Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:53:34 -0700
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Expected, normal, lifetime for the catalytic converter?
In-Reply-To: <d1ea9acf0910230941x3966259ch720944d84001a8f8@mail.gmail.com>
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Mine lasted 160,000 miles on my 85 with manual transmission. Most of my driving is road trips, meaning long distance, high speed. The "symptoms" that it was going bad was a rattling sound, apparently the ceramic elements starting to break apart inside. Since I've read (on the list) that this leads to clogging of the flow downstream (muffler), I replaced both cat and muffler at the same time. I bought from Van Cafe in Santa Cruz, and had a local shop install.
By the way, had a smog check shortly after that, and the results were better than 2 years earlier, so the new cat must have made the difference.
Rich
85 Vanagon GL
San Diego
--- On Fri, 10/23/09, craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Expected, normal, lifetime for the catalytic converter?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, October 23, 2009, 9:41 AM
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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