I probably already know the answer to this. And probably this topic has been beat to death but...has anyone had any success with catalytic cleaners? Or even the crazy suggestion of running a gallon of lacquer thinner thru the system? This is a 2012 Tribeca, 169000 miles. I'm convinced due to the oil consumption (1 qt every 1200 miles) that this has fouled the cats but I may be way off base with this theory. Otherwise the car runs great with zero other symptoms other than the annoying CEL with the associated disconnect of the cruise control. The cost of replacement of two cats is a bit overwhelming so just exploring all other options. Thanks group!
Catalytic converter cleaners
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Facelift (EZ36D, 5EAT TG5D), MY2008, 7seat Limited (no DVD, no NAVI)
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1qt/1200miles - "pathetic". 
how about 1qt/300-600miles? it is been going on for 3yrs and still running))))))
about cleaning catalysts - I have successfully used acetone. proportion is 1:10 (acetone:fuel). I usually do it at the end of the tank - put acetone in, as some suggestions online - drive it as fast as possibel and on highway (not standstill traffic in some busy city). and then refill whole tank of fuel.
I had like "catalytic converter efficiency below threshold". did acetone twice - (even was to lazy to switch off the error code in ECU) - and everything is peachy.
just be careful and get funnel first. otherwise it gets messy and not so good for paint.
let us know - how did it go with you.
how about 1qt/300-600miles? it is been going on for 3yrs and still running
))))))about cleaning catalysts - I have successfully used acetone. proportion is 1:10 (acetone:fuel). I usually do it at the end of the tank - put acetone in, as some suggestions online - drive it as fast as possibel and on highway (not standstill traffic in some busy city). and then refill whole tank of fuel.
I had like "catalytic converter efficiency below threshold". did acetone twice - (even was to lazy to switch off the error code in ECU) - and everything is peachy.
just be careful and get funnel first. otherwise it gets messy and not so good for paint.
let us know - how did it go with you.
I prefer the title of "whiner" But thanks for the reply and suggestion. I have been a bit reluctant regarding the acetone/lacquer thinner treatment but when you review the ingredients of some of these commercial cat cleaners I'm surprised the EPA allows them on the market! And if those products don't create unexpected problems can't imagine straight acetone will be an issue. Will report back in a few days!
But thanks for the reply and suggestion. I have been a bit reluctant regarding the acetone/lacquer thinner treatment but when you review the ingredients of some of these commercial cat cleaners I'm surprised the EPA allows them on the market! And if those products don't create unexpected problems can't imagine straight acetone will be an issue. Will report back in a few days!I had the error for my cats come up shortly after I purchased my 2009 Subaru in 2014 with just over 100K kms. Luckily I was still under the 120k warranty mark for the cats so they were replaced just under warranty with like 116k kms on the vehicle at the time. The dealership said that they were quite full of oil which is what caused the error. Since their job is to superheat the exhaust before it makes its way to the atmosphere, it makes sense that a universal solvent would help to dilute down any oil in there, or any thickening gunk. My only thought, being a chemical lab tech, about adding acetone to gas is that it is more flammable then gas, so in my mind it would burn up and burn more completely than the gas and not really do much to the gunk in the cats. The cleaners are probably highly halogenated (dichlor- or difluoro- or dibromo-..). all these chemicals have much higher combustion rates and would survive going through the engine and make it to the cats unburnt where they would dissolve the gunk, lowering their combustion temperature so it could be burnt off in the cat. However, I could see acetone working if you physically removing the cats and ran the acetone through them or let them soak in the acetone, that would dissolve the oil and gunk that accumulates in the cats over time, unless the oil/gunk got superheated to the point it broke down and just plated the carbon plated on the platinum inside the cats, in which case something much stronger would be needed to regenerate them.
Quite educational. Most appreciated! When researching some of the commercially available products and noting their formulas this must be the reasoning behind them. However, I did try a random picked product from the local cars parts big box store resulting in absolutely no affect. That was a while ago and I did not do any long distance highway driving to really get the cats up to temp so....? In addition a very thorough obd scanner eval showed incorrect voltages on the downstream sensors. Also the temp differential between the input side and output end of both cats was only around 50 degrees. It's my understanding the differential should be at least 150 degrees. Obvious conclusion here. I wonder if the lacquer thinner has a higher combustion rate than the acetone? Would you like to weigh in here Turtle_ride?
Facelift (EZ36D, 5EAT TG5D), MY2008, 7seat Limited (no DVD, no NAVI)
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actually - very good question about ability to MEASURE before and after.
I think that Long and Short term trims are the ones to note. Personally - I would note them (both banks) Before adding acetone. pouring it in, drive it, fill the tank, reset ecu, drive for, about, half tank or better full tank and then - check and compare them... any other opinions?
I think that Long and Short term trims are the ones to note. Personally - I would note them (both banks) Before adding acetone. pouring it in, drive it, fill the tank, reset ecu, drive for, about, half tank or better full tank and then - check and compare them... any other opinions?
