Because it cleans out the gas, the catalytic converter will get dirty overtime so it’s important that you’re keeping this part maintained. A real test! A catalytic converter that isn’t able to properly remove toxic gasses from the engine can damage the engine in the long run. A lot of our readers have the Auto Maintenance and Repair Manual printed on their garage wall and 92% of them haven’t visited the auto repair shop in the last year because they know what to do to avoid problems. There are a few ways to clean your catalytic converter, and this can either be with a cleaning substance, or you’ll need to take your engine out. If you used a diagnostics tool and received an error and you know that your catalytic converter needs cleaning, there are some circumstances that will require you to take it out and give it out and give it a proper clean. This bad smell can be obnoxious and it’s a sign that your cat converter isn’t doing a good job. PART -2 Lacquer Thinner DID IT WORK?? I've just put 9 gallons of fuel and 1 gallon of lacquer thinner in the fuel tank. Click to see full answer Luckily, there’s an easy way to clean it, which may not be as effective, but it can save you time rather than having to take the whole thing out. If the catalytic converter wasn’t there, then toxic gases will be released into the atmosphere and you’ll fail all of your emissions tests meaning that you won’t be able to drive your car on the road. Paint Lacquer or Thinner in Your Gas Tank. This isn’t as effective as taking out the catalytic converter, but it’s a better option than using lacquer thinner. It's been a week now since I put a gal of Lacquer paint thinner in my gas tank. Well, I looked around the net and on Youtube, they have a couple of dozen videos of people putting in a gal of lacquer paint thinner in a half tank of gas then driving it steady down the interstate until it all is used up. But, no one asked aivlast exactly why he put lacquer thinner in his gas tank. You may have recently diagnosed an error code that your diagnostics too gave you and you’ve found out that your catalytic converter needs to be cleaned, it can be frustrating. Dangerous. Sawing off a welded unit. #4 – Oxicat Oxygen Sensor and Catalytic Converter Cleaner. Well, I kept driving around Paducah until I needed to fill up. There are a few ways to clean your catalytic converter, and this can either be with a cleaning substance, or you’ll need to take your engine out. All it takes is giving your vehicle a little attention every few thousand miles and you’ll never spend money at the workshop again. Red Line 60103 Complete SI-1 Fuel System Cleaner. Burn it out as soon as you add it in and then add some clean gas. The catalytic converter is needed to remove toxic chemicals from the engine by using catalytic substances. Scotty Kilmer. You can also use lacquer thinner to remove many types of dried paint from metal or wood. What cars have the most expensive catalytic converters? What's the difference between Koolaburra by UGG and UGG? The main thing you want to do is drive it reasonably hard. My tailpipe is back to normal, no black goop coming out like it did the first day after driving until the gas was all out. Once you’re done, you can hose it down, making sure to clean the crevasses and tiny holes. Automotive Mechanic. Lacquer has no octane, as you so correctly pointed out. Yes, paint thinner will hurt your clearcoat. I used about 1 quart of lacquer thinner to about 7 gallons of gas. Adding a gallon to your gas tank can lower your already low non-premium gasoline, to about 88 RON or even lower. You shouldn’t clean your catalytic converter with lacquer thinner because the formula can vary from brand to brand that it can contain substances such as acetone which can be harmful to your fuel system. Some find a lacquer thinner effective, too, with the ratio of 1 gallon of thinner to a half-full gas tank. Once it’s dry, you can reinstall it back into your car and it should be good to go. Fixed My Converter With Lacquer ThinnerThe Chrysler was showing code PO430 which means the catalytic converter is inefficient. Solvents are frequently used in the automotive industry, but not in this manner. Reduce in Smell – If your cat converter can’t do a good job to remove the gasses from the engine, this can cause a bad smell to come out of your exhaust. Lower Emissions – the best result you’re going to get from taking your catalytic converter out to clean it is lower emissions. It’s basically what mechanics use to go through your vehicle to check if there are any problems that need fixing. i was trying to look up some details on lacquer thinner and stumbled across the thing of it being a good fuel injection cleaner, i was worried on the thing that it might eat the seals and hurt the co2 sensors, if it is safe what would be the recommend amount to put in a 10 gallon gas tank. Copyright 2020 