Replacing the Catallytic Converter

[lucentedg]

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Hi lucentedg,

I think there are oil cooler lines down that way. Hopefully that is all it is!

Blessings,
BKM
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Thanks so much, that is very reassuring. I was hoping that is what is was as well, but I have not had a chance to look. I will update when I know.

[lucentedg]

Well, turns out is was a camshaft seal. My mechanic knows about the lacquer thinner, does not think that was the problem. He says most likely the breather box is clogged and the pressure has built up enough to blow out the seal. How does that sound to you folks? What should I expect for labor hours to replace the seal and breather kit?

[lucentedg]

So another update to the great lacquer debacle, #4 I believe.

Some of the oil lines were 50% closed. My mechanic is unsure if this is what caused the seal to blow. It could be someone else had done work before and not installed the seals correctly. Also, he found a broken motor mount.

I loaned it to a friend who has a reputation for thinking he is a race-car driver. He flies around with the car just floored, all the time. It was like this when I got it back. I wonder if his cranking it could have exacerbated the problem, if the lines were partially closed.

None of it is related to the lacquer thinner, though. It seems to be a whole new and unique problem.

While he is in there, he will be doing the timing belt, water pump, all the cam seals, breather box, and the engine mount. I am looking at a bill of about $1400 including parts and labor. Does this sound about right? I think the guy is a straight shooter, but with a repair bill this large, I would like a little confirmation.

[RaymanSean]

It seems you are using the Premium fuel with WOT to clean the Converter so in essence you are trying to soak it as Scotty Kilmer is trying to do except out of the car and in the soap solution. The excess fuel could burn the converter out where as the Lacquer Cleaner is doing the same thing perhaps faster or cleaner than just Premium Fuel but not flooding it. I am not sure that the WOT 5 to 6 times is sufficient to clean it up? Have you tried it.

Blessings,
BKM
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The point of ths exercise is to run the engine normallly with the loweest sulfur fuel availible on the market (typically premium fuel) to regenerate (not clean) the catalyst. The WOT are important because this regeneration requires high temperature and high exhasut flow to be successful.

I do ths for my 93 244 before inspection. The results will be lower emissions for all controlled polutants.

Aaron

Hi Aaron,
Is this is a proven method/process someone or an organization came up with? I am just wondering because you said regenerate and not clean. I don't believe you can regenerate a CAT but you can clean. Seems like a play on words that was given to this process. Are there any data as in smog for a before and after using this process? I'm also curious for some real world comments on whether that has ever eliminated a CEL light related to a CAT.

The original problem was with a CEL and CAT codes. The Solution offered was Lacquer Thinner to Solve this issue and it prove successful. Proposing higher octane fuel and WOT driving and promising cleaner results would make sense as in the better fuel but not sure that it would be sufficient to clean the CAT or rid the CEL as the Lacquer Thinner.

That being said however, I have found using the combination below had helped to pass the CA smog for two cars when they did not pass the first time around. Neither car had CEL therefore no codes.

Chevron Premium Fuel
SWEPCO 503 Gasoline & Diesel Improver
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/sho ... co_pg9.htm
SWEPCO 306 Supreme Formula Engine Oil, 15W-40
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/sho ... co_pg8.htm

Blessings,
BKM
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Regeneration comes from chemical/petroleum engineering which means to reactivate the catalysis by removing contaminates, cleaning.

Active catalytic site become inactive, by being blocked or by chemical contamination. I would imagine that Lacquer thinner would serve as an octane booster just like using high octane gas, which could lead to higher exhaust temps (not at the unburned fuel temp range, but higher than normal gas) to complete the oxidation of the contaminates. I would be careful about the amount of added to the tank and would prefer to mix the thinner with gas in a plastic tank before adding it to my fuel system.

I was not aware that higher octane gas has lower sulfur concentrations, I guess you learn something new everyday.

[MoVolvos]

So another update to the great lacquer debacle, #4 I believe.

Some of the oil lines were 50% closed. My mechanic is unsure if this is what caused the seal to blow. It could be someone else had done work before and not installed the seals correctly. Also, he found a broken motor mount.

I loaned it to a friend who has a reputation for thinking he is a race-car driver. He flies around with the car just floored, all the time. It was like this when I got it back. I wonder if his cranking it could have exacerbated the problem, if the lines were partially closed.

None of it is related to the lacquer thinner, though. It seems to be a whole new and unique problem.

