Thanks for taking the time to make this video. To be honest I didn’t think it was going to work, for a money I thought you were about to blow up your Catalytic converter and your muffler but I’m glad that you didn’t for you and because I have the same problem in my truck
@@gerardoespinoza7202 this is simply a cleaner there is no way this would harm the exhaust. Some people go as far as removing the CAT and soaking it in soapy water to clean it. In this case, once you use the sea foam, wait a few minutes for it to soak then turn the car on to blow out the sea-foam and the heat will completely dry out anything inside the exhaust system.
I am glad I found your video. I spent around $100.00 on cleaners that you add to the fuel. But not one of them work. I did what you showed in your video and it worked. Thank you.
As An ASE certified diagnostic tech... Catalyst failures [P0420] are due to damaged converters with the honeycomb biscuit catalyst being broken up or melted, sometimes due to previous or current misfires. In that case the catalyst must be replaced. The other common problem happens due to Sulphur build up on the catalyst because of slow drivers. This issue can be alleviated by punching it when getting on freeways or pushing the vehicle up long hills. [Heavy acceleration attempt.] The goal is to create a rich fuel mixture to burn off the Sulpher and keep it burned off. You may have smelled the Sulphur being behind someone getting on the freeway, this is a vehicle that is normally driven slow. At the shop we use a fuel injection kit that comes with an induction cleaner as an off label use to attempt to clean the Sulpher off a cat. In that case we run the engine RPM at around 2200RPM [Never go over 3000RPM, preferably stay under 2500RPM when free spinning an engine in P/N] and turn the induction cleaner onto a high flow. [induction cleaner gets sucked into the intake manifold] In this process you MUST watch the catalytic converter and ensure by adjusting the flow rate as necessary to make sure the converter never glows more than a dull cherry red, otherwise you would permanently damage the cat. #1 You can try to fix it by doing a bunch of hard driving and then try resetting the codes. or #2 Try using the fuel injection induction cleaner in the procedure described above and the resetting the codes. Keep in mind that after resetting the codes, drive cycle monitors are also reset and you must drive the vehicle under the correct parameters until the drive cycle monitors pass [AKA I/M monitors] before the vehicle will pass a smog check. The evap system takes at least two days coming from a cold morning start of the engine. Look up the monitors for your vehicle. Catalyst monitor usually is engine warmed up, drive vehicle at a stable speed without moving the accelerator, at 50-60MPH for 10 min
Interesting point. The issue with my old chevy Truck is that when the engine is running there's a very strong fuel smell that comes from the exhaust. It runs fine but the smell obviously means that I have an issue. Can this also be related to the catalytic converters?
I changed both my o2 sensors on my 2012 civic si. 274,000 miles. Disconnected my battery (negative terminal) for 5 minutes and check engine light disappeared ... never came back after since changing the sensors but shows graciously on my OBD2 scanner for the PO420 as "permanent" lmao. Although I want to say, before changing my sensors, my Civic was running so damn rich with the check engine light on it was eating gas like a V8! Up until I changed the sensors the car has been running so good like its new until i plugged the scanner in and saw the code. What should I do man? my tags literally need to be renewed on New Years day of 2025 LOL! No check engine light has returned, no power loss, gas consumption is like new but the readings on it is off, and when i took it for emissions i was told that the CAT is not ready. IDK what to do im stressed out lololol
ive been a certified since the certification came out... 90% arent just plugged not broken up.. Ive recycled thousands of them... dont try to lie to people to make them think you know what your talking about ...
UPDATE !!! After so many people reached out to me regarding the dinging sound from having the key in the ignition. I decided to edit the video and remove the first minute and a half which eliminates the dinging sound portion of the video. I do apologize to all of those who sat through it, but I do appreciate that you did. You can now watch the video without going insane 😂
I have a P0420 code on my 2007 Toyota yaris but no engine light, I only found that out through Scan tool, what do I do because it is not smog ready, it given me the yellow exclamation mark rather than the green one. what do I do????could be I just have drive a few miles for it to go through the cycles, since it is only yellow and there no check Engine Light?
@@alexshatner3907 which scan tool are you using? also is your check engine light itself working? Like do you see it come on briefly when you first turn on the ignition. Sometimes the bulb blows out it’s why I’m asking.
