Swapping the stock CAT for aftermarket?

That's not entirely true.

The car relies on the O2 sensors to indicate if the catalytic converters are burning up HC emissions efficiently creating low oxygen levels after the cats. So no codes means it's burning up HC and likely CO emissions.

But what about NOx? For those emissions the car just assumes that cat is built to reduce NOx just as well as it can burn off HC and CO emissions. Therefore it is technically possible for a catalytic converter to not be reducing NOX into N2 and O2 and still get no codes.

Unless you do an actual side by side emissions test you don't know what the actual emissions are or if they are the same with both cats. All you know from not having codes is that the O2 sensors indicate that varying amounts of oxygen is entering the catalytic converter but the other end has a steady low level of oxygen.

If all I cared about was getting low HC and CO emissions but didn't care about NOx I'd still be driving my VW diesel. The VW would have also been the cheaper route for me than either of my hybrids.

 

My oem cat on ebay sold today for $1350. 487 views and 45 watchers. Now constant emails asking if I have any more cats. People are desperate.
Guy who bought it lives is Mass.

 

So you can make money by selling your old cat and throwing in an aftermarket one (or a straight pipe). I'm surprised it went for so much seeing how you can get a brand new one from a dealer for only $300 more, at least at the dealer I checked with in Denver.

I'm still unconvinced that an aftermarket cat that's a tenth the price of an OEM cat is the same quality and does just as good of a job at controlling emissions. But that's from my own experience with aftermarket stuff always seeming to be such terrible quality.

I've gotten into the routine on some of my cars of buying an aftermarket part, say CV axle for example, keep the receipt, and by every 11 months the boots are shot and CV joint balls are falling out and I just take it in and get a free waranty replacment, put that on, wait 10-11 months, rinse and repeat. Same with door handles, alternators, batteries, wheel hubs, you name it. Maybe I'll get one of those Doorman HV batteries so I can have a guaranteed free path to eternal HV battery replacement while I'm at it.

Do let us know how it's running years from now. If someone has an aftermarket cat that's gone for at least the standard 160,000 miles without throwing a code and continues to pass NOx emissions then I'll believe it.

 

Really don't care what you believe.

 

Holy Macaroni............You’re right!
I stand corrected . I absolutely had no idea that Hybrids WERE exempt in the UK......
Yikes...!!!
Thanks for the link.....


Source: iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB ? Pro

 

If mine lasts 5 years before needing replacing, it’s a win win for me. £150 is a small price to pay every 5 years for a replacement catalytic converter in a 12+ year old Gen 2 Prius.
And the peace of mind is priceless - knowing your cat will still be there when you return to your vehicle.


Source: iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB ? Pro

 

The reason I throw this out there is because my catalytic converter needs to be replaced. And although I could just keep driving it as is, or even throw on a strait pipe (since there's no emissions tests here) the whole reason I've gotten into hybrids is to get better emissions. Sure, any working cat is better than no cat. But how can I be sure an aftermarket cat will clean up emissions just as good as an OEM? Are there any emission test results that can be compared between the two? Are NOx emissions actually the same between both?

If I was just into saving money and keeping cat thieves out from under my car and doing whatever to get by with ok emissions there are plenty of other cheaper options out there than a 15 year old Prius.

 

What aftermarket cat do you have? Is there a link you could reply with? Thanks

 

Hey Isaac.

Hey Isaac, do you have a link to the cat you are currently using? I am about to install a new aftermarket one but there seem to be lots of them on sale.

 

No, I never have bought an aftermarket catalytic converter. So far the ones I have are OEM although on the Prius it needs a new one. I will let you know if I get an aftermarket cat. My main concern first is to stop the oil consumption before putting in a new catalytic converter.

 

When looking at replacement Cats, See
Aftermarket catalytic converters | Department of Public Health & Environment


What does this mean for motorists in Colorado?

As of January 1, 2021, all sales or installations of aftermarket catalytic converters for any model year vehicle in Colorado must comply with Air Quality Control Commission Regulation Number 20. Either replacement catalytic converters must be original equipment from the manufacturer (OEM), or a new aftermarket catalytic converter certified as meeting California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards.

 

I guess that solves my indeciision on my cat when I get around to it. I need to fix the oil consumption first. Ironically I haven't heard of any requirement to get emissions tests. Lots of people here just cut out the cats and throw in a straight pipe and if they don't like the check engine light they just unplug it.

 

hmmmm. I understood that only downtown Denver and boulder have emission inspection requirements. El Paso County where I live has no inspections and they don't care what you have on your car.......I guess I was wrong.

 

Aftermarket catalytic converters | Department of Public Health & Environment (colorado.gov)']https://cdphe.colorado.gov/aftermarket-catalytic-converters

What does this mean for motorists in Colorado?

As of January 1, 2021, all sales or installations of aftermarket catalytic converters for any model year vehicle in Colorado must comply with Air Quality Control Commission Regulation Number 20. Either replacement catalytic converters must be original equipment from the manufacturer (OEM), or a new aftermarket catalytic converter certified as meeting California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards.

The California Air Resources Board issues Executive Orders that exempt specific catalytic converters from anti-tampering regulations and laws. This exemption allows "exempted" (approved) catalytic converters to be used in California and in states that have adopted regulations in Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Section 2222.

Regulation 20 prohibits the following:

• Any person to install, sell, offer for sale, or advertise any Aftermarket Catalytic Converter intended for use on any motor vehicle originally equipped with catalytic converter(s) in Colorado unless it has been exempted pursuant to the requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Section 2222 (h) (i.e. a “California Aftermarket Catalytic Converter”).
  
• Any person to install, sell, offer for sale, or advertise any used, recycled, or salvaged catalytic converter in Colorado pursuant to the requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Section 2222 (h) and (i).

 

Yes. So it seems Co like CA must have a CARB compliant Cat. So looks like a Cat shield might need to be fitted. I do have Comprehensive insurance and confirmed with my Agent. But I don't want the hassle.

 

With things changing all the time, it may be just a matter of time before other counties or even the whole state begins emissions testing. But maybe that's thinking too far ahead.

 

Not necessarily.
Even in states like Illinois only the major metropolitan counties around Chicago and St. Louis have testing. Even largish areas like Rockford do not.
It’s costly.