The catalytic converter is an important part of your car. It’s a device that stops pollution from coming out of the car’s exhaust and contributes to reducing greenhouse gases. But, as we all know, cars need maintenance.
A catalytic converter may not be the first thing you think about when it comes to car maintenance but it’s important nonetheless.
A dirty or clogged catalytic converter can reduce fuel efficiency and create hazardous emissions. Regularly cleaning your catalytic converter with a good cleaner will help protect this vital piece of equipment and ensure that it does its job well for years to come.
If you want to make sure your car stays running like new, start with a quality cleaner like our product review about the best catalytic converter cleaner.
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COMPARISON CHART
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
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Dura Lube Severe Catalytic and Exhaust Treatment
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CHECK PRICE ► |
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Motorkote Catalytic and Exhaust Treatment Emissions
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Rislone Cat Complete Fuel
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CHECK PRICE ► |
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Crc Guaranteed to Pass Emissions Test
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Liqui Moly 8931 Catalytic-System Cleaner
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CHECK PRICE ► |
Specification
| Fit Type | Universal |
| Item Weight | 1.17 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 2.62 x 2.62 x 9.12 inches |
| Quantity | 16 ounces |
Features
- Protects Catalytic Systems From Oil Poisons
- Reduces Phosphorus and Zinc Retention Levels at Catalyst Inlet?
- Lower Tailpipe Emissions
Durable Catalytic Converter Cleaner will improve your vehicle’s performance by eliminating flammable, oily, and dirty objects that can clog the fuel line or otherwise damage the converter. It will also help to prevent possible leaks that can cause damage to your engine or the environment.
We are talking about a cleaner that can really clear all of the dirt and grime from your converter’s system and keep it that way for at least 5000 miles according to the manufacturer.
It only uses specially formulated cleaning liquids to effectively remove dirt and oil from your catalytic converter. This is the perfect solution to get your car back on the road as soon as possible.
WHAT WE LIKE
If you have an older car you definitely don’t want to worry about the Check Engine light all the time. This is why we like the fact that Dura Lube will work for 5000 miles, as long as you follow the directions.
We also like that the company guarantees their product. This gives buyers a lot of confidence when making their purchase.
WHAT WE DONT LIKE
We did notice that on some vehicles you might have to use more than one bottle to get the check engine light to go away. On other vehicles the light never went away and we cleared it ourselves.
You also have to put some miles on your vehicle before you see results, but this is also understandable.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Powerful formula takes care of your converter problems
- Can be used with all types of combustible engines
CONS
- Doesn’t seem to work for every model of vehicle
- On some older vehicles the check engine light will come back on after 50-100 miles or so
Specification
| Fit Type | Universal |
| Item Weight | 1.17 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 2.62 x 2.62 x 9.25 inches |
| Quantity | 6 ounces |
Features
- Protects Catalytic Systems From Oil Poisons
- Reduces Phosphorus and Zinc Retention Levels at Catalyst Inlet
- Lower Tailpipe Emissions
Your car’s catalytic converter is responsible for cleaning up the exhaust fumes that come from your car’s engine. Unfortunately, it can get clogged with dirt and other pollutants, causing dangerous emissions to be released into the air.
One of the best ways to maintain your catalytic converter is to use a product like Motorkote Catalytic and Exhaust Cleaner. Made with the highest quality ingredients, this American made product does a decent job of cleaning your converter.
We found that the product worked particularly well on our truck’s exhaust system.
WHAT WE LIKE
We like that this is a long lasting formula. The manufacturer claims that it will keep your converter cleaned for up to 6 months or 7000 miles, whichever comes first.
The performance of this product is high quality and does what it is designed to do. Motorkote will make sure your car is always running clean and ready to go. This includes getting rid of nasty black carbon deposits and keeping your exhaust pipe clear and free of debris.
WHAT WE DONT LIKE
Although the manufacturer claims otherwise, quite a few buyers have mentioned that they feel that the cleaner really doesn’t last all that long, especially for 7000 miles.
It’s also worth mentioning that a few customers have reported that they were not refunded even though they followed the return procedures properly, so be careful and contact the company if you are having refund issues.