@@alexshatner3907 here’s what I found online for you A yellow exclamation point on a scan tool indicates a possible problem with one or more of a vehicle's systems. This could include a pending diagnostic trouble code (DTC) or emission monitors that haven't run their diagnostic testing
@@crushrreviews Yes the engine light does momentarily turn on when you turn on the car, I am using the BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD2 Car Scan Tool and Code Reader, I was told I just have to drive it longer to go through its cycles not sure
just got done doing it on my 2012 nissan Sentra, i think it worked because the code hasnt popped up again but i just need to complete 200 miles and 20 drive cycles for the permanent code to clear of the vehicle history. thanks for the advice man
I'll give it a try tomorrow. I was thinking about pouring some lacquer thinner or engine degreaser into the upstream oxygen sensor plug hole, but after watching your video, the seafoam seems much safer. Thanks!
Going to try this, I have a 04 Lexus RX330 with 240k miles, Code P0420/P0430 been on for a year now, Recently tried Injection cleaning service and adding CataClean into gas tank but did not work. SMOG is due this month and i just have to this this, maybe find a open space so the smoke doesn't bother anyone. will keep you updated.
@@Bercedes-Menztry the smoke on your air lines.. I got a video on how I do mines and it works for me.. but before I do that I replaced my both cats and 2 sensors and It was a bad leaking hose
Trying this as my last resort before having to replace my CC. Lots of smoke on the property. Lucked in that the smoke didn't blow towards any of my distant neighbours whilst in my 07 Corolla and to be safe I was wearing a half mask respirator that would filter any of those white fumes. So far so good. Thanks!
So far so good is great to hear !! Keep us updated. Thx for watching my video. If you’re no already subscribed, please click that subscribe button for a chance to win a free click type torque wrench. Check out my other video titled “torque wrench giveaway” for a chance to enter and win
I want to thank you this worked on my 2006 Altima. Got it passed. Emission test. And light is still out many days later. 🎆🎆🎆 Now today the wife told me the her. TSX light came back on so am going to do the same. To that car. Need it too stay off for my. Inspection is do soon. Thanks again 🎆🎆🌲🌲
I use a product like this I don't know every 15-20k to keep everything clean and running smoothly! As I get older I try to do these things to avoid bigger problems
You all need to understand that each cat converter is different and depending on how old it is and how much dirt build up inside especially if there is engine oil leaks definitely need new converter. I would say this method he showing would work of the issue at the early stages and not much crap build up inside the cat converter
My 2003 Honda Accord has a Check Engine light (P0420 Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1) code) on and it looks like i found the solution, will look for sometime and get it done.
please let me know how it goes. i have that exact same issue and used cataclean in my gas tank but i’m yet to try to discard the engine light to see if it turns back on
Have same code 20 and 30 . I did the spark plug fouler.. the cleaners in the tank . My.. 2008 tundra 200 000 miles low pressure wen I press the gass. .I'll definitely try this today. Thanks
I used dura lube cat treatment on my wife's car. Just added 1/3 of the bottle to her half full gas tank. I'd planned on using the rest when she filled up but the light went off and hasn't come back. The exhaust smelled pretty bad for about a week then it went away.
@@onlyletisrickolous it may work for you or maybe it won’t but for a $10 investment it is definitely worth a try. Please keep me posted on that. Also, even if it helps keep your check in engine light out long enough to pass inspection. It’s a win.
@@sapphirejan2040 I did not get to try this method. I had already tried Cata-Clean the month before. It did clean the cat very well and improved the gas mileage but with these additives you have to try them very far apart. Especially with some of the solvents in some that can react with alkalines in others. My case was unique because the SUV I bought had sat for a year while waiting for an engine from Ford. So the cat had to be changed out as well as the sensors. The tactic in this video seems solid and if I had not tried the other cleaner I would have done this. Seafoam products have been a go-to over the years.
I started with. 420 code replaced the o2 sensor then got a air fuel ratio code & it’s been like 3 years I can’t get rid of the code definitely giving this a try ‼️
I tried this method and man, it smoked a lot. I had to do it around 9PM so that I wouldnt scare my neighbors lol. Anyway, I finished pouring the seafoam around 3pm and let it soak to 8:30pm. After clearing all the smoke, I do feel the car runs smoother and somewhat more responsive. But here is what happened too. So before I tried this, I put on O2 sensor adapter on downstream O2 sensor and was able to pass the Smog test, I was gonna just drive it like that but then I thought I have nothing to lose so I tried this seafoam for the first time. I dont know if its the adapter or the smoke, the next day the car popped p0139 code, calling for O2 sensor 2 slow respond or something like that. So I took off the adapter and put in a new O2 sensor, this time without the adapter and no more code. I will update how long that will last. Hopefully it will be awhile because replacing the cat bank 1 on my 08 Acura RL is a PITA.
