Brentwood Auto Repair

When your fuel economy starts to slide, most people think of things like old spark plugs, low tire pressure, or a dirty air filter. The catalytic converter is usually not the first suspect. But when it starts to clog or melt internally, it can quietly choke off exhaust flow and make the engine work harder for every mile. That extra effort often shows up at the pump long before the car throws a major fit. What the Catalytic Converter Actually Does The catalytic converter sits in the exhaust stream between the engine and the muffler. Inside the metal shell is a honeycomb coated with precious metals that help burn off unburned fuel and harmful gases. As exhaust passes through, chemical reactions reduce pollutants before they leave the tailpipe. For that to work, exhaust has to flow freely through thousands of tiny passages. If those passages start to plug with carbon, melted material, or debris, the converter turns from a cleaner into a restriction. The engine still ru ... read more