According to current environmental standards, the exhaust system of all modern cars is equipped with a catalytic converter. Its purpose is to reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases, minimizing the harm to the environment from automobile transport. But during the operation of the car, the catalytic converter gets clogged and becomes unusable. The old part is not a piece of unwanted scrap metal, but an opportunity to earn money. The platform https://autocatalystmarket.com/gb/en/, where you can check the current price of a used catalytic converter in just two clicks, will help you find buyers in a given region.

How is a car catalytic converter constructed
The detail is placed in a metal housing. The internal structure is a honeycomb (made of ceramic or metal). The surface of the honeycomb is covered by a thin layer of precious metals of the platinum group:

- platinum;
- palladium;
- iridium;
- rhodium;
- gold.

Depending on the brand and model of the car, the type of metals used, as well as their concentration, may vary significantly. Each of these metals has an excellent chemical activity, thanks to which there is a full-fledged purification of the exhaust.

Modern neutralizers are available in three components, where the first component binds nitrogen oxides. The second component is responsible for removing unburned fuel residue (carbon monoxide). The third component is a sensor, which analyzes the composition of the cleaned exhaust and transmits the data to the ECU.

Why the catalytic converter can quickly degrade
The average service life of a catalytic converter reaches 150,000 km over a car’s mileage, but it can fluctuate upward or downward. For this reason, drivers have to replace the catalytic converter every 3-7 years. The following factors may accelerate the deterioration of the part:

- low-quality fuel;
- frequent idling in traffic jams;
- low-quality additives such as antigels added to diesel fuel;
- incorrect ignition;
- malfunction in the engine system or power supply system.

Each of these factors provokes accelerated burnout of the catalytic layer. As a consequence, exhaust cleaning becomes less effective. The onboard computer begins to show an error, the lamp lights up yellow.

To solve the problem you will have to replace the old catalytic converter with a new original or universal one. Another option is to put a lambda sensor bump and install a flame catalytic converter. It is this method that many drivers resort to, as it will cost many times less than buying an original catalytic converter.

But before you begin to act cardinally, it is worth performing a diagnosis of the key systems of the car. This will make sure that the cause of the failure is really a clogged catalytic converter.