I'm just commenting... you should be able to remove the passenger axle & half shaft...and remove the rear cat through the wheel well where the axle was. Take off both oxygen sensors.. and it should come out with lowering the bottom collector pipe too!
P0420/P0430 is ALL RELATED TO A PLUGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER (if you have 4 cats, it will always be the front two closest to the manifold. The front two cats are also metered with your upstream O2 sensor and downstream O2.
@HeydaCarreras it's the pipe on top to the engine connected to the EGR valve was blocked that's why my light code was open but I need to change my cooling sensor cuz the radiator fan starts when vehicle is not warm 🥵🥵 happy new year to you 😄😄
@@marvxc18 the light will not go away immediately. After changing the cat, you have to drive a couple hundred miles or several cycles before the computer realizes the problem no longer exists and turns off the light. If you’ve already done that, then maybe you have to replace the oxygen sensors. There are videos on UA-cam that show you how to test an oxygen sensor. Unfortunately I don’t have a video like that.
I use the Walmart super-tech brand with the Acetone it does a much job than sea-foam and it’s much cheaper Roughly three bucks a can compared to almost $9 bucks for sea-foam it’s more of a lubricant the Acetone is the primary ingredient in the supertech throttle body cleaner and I have is much effective in desolving carbon buildup and varnish good luck 👍🏽🍀
The carburator cleaner or parts cleaner? Man this would be my last option, i ve tried everything even removed it and soaked it over night! Def dont want to pay the $2300 for a new cat😩
I poured Seafoam in the fuel tank, I think it cleaned the entire fuel system, but unfortunately for me it didn't clear out P0420 code. Check engine light keeps coming back. It'll go off for awhile then come back. I'm going try your method next to see if it works.
@@El_Ka69 you say it cleaned the entire fuel system 🤔. If you sprayed it directly into the CAT from the oxygen sensor port, then It would not have gone through your fuel system. It would have gone directly into the exhaust. How did you use the Seafoam?
Like any thing added to gas tank , laquer thinner is best, 6 gallons gas to one gallon of laquer thinner, then drive 120 or more miles non stop to clean out system thoroughly.
Seafoam actually works in the oil, gas, ( & obviously in the exhaust too) says so right on the can.... Seafoam is great stuff. I had old gas in my Harley. I drained as much out of the tank as I could, by siphoning, since I didn't want to remove the tank. I was told by Seafoam to add a can of Seafoam to the tank with a gallon of fresh gas.... It worked great, cleaned up the fuel pump, injectors, hoses & lines, & any residual old gas & varnish!
I had a rough idle caused by opd spark plugs my V6 has 2 cats, current codes are P0300, P0420, P0430. New pligs so runs smoother hoping codes clear in next 100 miles if not I guess I'm trying this in each exhaust half
I can't wear gloves working on cars... they either break or get caught on bolts or tools, the engine looks like the same kind in the chevy cruze. I might try this spring time 2025.
@@crushrreviews oh boys, I'm fan million time of Gloves. Why the hell they were invented? it protects your hands, fingers, skin and keep your hands clean and dry. OMG
yes soo true, it go into the exhaust. I was going to do the same thing before I just bought fuel injector cleaner and did a fill up. Drove it home says 10 miles, and the next morning started the car and the check engine light with that code was remove. But if that hadnt worked, yes i woukd bring out the 02 sensors and clean and clean where all opening and surrounding area too. We think so much carbon burn up cause all alot of error codes
My buddy's muffler shop told him to do the same thing. But my buddy is hardheaded and is going to a mechanic. Just to pay someone money to tell him to buy a new Cat and install it. It's probably gonna cost him $1,100.😢
@@fordresurrectionest9556 wow I’m sorry to hear that. I’m not saying it’s a guaranteed fix, this method may not work for everyone, but for a small $10 investment it’s worth a shot before spending a small fortune.