I agree with Flat6er, make note of the temperatures a couple times before you try anything so that you will know if anything you do has made a difference. If you’re supposed to see that much of a temperature difference and you’re not it’s a good indication that they are pretty clogged up, but I think it’s key to make sure you give it a really good run of half an hour to get the temperatures up. I’m not sure what’s in the lacquer thinner you were thinking of trying, I’d be worried about a more complex chemical burning in the engine and doing more damage in the engine than benefits downstream in the exhaust, unless it’s a product specifically designed to somehow cleanse the cats (higher temp required to burn it so it actually makes it through the engine and into the exhaust where it could work it’s magic and dissolve the gunk)
Facelift (EZ36D, 5EAT TG5D), MY2008, 7seat Limited (no DVD, no NAVI)
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about temperatures - I am not sure that there are multiple temperatures per catalytic converter available.
just went through FSM - SSM supposedly has "Catalyst temperature #1" and "Catalyst temperature #2". (it's freely available as PIDs - $01 3C and $01 3D).
All I could find in FSM - that proper temperature is 540+ degrees Celsius.
just went through FSM - SSM supposedly has "Catalyst temperature #1" and "Catalyst temperature #2". (it's freely available as PIDs - $01 3C and $01 3D).
All I could find in FSM - that proper temperature is 540+ degrees Celsius.
On more than one website/you tube, and even one with a Subaru, the exit point of the converter should be at least 100 degrees F higher than the input (upstream) end. The input temp could be variable relative to the engine. The test is the differential.
Good point regarding the potential for problems with acetone or lacquer thinner. The sites promoting this option were very clear to point out the importance of how much to use. 1 to 10 ratio is the recommended max. Never just fill the tank with one of those (duh).
I'm going with the lacquer thinner. Lower combustion level so thinking it will have a chance to get to the cats. Also more internet recommendations re: lacquer thinner. And of course the internet never lies! Ha! Will report back. Long highway drive coming up this weekend. I may be emailing the results from the roadside waiting for a tow truck! HA!
Good point regarding the potential for problems with acetone or lacquer thinner. The sites promoting this option were very clear to point out the importance of how much to use. 1 to 10 ratio is the recommended max. Never just fill the tank with one of those (duh).
I'm going with the lacquer thinner. Lower combustion level so thinking it will have a chance to get to the cats. Also more internet recommendations re: lacquer thinner. And of course the internet never lies! Ha! Will report back. Long highway drive coming up this weekend. I may be emailing the results from the roadside waiting for a tow truck! HA!
Facelift (EZ36D, 5EAT TG5D), MY2008, 7seat Limited (no DVD, no NAVI)
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well... lacquer thinner I was checking in Lowes had like 50% acetone. that I used first time. second time it was "pure" acetone (I think around 90-95%).
I don't think you will get towed for speeding this weekend - or... you will have an excuse))) just show police officer this thread
but yeah - it is kinda scary
about trustworthiness - I looked at videos of following guys (personally - I find them trustworthy, but it might be just me)
also did look at some more... but basically - nobody has had issues.
I don't think you will get towed for speeding this weekend - or... you will have an excuse
))) just show police officer this thread but yeah - it is kinda scary
about trustworthiness - I looked at videos of following guys (personally - I find them trustworthy, but it might be just me)
I found these guys as well. The second guy needs to shift to decaf but I do like his enthusiasm! There is one thing that is quite frustrating with Subaru (geez, only one thing?) being that they welded the entire exhaust system together so the cats cannot be removed separately. Grrrrrrr....where's the love Subaru? Hahahahaha.....
Thanks for the encouragement! Let the experiment begin.
Thanks for the encouragement! Let the experiment begin.
Facelift (EZ36D, 5EAT TG5D), MY2008, 7seat Limited (no DVD, no NAVI)
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not really
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Exhaust - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
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well...disappointing...CEL remained on for 150 miles of varied driving. Boooo! About to reset the CEL just to see if/when it comes back on. This is really annoying. I can't be the only one to have had this issue. The solution? Several thousand $ to replace with OEM's? I don't think so! I've also been "warned" that the tolerances being so tight that even after market products have been known to not keep the CEL off. Guess the next question for the group is who has successfully replaced their cats without having to take out a second mortgage!
Facelift (EZ36D, 5EAT TG5D), MY2008, 7seat Limited (no DVD, no NAVI)
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stop panicking!
reread what I said - i erased the DTC/CEL - after short while it resurfaced. I repeated procedure with clear acetone and BOOM (I mean it is gone, not the car gone boom!
reread what I said - i erased the DTC/CEL - after short while it resurfaced. I repeated procedure with clear acetone and BOOM (I mean it is gone, not the car gone boom!
Facelift (EZ36D, 5EAT TG5D), MY2008, 7seat Limited (no DVD, no NAVI)
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"go big or go home"Another long drive today. Did I mention "fingers crossed"? But just in case, I have a gallon of acetone with me. Murphy is my co-pilot.
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