Are cat cleaners snake oil?

[Elkins45]

My 09 Scion tripped a P0420 code today. Given its history as an oil burner I wonder if the cat might be getting gummed up? I replaced the downstream 02 sensor a few months ago that was clearly dead, but I used a Denso and it still seems to be sending data. I’m willing to spend the $25 for a bottle of Cataclean if there’s any evidence that it actually makes a difference, but I’m naturally skeptical.

 

[walterjay]

Cataclean saved a cat on one of my trucks that was throwing a code.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

It's worth a try. $25 vs the cost of a cat, and some people have had success with it

 

[Furious]

Cataclean has a lot of success stories.

Does it work every time? no but is it worth trying it for how little it costs vs the price of a new cat? absolutely.

Follow the directions correctly if you decide to use it, don't complain it didn't work if you don't follow the directions, for vehicles that are just starting to throw P0420 there is likely a higher chance of success compared to someone who pushes it out and keeps driving for years with the code.

 

[JonesZ]

Temporary fix for my G35. Spark plug non foulers(spacer) for the O2 sensors was a permanent fix.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Temporary fix for my G35. Spark plug non foulers(spacer) for the O2 sensors was a permanent fix.

So the equivalent of a sticker over the light?

 

[clinebarger]

So the equivalent of a sticker over the light?

The opposite really, Now you will be alerted to issues other than catalyst performance.

 

[ripcord]

My cat pretty much cleans herself

 

[Elkins45]

Cataclean has a lot of success stories.

Does it work every time? no but is it worth trying it for how little it costs vs the price of a new cat? absolutely.

Follow the directions correctly if you decide to use it, don't complain it didn't work if you don't follow the directions, for vehicles that are just starting to throw P0420 there is likely a higher chance of success compared to someone who pushes it out and keeps driving for years with the code.

I put a bottle in today and followed the directions. We shall see if it makes a difference.

 

[walterjay]

Be sure to let us know

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I've gotten an extra 5k on a 13' Pilot using Cataclean. It would throw a light, pour a bottle in, clear the light, and it stay off for months. Not much highway driving didn't help, probably could have gotten more. 2 months later, it throws a light, another bottle. Rinse and repeat. It works. But not for really bad condition CATS. Nothing will fix that but replacement.

 

[sw99]

My 09 Scion tripped a P0420 code today. Given its history as an oil burner I wonder if the cat might be getting gummed up? I replaced the downstream 02 sensor a few months ago that was clearly dead, but I used a Denso and it still seems to be sending data. I’m willing to spend the $25 for a bottle of Cataclean if there’s any evidence that it actually makes a difference, but I’m naturally skeptical.

Have you done a piston soak? I've done them on all my older Toyota's (2008, 2009 x2) and it helps with the oil burning.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

You gotta stop the oil burning first. That's what's messing up the CATS. BG EPR 109 2X for 2 OCI's , or a piston soak, new PCV valve and hose, clean out throttle body. Shoot CRC throttle body cleaner thru the PCV inlet. If you don't stop the oil burning, you're pouring money into you're gas tank for no reason. Not gonna clean the CATS...... Once ,,, if,,,, you can stop the burning,,,,then use the CATACLEAN to clean up the exhaust system. It works, as long as you catch it early enough. May take a few bottles though. Oxicat is another option other than Cataclean too. Same thing. Pour into tank. Oxicat works very well too. Got 614,894 miles out of my CATS using a combination of EPR 109 and Oxicat. Best of luck

 

[Elkins45]

Have you done a piston soak? I've done them on all my older Toyota's (2008, 2009 x2) and it helps with the oil burning.

I did a two bottle Berryman’s soak last fall, followed by a six month run of Restore and Protect. It already had 120k miles when I bought it.

I pulled the filter 1k after the soak and it was full of carbon.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

So, you found you're problem. Extreme carbon buildup, most likely coked up oil control rings on the pistons, allowing oil to get into combustion chamber. Try the BG EPR 109 for 2X for 2 OCI's. My Honda was blowing so much blue smoke out the tail , it was insane. 2 treatments of 109 did the trick. Does not burn a drop of oil now. What do you got to lose ? EPR 109 is a bit more agressive than a piston soak. You have combustion heat helping to break up that stuff verses a cold soak. Just follow the directions on the can. Don't go past 1200 RPM's,,, or you may suck all that junk into the oil pump sump screen. Then you got real problems.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I used it in my Accord that was throwing low efficiency code. I'd clear it and it came back after a couple hundred miles, clear than 100-ish miles. I do burn some oil, working on that now with Valvoline Restore and Protect. I had already done BG EPR, HPL Engine Cleaner 30 and then was using 1qt of HPL PCMO in place of whatever oil I was using. When I had the Cataclean in it I also drove home about 20 minutes at like 4000rpm. OBD fusion showed my cat was HOT, I was trying to burn crap off.

Who knows but it has been off for over a month now.

Maybe the Accord just didn't like burning the Delo XSP 5W-40 vs other oils and it contaminated it more. Mine probably does a lot more engine braking than many since I’m 6MT and I downshift coming off highways etc. I presume that creates more vacuum to pull stuff into the cylinders.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

The opposite really, Now you will be alerted to issues other than catalyst performance.

Uh huh.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

What year, and how many miles / which engine ??