I got a 2014 Honda accord sport with the P0420 error code. I am going to replace the censors AND I am going to use thi magic Seafoam. Not idea this was around. Thanks for this video. I just subscribed
@@crushrreviews thanks…. Well, I just bought them all. Trying the foam now. It is fine, compared with the ripoff from Honda, $300 is nothing from autozone. My motor vehicle inspection is due next month. Thanks a lot for your help. Without you, I wouldn’t have saved soooo much
For those saying don't put Dielectric grease on contactors, please read more, find more, prove it and try it. I have done that in both cars, my cars for years and nothing happened. Stop scaring people.
When running your power wires from outside into your breaker box (in your house), you're supposed to use it. Why wouldn't you use it on other wiring? Makes no sense to me.
If you really cannnot remove the upstream sensor than you can try the other methods, but it won’t be as effective. Definitely worth a shot. Atleast you’re trying something.
Great it is the first video that really solves the issue. I just have a question: In the monitors (OBD II) does it show as complete? The issue I have is that It does not present a code but in the monitors shows the catalyst as Incomplete. and therefore it does not pass smog. So in you experiment, was the catalyst shown as complete?
Be careful where you put dielectric grease or any kind...because the O2SEN needs ambient air to function. Air is drawn in through the wire harness for comparison to oxygen in the exhaust.......I'm not sure if it applies to A/F SENSORS....BUT IT DOES WITH. ZIRCONIA SENSORS
I've been dealing with the same issue on a 2015 Volvo S60. The P0420 code keeps turning on and off. I'm going to see if I can do this and save the small fortune. Thanks.
any update now that its been about 6 months? I have tried all cata cleaners that you can find at autozone but they seem to only work short term. I mean it makes a whole lot more sense that if you wanna clean the cat, you have to clean the cat, not something that pour into the gas tank.
Fuel injection cleaners that come with an induction cleaner which get sucked into the intake manifold works great. I've done hundreds of them. You must have the tank and hose/valve to connect to the vehicle intake and put the induction cleaner in and then run the cleaner at a heavy stream being careful to not let the Cat glow more than a dull red. What is happening is the Sulpher is getting burned off the catalyst honeycomb.
@@DrHarryT I tried some fuel cleaners but not the one that hooks to the air intake. I tried the ones that you add into the gas tank but they didnt work for my p0420. Which fuel injection cleaners do you use?
Has the light come back on, I've tried Catoclean, works and light went off, then exhaust leak gotten worse and it came back on after time. So I don't know if small exhaust leak, haven't looked as I can't anymore from pain on my Honda 2.4L these all seem to get the same code from chevy to Honda to Kia and others that has 2.4 engine, not in my old 1999 Plymouth voyager, clogged instantly at 170K and never burned oil ever, still in yard with clean oil at 200K , off road from 2011, need to scrap it
Light never came back on. I made a separate video showing the Scan Tool read after several hundred miles to show that there were no pending or permanent codes. Please see my other videos if interested in seeing that one.
NICE. I have a 2013 Dodge Journey 3.6 it has a catalytic converter in the front and another one under the middle of the car. do you think it will not hurt the under neath converter 02 sensors???
@@NewBayERA it will not hurt the sensors. In my video I only removed the top sensor (upstream sensor) just to have direct access to spray the CAT. I did not remove the bottom one (downstream sensor) It did not harm the sensor.
My 2015 HONDA fit same thing the Engine light went on and i stop at the O'reilly for free scan . showing p0420 as everyone in here. i clear the code and put STP treatment in the fuel tank at the gas station aslo fill it full. i wonder will it hard to do the 2015 honda fit. thanks.
Also, just curious if your spraying right into the cat and not the motor I would think it doesn't have to be seafoam..it could be brake clean, carb cleaner, etc
Brake clean or carb clean is completely different and fairly quickly evaporates so it would do no good. Seafoam sits there and penetrates the buildup in the cat.
When you are spraying the seafoam into the air sensor slot, does that clean all the banks of the catalytic converter. My air sensor is under my truck. Thanks.
@@brownyes6211 It will clean whatever cat sits below that 02 sensor. If you have 2 banks you will need to remove and clean each cat through the top of both upstream sensors.
