so I guess I will have to research on the best aftermarket Cat that doesn't cost an arm and a leg
Thanks for the help !
You're welcome! Best of luck.
The cleaner most likely wouldn’t work but if it does then great. Those cars do sometimes have cam and crank sensor concerns that most commonly cause a lack of accel as well as a long crank condition . Also if possible I would check fuel pressure because with age it could be getting weak
You could, or you could also dump a bottle of Cataclean (or whatever brand) into a half tank of petrol and then take it for a long drive on the highway..
I'm scared the catalytic converter will rust out
How would it rust out?
That method is perfectly safe but 50/50 chance of working.
Best to replace the cat.
I'm scared the catalytic converter will rust out if I clean it as suggested in your video and also worried the engine will blow up if I first try putting a gallon of lacquer thinner in it.
rust how? They're built with stainless or aluminised steel specifically to resist oxidation.
Do you think Scotty would try blow up your engine?
Brake cleaner would just evaporate right away.
I would like to know the recommended lacquer thinner
lacquer thinner is lacquer thinner. It's kind of like asking what brand of bleach to buy.
Noted.
Thank you
So is it safe to keep it there for a week? Thank you
I have a 2006 Nissan Frontier with the 4 litre V6 engine. The truck has 240000km, and it recently had the check engine light on, with the P0420 code.
I’m down to try the lacquer thinner method, but I’m concerned that the lacquer thinner may damage the plastic parts in the fuel system (fuel pump,.etc). Would that be the case? Or would it be okay?
Thank you!
Do not use Lacquer thinner inside the gas tank, as you mentioned, it might destroy the rubbers. Instead, use appropriate products for cleaning the cat.