Catalytic converter delete

[NIGERIAN RANGER]

Is there any likely problems expe ted from deleting the car on of my truck, for instance, asides that it's illegal in some places? Would that affect fuel economy and performance?
Can I use straight pipes, and insert oxygen sensor spacers to prevent the ECU from reporting a catalytic converter efficiency problem?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

In the US and Canada its illegal to remove the cats unless its offroad only (I believe). There are ways of fooling the computer but i dont think thats something i can talk about on TRS. As far as i know there are no ill effects from removing the cat other than helping pollute the world's air.

 

[Dirtman]

Some vehicles do use the rear o2 sensor for secondary minor fuel trim adjustments and not just cat efficiency monitoring so you could run into issues regardless. But like @alwaysFlOoReD said, it is illegal here in North America to do what you're asking and we don't discuss illegal activities.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you have a downstream O2 sensor after the cat your truck will care if it has cats. '98 is about when they started doing that.

Cats have little to no effect on mpg or performance if you don't have the downstream O2. If you do have them deleting the cats will screw up the truck because it will think the cats are not working.

It is illegal to not have them here in the US, I have no idea about the legalities in Nigeria.

 

[RonD]

Yes, you can delete Cats without effecting engine performance, farmers do it all the time so Cats don't set fields on fire

There are some "fixes" that may work to prevent O2 sensor code, not sure what works on a Ranger

 

[Blmpkn]

There are "foolers" that can be bought to trick the computer into thinking the vehicle has cats, the ones I'm thinking of have resistors in them.. more than just a spacer.

 

[RonD]

Not sure resistors would work except for the heater part
Rear O2s run higher voltage that front O2s

O2s only see Oxygen, and O2s generate their own voltage
0.1volt is high oxygen
0.9volt is low oxygen

Front O2 volts should jump around fast with average of 0.4volt
Rear O2s should be steady at 0.7-0.8volt, low oxygen, because Cats use up most of the oxygen burning up pollutants, its why they run so hot

But O2s also have 12volt heater built in
Some enterprising company could use the HEATER VOLTAGE to simulate the 0.7-0.8volt the computer wants to see

 

[NIGERIAN RANGER]

I was trying to delete the ones in my Infiniti m45, cos they got fragmented, and lodged in the muffler, making rattles and loss of power. Cats are extremely expensive here. The ones you'd even get, are not new. They are the cut and weld type.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Is there any likely problems expe ted from deleting the car on of my truck, for instance, asides that it's illegal in some places? Would that affect fuel economy and performance?
Can I use straight pipes, and insert oxygen sensor spacers to prevent the ECU from reporting a catalytic converter efficiency problem?

It is very Illegal here, but some people do it anyways. I deleted mine back the days of my misled youth. replaced with a flanged piece of pipe that bolted right in. It ran terrible, but sounded awesome. The 02 sensors will probably help, but I think it depends on if the computer will like it.

 

[Chapap]

Say you bought a truck that had a shoddy delete job and there’s a massive leak around that area? No clue about number or condition of O2 sensors, but there’s no check engine light. Would it be easiest to track down the cat exhaust section and bolt it on?

 

[fastpakr]

Yes. Assuming it's your '94 though, there's no after cat O2 monitoring so the computer wouldn't know about it to set a CEL.

 

[Chapap]

Yep it’s the ‘94 2.3. That’s a relief. I was not looking forward to monkeying with O2 wiring. But come to think of it, I’m guessing my check engine light doesn’t work. It feels like I’m currently running on 2 cylinders half the time. Seems like that would throw a code. I have plugs, wires, and coil packs on the way… fingers crossed that fixes it.

 

[fastpakr]

Does it come on when you first cycle the key on? It should give you a few seconds of on time like most of the other warning lights.

 

[Chapap]

well yes it does. Gauge cluster is on the list of fixit things after I’m done with brakes and cooling. I think Speedo is the only gauge that actually works. Temp gets a little movement off the peg, and voltage seems to act like an on/off indicator. Gas and oil don’t work at all (oil light lights up when starting tho). May do a cluster swap for the tach when I get around to finding those gremlins.

 

[Blmpkn]

well yes it does. Gauge cluster is on the list of fixit things after I’m done with brakes and cooling. I think Speedo is the only gauge that actually works. Temp gets a little movement off the peg, and voltage seems to act like an on/off indicator. Gas and oil don’t work at all (oil light lights up when starting tho). May do a cluster swap for the tach when I get around to finding those gremlins.

As long as it lights up when you key-on then it should work if something was wrong.