@@brownyes6211 remember that it has to go through the hole of the upstream sensor not the downstream sensor. The upstream sensor usually sits below the exhaust manifold just before the CAT
Another proven and great way to do this is, let the tank get a hair below 1/4 , pour in 1 gallon of laquer thinner and run on the highway at speed 30 to 60 mins, re fuel. The engine 420 code will go away and the sensor and cat will be removed of slight impurities
just did this on my 87 ford f150 with the 5.0L. smokes like a banshee for 15 minutes after starting it back up....white cloud. hopefully this did the trick. I don't have a code for this (ODB1)...the O2 sensor is new (bosch) and was black as soot.
@@robertroman55 if you have a bank 2, that’s a separate upstream oxygen sensor. Bank 1 is passenger side of vehicle or right side of engine. Bank 2 is left side of engine or driver side. For each bank, there are two separate oxygen sensors, bank 1 upstream and bank 1 downstream, then bank 2 upstream and bank 2 downstream. So if your code is reading bank 2, then it would be the upstream oxygen sensor on the left side or driver side of the engine that you would have to remove and spray. But it would not hurt to do both bank one and bank two. I hope this makes sense and I’m not confusing you more.
I find any Chevy product to be the worst. Absolutely worse for there sensor issues and going off with codes. How do I know? I owned to many. No more and it’s been 10 years and never had an issue with other brands
I’m a firm believer in the seafoam I use it in every thing to fuel oil the booster line. I also have had that rotten egg smell in my cat but did a few treatment of it and has gone a way. I will find out today or tomorrow if it really works after having my emissions done.
Crushr how often do they have you check smog in your state? Do you have to have all your readiness monitors completed to pass smog? I am glad you got around putting on a new cat. I just replaced mine. You saved a lot of money.
@@dogsplantscarsneatstuff176 hi, and thanx for taking the time to watch my video. I really appreciate that. To answer your question, In my state “NY” we’re required to pass a smog test every 12 months. We’re allowed the following, up to two monitors to be in a "not ready" state for 1996 through 2000 vehicles and one monitor "not ready" for 2001 or newer model year vehicles. I’ve been good so far. Check engine light still off with approximately 201,550 miles on the odometer as of today. Now a question for you, was your CAT replacement expensive? Did you do it yourself? Just want to know for myself if and when the time comes for me to replace mine. Looks like a pretty easy DIY project.
@@crushrreviews At 240K miles my cat finally gave up. I may try soaking my old cat in a solution like lacquer thinner. Before I talk about the putting on of a converter let me say how disappointed I am in the warranty of the new cats: 25K! The bogus 50K warranty is only for the outside of the cat. In a state like NY where you lay down a lot of salt I be enforcing the warranty may be next to impossible. I did the cat myself but was surprised at some of the things I had to go to. All catalytic converters are expensive as you well know so I got mine off of Rockauto. I buy a lot of stuff off of them and have had few troubles although they are not known for being great if things go south with a bad part. Here is the big education factor: If you get just a cat converter those old pipe expanders that you can borrow from Autozone or OreillyAuto such as www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/evertough/rental-tools-evertough-1-1-2-to-2-7-16-inch-tailpipe-expander/ren1/67096/v/a/2625/automotive-car-2002-buick-lesabre?q=exhaust+pipe+expander&pos=7 are not usually success in expanding exhaust pipe to slide your cat into. This one works on std. 16 gauge exhaust pipe with my Ryobi std. impact gun: www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-Tool-78835-Stretcher/dp/B01JBICBJ4?th=1. It is $100 to $130 on amazon. Harbor freight has one for $150. The original Lisle tool sells for about $215. If you do a second one this tool will pay for itself in money and frustration. I used band clamps to connect it the new pipe. Although I originally bought std exhaust clamps they crumple the connections and make it more work to remove components in the future. I went whole hog and bought the catalytic converter, resonator line, and the muffler all new. In Calif. I had the choice of buying a new Magnaflow cat from Autozone or OreillyAuto for $1300 off the shelf. I chose the Rockauto's AP/Eastern for $540. I got mine without the resonator since it was cheaper to get the separate resonator with the extended exhaust and the muffler from OreillyAuto with their 20% off sale. The resonator assembly and muffler were another $290. I got the 2" and 2.5" in band clamps from amazon at half the price of the auto parts houses: $8 vs. $15. I have 4 six inch high railroad ties that I drove the car up on securely. I couldn't use my creeper since I am a overweight. Not a great idea. I also used permatex ultra red to connect the exhaust bands to the pipe. Jack stands would have been better. Although the resonator and the muffler were from Walker they look so much wimpier than the OEM original. Here is the only nice thing I can say. The last two smogs (two years apart as per Calif. smog check) I had to drive 250 miles to get my catalyst monitor to complete. With the new Eastern cat I drove less than 40 miles to get all of them except my evap monitor which we don't have to complete in Calif. Although I could have welded the joints I wanted to make sure everything worked before I finalized the deal. Hope this helps. i am thinking about getting a home lift for my cars since the 6 inches was close for my car. People report sales of Quickjacks on slickdeals if you are interested. Hope this helps.
