Was an OEM cat used? Is the car burning oil or running rich? 

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, 143,000 miles, automatic

Got the code for an inefficient catalytic converter, tried the lacquer thinner in a quarter of a tank trick.

This appeared to work for about a week and then the code came back. Is there any risk of damaging the vehicle by trying the lacquer thinner again?

Thanks

Not sure if cause the engine harm.

If possible scotty has made a video on how to wash and clean one out .. 

They are just honeycomb mesh in a tube

Thank you for your time, I own a 1995 Ford F350 7.5 gas engine with 85000 miles. I'm planning on installing long tube headers (Banks) and during the process I want to clean the catalytic converters, any tips on the cleaning? The truck is stock for the most part the only mods I've done are: installed a bigger throttle body, drilled a bunch of holes under the air box and installed a KN air filter. Once again thank you VERY much for your time and wisdom.

Hello all. Recently I watched Scotty Kilmer’s video on how to clean your catalytic converters to clear the P0420 code. In the video, he explains to pour a gallon of lacquer thinner into the gas tank when the car has half a tank of gas. I did this, and the car drove for 30 miles with some sputtering. As soon as I got home and turned it off and tried turning it back on, my car no longer starts. It just cranks but never turns over. Not only that, but after I tried pouring gas into the car I noticed a large puddle of gasoline under the car. Any suggestions as to what I should do next? 

My car is a 2006 Acura 3.2TL with 166,000 miles. It has an automatic transmission. 

Did scotty mention to put a whole gallon strong solvent in a nearly empty tank?

Scotty,

I saw a product on the web called Boost Up Catalytic Converter Cleaner.  With all the phony products on the web that only take your cash.  Do have any knowledge of this product?  Is it for for real or just snake oil?

Thanks

My 2012 Ford Focus has the dreaded P0420 code.
I was thinking about using Paint thinner to try and clear it.
Scotty used it in a Video from 2011, and many people from online communities have sworn by it.

However there's still mixed views on this.
How do I know it's whether it's truly safe, and will not cause engine damage in the long term? 

Thx! 

Hey scotty! I have an 03 Mazda 6 3.0 with 170 thousand miles. It has the inefficient catalytic converter code so I watched your old video about using lacquer thinner in the gas tank at half a tank but see a lot of mixed opinions. Would you still recommend doing this today? I bought the paint thinner but I'm kind of worried about screwing up the car since it's my daily. Thank!

My personally, I would replace it.  As a second option, I would remove the cat, and then try the lacquer cleaner on the cat with the cat off.  Then again, you are removing the cat, might as well replace it.  Cats eventually go out.

1. So I have a 2008 Lexus gs350. Code popped up for inefficient cat. I looked at one of scottys older videos and he recomended using lacquer thinner in the gas tank to help. Is it safe for "modern" cars to use? Ive heard or it possibly being harmful to the engine.

I wouldn't try it. Plus, when catalysts go bad, most of the time they need to be replaced anyways. Cleaning doesn't help all that much.

Hi Scotty and community 

I have a 2007 nissan Altima 3.5 SE with 130k km and lately is lacking some power when accelerating, also the other day it tripped the infamous P0420 code which makes me think my Cat is on its way out, I was looking at videos about using lacquer thinner in the gas tank to try and get the cat working again but also was reading that some newer cars wouldn't like that at all, is it safe for me to do it on my car or should I just go to AutoZone and get an off the shelf solution ? 

Also, and I don't know if this is related, the car sometimes cranks longer than it should, I read somewhere that the early push to start systems with age have problems like those but also that clogged cat could be the culprit, what do you all think ?

Anyways, thanks for the help and all the videos, they are much appreciated

Hey Scotty

I bought a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox about one year ago with 120k miles on it. It now has 160k. I am losing a large amount of oil, almost a 5qt jug every 3-5K miles. The mechanic removed the spark plugs and found that they were oiled up. He then stuck a camera down the spark plug holes and was able to see that the piston rings were worn and that's why it is eating oil. The oil has sense damaged the catalytic converter but both oxygen sensors are good. I need to pass my echeck this year, and this would obviously cause a failure. Would CataClean be enough to temporarily fix my converter issues so I can pass echeck?

Posted by: @juber0

the piston rings were worn and that's why it is eating oil. The oil has sense damaged the catalytic converter

Excessively worn piston rings means, obviously, that the engine is on its way out. Whether lacquer cleaner or soap and water (two recommended methods in Scotty's videos) will work, temporarily, to temporarily clean the cat is an open question. 

Can I use Lacquer Thinner on a Mazda CX-5 2.5 fuel tank for Cat clean and what will be the proportion? 

Thank You

Hey Mr. Kilmer,

My 2011 Ford F150 3.7L XLT is saying I have low efficiency in the L2Bank catalytic converter. 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. Are you sure these methods are safe?

Can I soak it in sea foam or spray brake cleaner in it?

Hello,

I would like to know the recommended lacquer thinner to clean catalytic converter for 2006 lexus ES 330.

Thank you

I have a 2014 Chevy equinox 2.4 L has 135,000 miles on it and it pulls a P4 20 check engine code for the catalytic converter my question is is I wanted to go and use pure lacquer thinner to clean that catalytic converter out with that her newer cars ...

Ty

Dear Scotty,

Regarding catalic converter cleaner. Do I have to use up all the gas in one day after adding 1gallon lacquer thinner or it’s safe to just drive for few days on a half a tank until it’s empty? Just curious how long this gas can stay in the car ? Thank you 

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. Please reply asap, as I wanna use it if it's proven to be safe Thank you.

Hi Scott,

Does pouring Lacquer Thinner into the gas tank really work to clean a catalytic converter and shut off the engine light? Does this damage any other car parts? I imagine since you made the You Tube video that it doesn't cause any problems. 

Thank you, 

ProfessorX

Hi Scotty - My local dealer told me that my catalytic converter has been ruined from excessive gas pooling in the Cat. They now want over $3,000 to install a new one.  Wondering if running a gallon of lacquer thinner will clean it out so that my alarm codes stop showing up?

2013 Audi Q54

I'm working on the dreaded P0420 code on my 03 ram 1500 w/ the 4.7l v8 ... reading below thresh bank 1...

Now I've watched your video on the lacquer method to clean the cat & wanted to know your thoughts on the break down of internal plastic pump parts or rubber O- rings that are surly being dissolved because lacquer is mostly acetone right.

Acetone will eat thru plastic & rubber, like a fat kid thru cake & donuts.

So wouldn't it destroy your pump?  

Use a product designed for cleaning catalytic converters, don't use lacquer thinner.

Using lacquer thinner in your gas is one of the very few things I disagree with Scotty about.

Posted by: @professorx

Does pouring Lacquer Thinner into the gas tank really work to clean a catalytic converter and shut off the engine light?

That depends on what your engine light means. Did you scan it?

Hello, I love your videos! Please help? I have a 2006 Acura MDX 3.5 touring edition. In a video you said that you could clean out a catalitic converter running a gallon of Laquer Thinner through the gas tank. Can I do this in my Acura MDX without messing anything up? I have to put premium unleaded gas in it. Thank you!

Liked your video, and the positive feedback below.  Just got a couple of questions.  Do I need to drive the 150 miles right after putting in the Lacquer Thinner, or can i stay in tank a couple of days?

Will the lacquer thinner hurt the fuel pumps or seals in the long run?

Thanks,

Nic 

Hi, I have a 2013 ford taurus limited. 76000 miles and an automatic. Currently no codes. I have a rotten egg smell coming from my exaust, and during take off there is hesitation. Can you suggest a good cat cleaner?