In my experience, a new cat has always made a nice difference in the way the van produced power and drove. Mind you my cat's may have all been original, but it still made a difference. It's worth considering if your van doesn't run like a top, as now would be the easiest and most logical time to replace it. -Craig '85GL turned WESTY BOSTIG in the trunk On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 11:27 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote: > I don't personally know, but when I've asked personnel at muffler shops > about the catalytic converter on my van (considerably more miles than > yours), they've told me that they almost never go bad, and that if the > van is running well, it is very unlikely to be bad. Seemed to me that > that answer was sort of pat, but then, those guys make a little if they > sell me a converter. I did think the catalyst itself could be bad > without the converter being plugged, but, how would you know that? I > guess the oxygen sensor would give a signal that caused a running > problem? Maybe idling wrong? I am a stickler for keeping everything in > order so (1) the vehicle runs well, and (2) the thing doesn't pollute > any more than necessary. > > Why can't you just pull the thing (or have it done) and look at the > insides, if you are seriously concerned? > > Dave McNeely > > > > On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 10:02 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote: > > Assuming a properly-tuned engine, average driving habits, etc., how >> many >> miles could one expect the cat to normally last? Does time alone also >> age >> the thing? Say on a 1984 vehicle with 80,000 miles, for example. >> >> Putting together my muffler shopping list and don't want to buy a cat >> if I >> don't need one ($100 - $150 USD), and don't have the luxury to pull it >> and >> inspect it ahead of time. >> >> -- >> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott >> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") >> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) >> Bend, OR >> KG6RCR >> > |
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