PS with band clamps you want to check them for tightness after a short time due to the expansion and contraction of metals and the possible leakage of exhaust pipes. Hope I didn't miss anything. Feel free to ask more questions.
@@dogsplantscarsneatstuff176I actually own a Quickjack 5000, I honestly LOVE IT !! It has made working on my cars sooo much easier. Yes it’s up there in price, but it’s worth every dime. It’s made by Bendpak which has been around for decades and has been tested by the folks at Quickjack to show it far exceeds the rated capacity. I use mine without worries and no need for jack stands. I recently saw that VEVOR makes one also, but honestly it looks scary to me. I don’t think I could trust the VEVOR one. Maybe I’m wrong. But I’ll never know. The Quickjack goes on sale during FEMA and also COSTCO has good prices on it from time to time. They all ship from Quickjack anyway. I highly recommend. The Quickjack. I’ve owned it a few years now and it’s flawless. Maybe I’ll do a video on it for my subscribers. Haven’t done one already because there’s tons of videos on it.
I have two Cats (V6) and 4 sensors! OBDII indicates P0430 (Bank 2).. should I work on Bank 2 and ignore Bank 1? By the way, if this works, it will save me $1,800. Thanks.
do you have to reset the thing with that device before you test drive it ) or will engine light eventually go off by itself after you drive +/- 100 miles ?
You can reset it if you want to, but the computer will erase the code and turn off the light on its own after a few drive cycles where the problem is not present
@@kdtxtooldad 😂 I’m sorry about that. All I had to do was close the door but it was HOT out. I didn’t think it would be that annoying on the video. Removing the key was not an option because I was showing the code reader. Thanks for sitting through it. ✌🏼
@@1div2agent74 I take very good care of it. Frequent oil changes and good maintenance. I also don’t abuse it while driving. I love the sonic. Want it with me a lot longer
Does it work in larger engines I have a 1st Gen 5.3 Ls but according to the instructions on can it says to insert in throttle body while engine is on so just want hour take on this matter should I apply it through o2 sensor or directions on can
@@robertsanchez6998 you should definitely go through the 02 sensor opening if possible, that way you would be putting 100% strength directly into the cat, versus going through the throttle body where the engines combustion would burn it before it has the chance to go through the cat. Hope this makes sense to you. Keep me updated
@@brittneywilliams8851 hi, thanks for watching my video. you absolutely can. It’s not a guaranteed to fix your problem but it’s definitely worth a shot and you run no risk of hurting anything. If you read the comments, you’ll see it has worked for quite a few people. Let us know how it works out for you.
I have a 2013 Acura TL SH-AWD V6 can I try this without removing anything? Really on a budget I have a below threshold on bank 2 code.. I’m getting really high $$ estimates hoping I can get some luck to buy me a little time until repairs. My car idles really rough, losing power, & a shaky when I’m at a stop
Sorry for the delayed reply. There are many ways to treat the CAT with a cleaner, but spraying directly as I show in the video gives you better results than the other methods. If you really don’t want to remove anything, try using one of the gas tank treatments like Rislone and then take the car out for a drive and try to drive it hard like one of my viewers mentioned. This should help clean the cat out with forced pressure from acceleration. Hope this helps.
ok i will try this. im live in NYC dump, I went for an inspection yesterday and failed. cuz of Cat Monitoring is not ready. EGR not ready.. My car is a 2007 Sub Outback with 141k on it. Screw it I ain't spending 2000.00 OEM cat. I rather spend 20.00 and see if works or not. P420 comes on like every 200 miles, I have to reset it with my scanner. Ok keep finger crossed.