PROS
- Formula does increase your converter’s efficiency
- Company claims 7000 miles of use with one bottle
CONS
- Refund policy is questionable
- Some experience the check engine light returning in a week or so
Specification
| Fit Type | Universal |
| Item Weight | 1.17 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 2.62 x 2.62 x 9.25 inches |
| Quantity | 6 ounces |
Features
- Protects Catalytic Systems From Oil Poisons
- Reduces Phosphorus and Zinc Retention Levels at Catalyst Inlet
- Lower Tailpipe Emissions
This catalytic converter cleaner from Rislone is designed as a complete solution to treat converters, fuel injectors, exhaust systems and many other emission areas of your vehicle.
Rislone Cat Complete delivers a powerful, but more mild, cleaning solution. The cleaner comes in a pour bottle and is very easy to use.
WHAT WE LIKE
Rislone Cat Complete is great because it won’t void any car warranties. The made in America product makes sure to reduce your emissions while removing zinc and other “oil poisons”.
We also like the fact that Rislone’s formula meets or exceeds EPA criteria compliance.
WHAT WE DONT LIKE
There’s very little to hate about this product. It performs its job, but we would have to agree with other buyers and say that the Rislone formula is “alright”. There’s nothing special or super powerful about it.
PROS
- Works well for most vehicles
- Just pour in the tank and forget about it
CONS
- It’s an OK product, but nothing special
Specification
| Fit Type | Universal |
| Item Weight | 1.17 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 2.62 x 2.62 x 9.25 inches |
| Quantity | 6 ounces |
Features
- Protects Catalytic Systems From Oil Poisons
- Reduces Phosphorus and Zinc Retention Levels at Catalyst Inlet
- Lower Tailpipe Emissions
To fully clean your catalytic converter you need a product that will not only clear the dust out of the muffler but also protect the metal of the unit. One of the most popular and trusted cleaning products is CRC Guaranteed to Pass Emissions SYSTEM CLEANER, but does it work?
CRC cleaner is made in the USA and guaranteed to pass EPA OLD AIR REGULATION as well as the 2005 UNCLEAR PASS LAB TEST. This is the standard used in most major car manufacturers and you can read about it in the EPA’s Green Guide for Cleaning Products and Products for Combustion Ignition Systems.
When using the CRC system cleaner you do not have to replace the muffler or exhaust system. It is 100% self cleaning and just needs a few minutes to do its magic.
WHAT WE LIKE
As a service CRC is guaranteed that it can be used on all cars with catalytic converters. This is the main reason why we like it so much.
The quality of the product is also very good. It is an easy to use product, only two simple steps of opening and pouring. It also smells really good.
WHAT WE DONT LIKE
The product is more of a fuel cleaner than a converter cleaner. Then again, it doesn’t market itself as a catalytic cleaner.
PROS
- Good product that works well
- It should be good for at least 3000 miles
- Takes care of smells
CONS
- Not really a converter cleaner
- The only way to get a refund is to provide the company a receipt with repairs already made
Specification
| Fit Type | Universal |
| Item Weight | 1.17 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 2.62 x 2.62 x 9.25 inches |
| Quantity | 6 ounces |
Features
- Protects Catalytic Systems From Oil Poisons
- Reduces Phosphorus and Zinc Retention Levels at Catalyst Inlet
- Lower Tailpipe Emissions
Liqui Moly 8931 is a pretty decent catalytic converter cleaner. It clearly states that it is a catalytic converter cleaner which is very nice. The formula for Liqui Moly 8931 ensures that the cleaner penetrates all parts of the converter.
To use this product, you will need some tools for accessing the area behind the air-flow sensor of your vehicle.
WHAT WE LIKE
A German made product, Liqui Moly 8931 has the right additives to clean your converter with no problems. It can protect your vehicle for up to around 1240 miles.
We also like that once the formula starts to clean, you’ll have no worries about if its really doing its job or not. That is important because both symptoms of a clogged or dirty catalytic converter can make your car unroadworthy.
WHAT WE DONT LIKE
The only thing most people will not be crazy about is that you can’t simply pour the product into your tank and drive off. You will need tools to get to the O2 sensor in order to use Liqui Moly.
PROS
- Good product that works well
CONS
- Cannot be poured directly into the tank
- You need to make sure you have basic tools to remove some hoses
Conclusion
Thanks for reading our article about the best catalytic converter cleaner to the end. We feel that the Dura Lube Severe Catalytic And Exhaust Treatment wins this round hands down. It has everything you will need to keep your converter running smoothly and safely for a very long time. Happy Cleaning!