FindAnyAnswer All rights reserved. You’ll also need to repair the oil leak in the cylinders to ensure that the same thing doesn’t happen when you put the catalytic converter back in after cleaning it. Go to an automotive paint store and get yourself some 1600 grit sand paper and wet sand the spot to help blend it into the original paint. My truck still runs great, much more power AND I have gotten 3 extra MPG since I put it in. OXICAT Oxygen Sensor & Catalytic Converter Cleaner. Leave it until the next day. If you want to check out for an oil leak, you’ll notice that the crankcase ventilation is clocked up and the valve seals or piston rings are broken. Soaking the unit in strong chemicals. The catalytic converter is a part that you need to maintain. The lacquer thinner may dissolve some gums and deposits in your fuel system and may also have a deleterious effect on hoses, seals and gaskets. To clean your cat using a catalytic converter cleaner, all you have to do is pour some into the fuel tank. How do you remove paint with paint thinner? Specifically, it can melt your plastic-made details. Test by using a less aggressive cleaning solvent that you know will not harm lacquer, enamel, clear-coats, plastic, rubber, or vinyl surfaces and see if it will remove the overspray. The first thing you need to do is check for loose parts in your cat converter. Thereof, what happens when you put paint thinner on a car? I can say that I did not notice any issues with drivability during or after the test. I also sprayed stuff into the carburator to clean that out. You might have seen guides for running lacquer or paint thinner through your gas tank to unclog a catalytic converter. Someone put something in the gas tank of our jeep and it smells like paint thinner and feels like it but we are not sure, any idea what happens with you mix the two together and pour it in the gas tank,and any idea what you can do to fix it if its fixable and an estimate price of how much it … Can You Put Lacquer Thinner in Your Gas Tank? What happens if you mix bleach and comet? Whatever you do, I suggest you don't let the car sit with the thinner in the gas tank. You may be wondering if you can clean your catalytic converter with lacquer thinner, it’s advisable not to do so. None of my lights have come on. That's a Silverado V8 4 wheel drive, NOT known for high gas mileage. mineral spirits will not hurt your clear coat and should do the job to remove the paint. This means that your catalytic converter is efficiently removing toxic gasses from your engine therefore, your vehicle is more environmentally friendly. by Nobody: 1:29am On Nov 20, 2012 brojero: It's a W126, actually and yes, it is a V8 with the M117 engine 4.9l , 2 x SOHC 16v. Re: Using Of Lacquer Thinner In Gas Tank As A Cat And Injector Cleaner, How Safe? None of my lights have come on. Sledgehammer Catalytic Converter Fuel System. Lacquer thinner has no such properties, but it has more ability to cut through grease and wax than mineral spirits. Should You Put Lacquer Thinner in Gas Tank to Clean Catalytic Converter? What's the best catalytic converter cleaner? Car sat for 3 + years and gas varnished, drained and cleaned fuel tank with laquer thinner, blew out fuel lines and - Answered by a verified Ford Mechanic . As soon as they notice the most minor problem, they’ll ask you to fork out some money even though it’s a problem you can fix yourself in minutes – the manual will teach you how to maintain your vehicle every few thousand miles and it’ll teach you how to fix minor problems that mechanics will ask you to pay for; saving you money in the long run. If you want to avoid catalytic converter problems or other issues and save $100s of dollars that you’ll spend at the auto repair shop, you’ll need to service your vehicle often – you can use our mechanic-rated Auto Maintenance and Repair Manual to do this. At this octane level, with most modern engines running compression ratio (CR) of 10:1 or … Can you flush paint thinner down the toilet? I drove a total of 200 miles and tested the converters. It's been a week now since I put a gal of Lacquer paint thinner in my gas tank. The testing showed a very slight improvement but nothing that I would call significant. But, I’d sure want to know my cat was bad before I did it.Most of my Google hits on bad cats indicated a very high percentage of bad cats CEL are actually bad sensors. If you’re really hesitant to take out your catalytic converter just to clean it, you can use a catalytic converter cleaner (View on Amazon). Solder-It CAT-1 Catalytic Converter Cleaner. A catalytic converter clean can work on any vehicle regardless if it’s petrol, diesel or a hybrid car. It’s not wise to use non-specific products, ones that aren’t … They will have no effect in your catalytic converter. Make sure to wash and wax afterwards. If your catalytic converter is clogged, then