While he is in there, he will be doing the timing belt, water pump, all the cam seals, breather box, and the engine mount. I am looking at a bill of about $1400 including parts and labor. Does this sound about right? I think the guy is a straight shooter, but with a repair bill this large, I would like a little confirmation.

If he is changing the major and majority of the parts with OE Volvo the price seems OK. I was quoted $900.00 for timing belt alone by a Factory Trained Volvo Specialist who also has owned his own shop now for many years. I was going to say your friend's driving/romping may have contributed to this issue but it was best left for you to say such. As for the oil line being 50% closed it would be a good idea to switch to Swepco as the motor may have been neglected. Ask your Mechanic if he has heard of Swepco. Lastly, maybe it would be a good idea to not let your friend borrow your car!

Great Discussion
http://www.mightytitans.com/forums/show ... hp?t=17242

SWEPCO 503 Gasoline & Diesel Improver - Use every half a year of couple of months depending on the fuel quality in your area
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/sho ... pg9.htm#72

SWEPCO 502 Oil Improver - Use with reg oil and change out at 3K than use 306
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/sho ... co_pg6.htm

SWEPCO 306 Supreme Formula Engine Oil, 15W-40 or 10W-30 depending on the weather
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/sho ... co_pg8.htm

Blessings,
BKM
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[MoVolvos]

-[/quote]

The WOT are important because this regeneration requires high temperature and high exhasut flow to be successful.

I do ths for my 93 244 before inspection. The results will be lower emissions for all controlled polutants.

Aaron[/quote]

EDIT: SORRY, but this should have been addressed to BOTH Aaron's original post and RaymanSean (latest post) as they are interrelated.

Hi Aaron,

I don't mean to put you on the spot but you provided a lot, lot of hypothetical in your last post besides the earlier one above. In only 5 to 6 WOT with Premium fuel you claim the CAT will be regenerated with lower emissions. Have your ever had this exceedingly fast regeneration happen with a CEL on and had it go out? You claim also lower pollutants so that it must mean you have compared the before and after specs on your own car? I prefer not to WOT my car unless I have to whereas the other method mentioned have proven to work by not only Scotty Kilmer and other Mechanics. Please link to some Hard Data or Facts or Else with a 50% closed oil line someone may unnecessarily blow something (not that this instance was related!)

Blessings,
BKM

[rspi]

Well, I got my P0422 code while cruising down the highway with 204,158 on the clock. I drove about 700 miles that day and had just hit a few streatches of highway where I tested my 1/4 mile times about 3 or 4 times. It was about 30 minutes later, the code popped.

I reset it and it came back on 2 weeks later. I'm going to check to see if it's falling apart today but I think the laquer thinner flush deal is not meant to stay in your tank longer than a few hours. Add it, drive the car down the freeway and back, then gas up again. If you're fuel system falls apart in that amount of time, it was simply the straw that broke the camels back. I'm considering doing it and after I run the gas out, I will add a fresh tank and add some lucas to the fresh tank.

[rspi]

@ lucentedg: I blew out the cam seals on our S70 GLT one night putting my foot in it. The seals were leaking a little bit and after putting my foot in it I lost about 2-1/2 quarts in 2 miles. I left a trail to my house.

I always run 93 octane unless I'm on the road and it's not offered. On that trip I was experimenting and had 87 in the tank.

[lucentedg]

@ lucentedg: I blew out the cam seals on our S70 GLT one night putting my foot in it. The seals were leaking a little bit and after putting my foot in it I lost about 2-1/2 quarts in 2 miles. I left a trail to my house.

I always run 93 octane unless I'm on the road and it's not offered. On that trip I was experimenting and had 87 in the tank.

Could the octane really make a difference on this? I have always run 87 in all my volvos. On the other hand, I have a feeling my buddy was really leaning on it.

[MoVolvos]

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http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-s70- ... 0-a-48505/

http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technologyi ... s70glt.htm

http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technologyi ... CT2773.JPG
http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technologyi ... CT2774.JPG
http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technologyi ... CT2775.JPG

From the pictures you can tell the Cam Seal once old is prone to leak or failure. Octane will cause pre-ignition or pinging when under load as in up a hill. Driving it hard and age has more to do with it than Octane. But one could blame it on the Octane as you need to drive it harder to obtain the same performance as if you had higher Octane fuel. I know that I tend to drive more swiftly when the car is running better (higher Octane) so it is a no win situation especially at the hands of someone who is known to Lean On It!

Blessings,
BKM
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