Running a 3.0 with no cats?

[1badexplorer]

The vehicle is a 97 Ranger 3.0 5spd. 197K miles. The truck still runs well. I keep getting a CEL saying that P0420 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1). Ive changed the rear oxygen sensor. I'm going to change the front two. If that does not fix that problem. Has anyone ran one of these with hollowed out cats? Does the CEL stay on? I had my cats off they still look ok but I'm not sure what else could be the problem.

 

[Terry]

The vehicle is a 97 Ranger 3.0 5spd. 197K miles. The truck still runs well. I keep getting a CEL saying that P0420 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1). Ive changed the rear oxygen sensor. I'm going to change the front two. If that does not fix that problem. Has anyone ran one of these with hollowed out cats? Does the CEL stay on? I had my cats off they still look ok but I'm not sure what else could be the problem.

Read this fisrt.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57083

 

[MrE_Powers]

the engine was designed in the 80s after cats were required by law so the engine is designed with them there and will likely burn out your ehaust valves in your engine if you run it with out a cat over time do to the lack of back pressure that the cat provides to the exhaust system.

 

[1badexplorer]

Yes I know it was designed to have cats. Neither of you answered my question. I want to know if I hollowed 1 or both of them out if my check engine light will come on. Im just curious if anyone else has done it and what their results were.

 

[5spd Ranger]

yes the check engine will stay on. My wife's 2002 Explorer had (HAD) a hollowed out converter and the check engine light stayed on until the converter got replaced.

 

[Terry]

Yes I know it was designed to have cats. Neither of you answered my question. I want to know if I hollowed 1 or both of them out if my check engine light will come on. Im just curious if anyone else has done it and what their results were.

This subject can and will get you banned from this forum. This is a federal law issue and you wont get an awnser to any modifacations.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

The whole reason you are getting said code is because the cats are failing. Removing them will still show your computer that the cat is faulty. The myth that your valves will burn out because of backpressure is nonsense. Valves burn out because of too much pressure in the exhaust holding in heat. (look at turbo motors that run too small of an exhaust housing) Besides, the cat is designed so that it does not hinder flow/pressure.

Now, its not fair to just tell you what you did wrong and not give you any guidance on what you can do right. Now, we all know to replace the factory cats are scary expensive. You can go to the junk yard and hope the one you pick is good. Your best bet is to purchase a universal aftermarket cat and have an exhaust shop fit it. Call the manufacturer and they should guide you to a properly sized unit.

 

[1badexplorer]

The whole reason you are getting said code is because the cats are failing. Removing them will still show your computer that the cat is faulty. The myth that your valves will burn out because of backpressure is nonsense. Valves burn out because of too much pressure in the exhaust holding in heat. (look at turbo motors that run too small of an exhaust housing) Besides, the cat is designed so that it does not hinder flow/pressure.

Now, its not fair to just tell you what you did wrong and not give you any guidance on what you can do right. Now, we all know to replace the factory cats are scary expensive. You can go to the junk yard and hope the one you pick is good. Your best bet is to purchase a universal aftermarket cat and have an exhaust shop fit it. Call the manufacturer and they should guide you to a properly sized unit.

Ok thanks. i guess ill be weldin some other cats on. i have some from a 94 ranger that may work. thanks

 

[McCormack]

This subject can and will get you banned from this forum. This is a federal law issue and you wont get an awnser to any modifacations.

Relax... as far as I know we still have freedom of speech here in America, and it's not against any federal law to give advice about cat mods.

 

[snoranger]

Relax... as far as I know we still have freedom of speech here in America, and it's not against any federal law to give advice about cat mods.

It IS against the forums rules. Read them.

 

[Terry]

Relax... as far as I know we still have freedom of speech here in America, and it's not against any federal law to give advice about cat mods.[/QUOT

Whatever. I posted a link to this not being allowed in thia "forum". You sound like one of those Lib as-holes. If you want to tell someone how to break the law then you are just a stupid as he is.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

Easy guys he's open about fixing his truck legally. I'd much rather have someone on here accept and acknowledge the facts/myths concerning catalytic converters instead of the dumb redneck that is convinced that removing any and all cats has improved his horsepower and mpg then logging on and bragging to us all about it.

 

[koda6966]

Agreed, cat removal is a "no no" on this forum.

However, high flow cats and a "yes yes" and whatever you do in your driveway is your business. Just don't bring it back to the forum. Cat threads have been banned before.

However, THIS kind of cat thread is okay.

 

[MrE_Powers]

The whole reason you are getting said code is because the cats are failing. Removing them will still show your computer that the cat is faulty. The myth that your valves will burn out because of backpressure is nonsense. Valves burn out because of too much pressure in the exhaust holding in heat. (look at turbo motors that run too small of an exhaust housing) Besides, the cat is designed so that it does not hinder flow/pressure.

Now, its not fair to just tell you what you did wrong and not give you any guidance on what you can do right. Now, we all know to replace the factory cats are scary expensive. You can go to the junk yard and hope the one you pick is good. Your best bet is to purchase a universal aftermarket cat and have an exhaust shop fit it. Call the manufacturer and they should guide you to a properly sized unit.

dont know if it is myth or not just passing along wat i have read from a few forums that involve this engine. this site and tcca are a few of them that have said that about exhaust valves in the 3.0

 

[Rearanger]

I keep getting a CEL saying that P0420 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1).

The system has been designed with an upstream, and downstream (of the CAT) O2 sensor. If you hollow out the CAT it's like no CAT at all. You'll get the same code, as the downstream is reporting CAT efficiency and will look for different O2 signals.