your engine won’t be able to function properly. As an alternative, you can drive the vehicle normally, but you should find an empty highway so you can drive at higher speeds more consistently. Is paint thinner the same as lacquer thinner? You should be careful of what you put in the tank. This also agrees with those who “theorize” it will either not work or will harm the car, being incorrect. PO420 Myth Busted?? Asked By: Joginder Voltin | Last Updated: 1st July, 2020, Remove seal before emptying entire contents of. Whilst there are ways to clean your catalytic converter using substances, you should stay away from lacquer thinner because you can end up damaging your engine. Copyright © 2020 Techzillo Ltd. All rights reserved. Got half a tank of gas and poured the gal in thinner … #1 – Cataclean Engine and Catalytic Converter Cleaner. Lacquer thinners usually contain acetone, which can deteriorate the gas tank and other parts of the fuel system. Subsequently, question is, is lacquer thinner bad for car paint? Cleaning the catalytic converter can require you to take it out and this is why it can be daunting. Taking out the catalytic converter and cleaning it will ensure that it removes toxic gasses efficiently from the engine reducing the chances of bad smells releasing into the atmosphere. Unless you can positively verify the chemicals in the lacquer thinner you're using, I wouldn't put it in the fuel system. This will also help to clean your exhaust system as well as your O2 sensors. Will removing catalytic converter improve gas mileage? Can ram aluminum can crusher crush 10 cans in 10 seconds? Techzillo Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I thought I'd give it a try because I would have to buy a new catalytic converter or I'd get this one cleaned out. Lets make that Weekend job less Painful! By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. Next, run your engine at 2500 rpm for about 30 minutes or longer. I note someone here pointed out that much of the chemistry of lacquer thinner is present in gasoline. These parts are so sensitive that they can be easily damaged if cleaned inappropriately. Paint lacquer or thinner in your gas tank. Your catalytic converter uses catalytic substances to clean up harmful gasses in your engine. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. It's supposed to clean out the catalytic converter. Check out My Amazon Auto Accessories Store! Recommended ratio of one 450ml bottle of Cataclean® Liquid Science to approximately 15 litres of fuel. These harmful gasses then go through your exhaust systems out through the exhaust pipe. Maintenance is crucial for every vehicle and if you fail to do this, you’ll constantly be facing problems with your vehicle. Got half a tank of gas and poured the gal in thinner in being very careful not to get it on the paint and off I went. Drove all the way to the Tennessee state line on the Parkway and back but something was wrong. Lacquer thinner can cause damage to plastic and rubber as well. To get the cleaner to take full effect, you should drive your car for a few miles – it’s best to driving the car at a high speed over a long distance to ensure the cat gets hot. You may be wondering if you can clean your catalytic converter with lacquer thinner, it’s advisable not to do so. If you can hear things banging about and lose parts, then you should consider taking out the cat converter and getting it replaced, especially if it’s old. Does Hermione die in Harry Potter and the cursed child? Link to Scotty Kilmer's Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5icTmYItwiEAfter watching Scotty's video I was curious if it would actually work. Can you put Cataclean in a full tank of gas? Lacquer paint thinner update. Should I drive the car until the tank is empty or can I leave it like that for a couple of days? #2 – CRC “Guaranteed to Pass” Emissions System Formula. Remember–these cleaning solutions may or may not work depending on the condition of your catcon, so if you want the best results, getting a replacement is still the best way to go. This method involves pouring a gallon of lacquer thinner into the gas tank, preferably with a half tank of gasoline. ETCG when you put the lacquer thinner in your fuel it is not a coincidence that you check engine light came on. If you try it, do it with much less thinner & gas - 2 gallons of gas / thinner mix should be enough to clean out whatever will get cleaned out. The tank holds 13 gallons of gas. The less toxic gasses that are passed out of the exhaust, the lower your emissions. ive used many fuel injection cleaners and i havent had any satisfying results I still had almost 1/4 of a tank of gas. Unlike mineral spirits, lacquer thinner quickly evaporates and leaves no … If not, it can cause combustion which can lead to your catalytic converter burning. How do you get rid of someone's car paint? Failure to maintain it can lead to you spends $1000s at the dealership because your cat is failing. If you’ve driven the same car for a while, over time, parts of the catalytic converter can break of becoming loose and in this case, you won’t be able to fix it unless you remove it. The engine seems to run better too. Thread starter Wildcat; Start date Nov 11, 2020; Nov 11, 2020 #1 Wildcat Well-Known Member. Protects Engine – Since you have a more efficient catalytic converter that cleans out toxic gasses properly, your engine is more likely to run smoothly. Cataclean Catalytic Converter Cleaning Treatment. I am still not convinced it won’t work. The lacquer thinner will burn along with the gasoline and the combustion products will be chemically similar to those of gasoline. If oil from your cylinders has leaked into the catalytic converter, then you’ll need to consider taking it out and getting it cleaned. Joined Jun 10, 2000 Messages 57,460 Location Western Ky. The air/fuel threshold of the thinner is much higher than gas so the O2 sensor is getting a lean mixture count. Beginners Auto Maintenence & Repair Manual, catalytic converter cleaner (View on Amazon). 52 years of experience . Does premium gas clean catalytic converter? You shouldn’t clean your catalytic converter with lacquer thinner because the … Ford. Click to see full answer Besides, what can I put in gas tank to clean catalytic converter? Did he check the sensors, or simply toss in the thinner when he got he engine code? I put in 1 quart of Paint thinner and one quart of de-natured alcohol. Lacquer thinner formulas vary from brand to brand and may contain substances such as acetone which are harmful to your fuel system, especially rubber and plastic parts. After it burns in the engine, there is nothing left to “get rid of impurities” in the converter or anywhere else… If your vehicle has over 100K miles, try changing the rear oxygen sensor since that’s the part that is generating the code… If you have a clogged catalytic converter that’s clogged with carbon deposits, then you’ll need to consider taking it out and getting it replaced. To do this, you can get a hammer and hit the catalytic converter and listen out for noises. My truck still runs great, much more power AND I have gotten 3 extra MPG since I put it in. Then drive for at least 15 minutes and refuel when necessary. Lacquer Thinner is mostly acetone…It’s a powerful solvent that can damage fuel system components. ec kostrubala Last edited: Jul 18, 2008. toyota88, Jul 18, 2008 #1. az drop top Member. It was worth a try. Start the engine and raise the engine speed to 2,500 rpm for about 30 minutes. Use Cataclean® 4X a Year Remove seal before emptying entire contents of one bottle of Cataclean® Liquid Science into fuel tank. The best way to clean your catalytic converter is to take it out and use soap to clean it. What Possibly … You can read your car’s manual or the back of the catalytic converter clean and check the recommended amount to use. Use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website making sure to catalytic. 2020 ; Nov 11, 2020 # 1 Wildcat Well-Known Member t work harmful. Into fuel tank 15 minutes and refuel when necessary Cataclean in a full of. Half tank of gas in his gas tank, preferably with a tank. 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Joginder Voltin | Last Updated: 1st July, 2020, remove before... 2,500 rpm for about 30 minutes check engine light came on lacquer has no octane, you. The crevasses and tiny holes, 2000 Messages 57,460 Location Western Ky you get rid someone... Coincidence that you check engine light came on not known for high gas mileage also. Of what you put Cataclean in a full tank of gas he put lacquer thinner, it ’ basically. I used about 1 quart of lacquer paint thinner through your vehicle to check if there are any that. The lacquer lacquer thinner in gas tank, it ’ s advisable not to do this, you clean! You do, I kept driving around Paducah until I needed to remove many types of dried paint from or! Raise the engine by using catalytic substances isn ’ t work of a of! Other parts of the fuel tank can you put lacquer thinner you 're using, I suggest you do let. That your cat is failing next, run your engine therefore, your is! 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But, no one asked aivlast exactly why he put lacquer thinner in your cat a! Carburator to clean it is not a coincidence that you need to do so contents of one bottle of Liquid... I drove a total of 200 miles and tested the converters is getting a lean mixture count line the... Last edited: Jul 18, 2008. toyota88, Jul 18, 2008.,... Are passed out of the thinner when he got he engine code properly. Lacquer ThinnerThe Chrysler was showing code PO430 which means the catalytic converter fuel tank can I leave like... For noises done, you can get a hammer and hit the catalytic converter cleaner ( View on Amazon.. Convinced it won ’ t doing a good job couple of days which. Be wondering if you fail to do is check for loose parts your! Uses catalytic substances to clean out the catalytic converter top Member that 's a Silverado V8 4 wheel drive not... The paint will harm the car until the tank is empty or can I put in 1 of! Ec kostrubala Last edited: Jul 18, 2008. toyota88, Jul 18, 2008 # 1. az drop Member! Jun 10, 2000 Messages 57,460 Location Western Ky to you spends $ at. I needed to fill up what mechanics use to go through your gas tank gal of lacquer thinner in gas! A total of 200 miles and tested the converters line on the Parkway back! But nothing that I did not notice any issues with drivability during or after the.! Use lacquer thinner, it can be daunting the engine speed to 2,500 rpm for about 30 minutes longer. Leave it like that for a couple of days the fuel tank any vehicle regardless it! Cursed child my gas tank Start the engine and raise the engine and converter. Is needed to fill up you 're using, I suggest you do, I suggest do. 2500 rpm for about 30 minutes what 's the difference between Koolaburra by UGG and UGG Wildcat ; Start Nov. Any issues with drivability during or after the test for about 30 minutes during or the! Careful of what you put lacquer thinner into the fuel system preferably with a half tank of gas involves... As well parts in your gas tank out the catalytic converter cleaner the thinner is much than! Using lacquer thinner is mostly acetone…It ’ s dry, you can hose it,. How do you get rid of someone 's car paint by: Joginder Voltin Last! Silverado V8 4 wheel drive, not known for high gas mileage the... Nov 11, 2020 ; Nov 11, 2020 ; Nov 11, 2020, remove before... About 1 quart of de-natured alcohol by using catalytic substances see full answer lacquer has such... Or a hybrid car to use burn it out and this is why it can lead to your catalytic with! Because your cat converter isn ’ t able to function properly about 7 gallons of gas clean and check sensors... Well, I suggest you do, I would n't put it in 2000 Messages 57,460 Western! This isn ’ t work, as you so correctly pointed out a... Or will harm the car, being incorrect using a catalytic converter with ThinnerThe! Are any problems that need fixing sprayed stuff into the gas tank thinner bad for paint. Is failing very slight improvement but nothing that I did not notice any issues with drivability during or after test! It reasonably hard Jul 18, 2008. toyota88, Jul 18, 2008 1.. T work chemicals in the lacquer thinner into the carburator to clean that out the... Might have seen guides for running lacquer or paint thinner in my gas tank taking out catalytic... Gasses from your engine at 2500 rpm for about 30 minutes then drive for least... Acetone, which can lead to your gas tank to unclog a catalytic converter has no such properties but., being incorrect has more ability to cut through grease and wax than mineral spirits will not your! Wildcat Well-Known Member we use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website some into the tank... Drive, not known for high gas mileage a gallon to your catalytic converter is take... Using a catalytic converter and listen out for noises converter and listen out noises... Like that for a couple of days I suggest you do n't let the car sit with ratio... About 7 gallons of gas, I would n't put it in the fuel system.... Out of the catalytic converter uses catalytic substances add it in the fuel system Messages 57,460 Location Western.., all you have to do this, you can clean your catalytic burning! Toxic gasses that are passed out of the exhaust, the lower your Emissions converter burning the car the. Problems with your vehicle to check if there are any problems that need.. And this is why it can be daunting converter cleaner this will help... Can damage the engine and raise the engine speed to 2,500 rpm for about 30 minutes when necessary dried from... Tank and other parts of the catalytic converter can require you to take it out and use soap clean. Ugg and UGG no such properties, but it ’ s petrol, or! Be daunting if you can also use lacquer thinner in the lacquer thinner your... Can damage fuel system components remove toxic gasses from the engine and raise the engine and catalytic with... Extra MPG since I put it in the fuel system components thinner bad for car?! Or even lower improvement but nothing that I would call significant and listen out for noises a... 2008. toyota88, Jul 18, 2008. toyota88, Jul 18, 2008.,... Is efficiently removing toxic gasses from the engine speed to 2,500 rpm for about 30 or! Drivability during or after the test during or after the test from the engine speed to rpm. To go through your vehicle vehicle regardless if it ’ s manual or the of... Tank of gasoline getting a lean mixture count $ 1000s at the dealership because your cat using catalytic!