@@KLNYC the monitors are not ready because you reset them in the hopes of passing inspection. Unfortunately there’s no way around those monitors. You have to drive long enough for them to be ready. Usually that means the fault code coming back. In NY State you’re allowed only 1 not ready monitor as long as the check engine light is not on for inspection. Do the Seafoam exactly as I show here by going directly into the cat via the 02 sensor opening. Don’t go through the fuel tank or throttle body. Let it sit for atleast 20 minutes then idle the car at 2,000 RPM until no more white smoke comes out of the tailpipe. Afterwards drive the car in a highway to continue blowing out the lose carbon buildup on the cat. Lastly “make sure you re-install the 02 sensor before you start it after the Seafoam spraying otherwise you’ll trigger a different fault code. I’ve had commenters say they now have another code, that’s most likely cause by starting the car won’t out the oxygen sensor installed. Follow my direction for best chances at taking care of the problem. It’s not a guaranteed fix, but it’s definitely worth trying before spending money on a new cat like you mentioned in your comment.
@@crushrreviews That's exactly what I did. I freaking clear every pending codes. I just ordered 2 packs of SF from Amazon. Next weekend I will tackle this project.. I will keep you posted.
You're probably burning oil, around 1qt every 2500 miles or so is standard for that year subaru after 100k miles. This oil burn is coating and contaminating the cat. The cat is a terrible design. I had good luck clearing this code by keeping my PCV clean and running a dose of Cataclean every few tanks of gas. If you want to really pass look up the spark plug defouler trick. Questionably illegal but a lot of people are doing it. Subaru had a terrible design, built to fail, and is charging $1500 - $2500 for the OEM (which they always have over 1000 in stock in the US, gee i wonder why)
I tried this with a bottle of carb cleaner and the short red straw fell into the hole. Took off the bolts on the cat and now i cant find the straw. Weird.
UPDATE !!! Mileage is now 199,143 and the Check Engine light is still off 😮 that’s 1,701 miles since the seafoam treatment 😎👍🏼🔧
Thank you for the information. Keep up the good work brother.
Thanks for the video. I'm going to try it. Like you said, it's just $10 vs new cats.
@@jasonkristek5643 please come back to the video post afterwards and let me know how it turned out for you 💪🏼
Any update?
Damn i have to try this
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. To be honest I didn’t think it was going to work, for a money I thought you were about to blow up your Catalytic converter and your muffler but I’m glad that you didn’t for you and because I have the same problem in my truck
@@gerardoespinoza7202 this is simply a cleaner there is no way this would harm the exhaust. Some people go as far as removing the CAT and soaking it in soapy water to clean it. In this case, once you use the sea foam, wait a few minutes for it to soak then turn the car on to blow out the sea-foam and the heat will completely dry out anything inside the exhaust system.
I am glad I found your video. I spent around $100.00 on cleaners that you add to the fuel. But not one of them work. I did what you showed in your video and it worked. Thank you.
@@johnbarton2112 thanks for coming back to share your results
As An ASE certified diagnostic tech... Catalyst failures [P0420] are due to damaged converters with the honeycomb biscuit catalyst being broken up or melted, sometimes due to previous or current misfires. In that case the catalyst must be replaced. The other common problem happens due to Sulphur build up on the catalyst because of slow drivers. This issue can be alleviated by punching it when getting on freeways or pushing the vehicle up long hills. [Heavy acceleration attempt.] The goal is to create a rich fuel mixture to burn off the Sulpher and keep it burned off. You may have smelled the Sulphur being behind someone getting on the freeway, this is a vehicle that is normally driven slow.
At the shop we use a fuel injection kit that comes with an induction cleaner as an off label use to attempt to clean the Sulpher off a cat. In that case we run the engine RPM at around 2200RPM [Never go over 3000RPM, preferably stay under 2500RPM when free spinning an engine in P/N] and turn the induction cleaner onto a high flow. [induction cleaner gets sucked into the intake manifold] In this process you MUST watch the catalytic converter and ensure by adjusting the flow rate as necessary to make sure the converter never glows more than a dull cherry red, otherwise you would permanently damage the cat.
#1 You can try to fix it by doing a bunch of hard driving and then try resetting the codes.
or
#2 Try using the fuel injection induction cleaner in the procedure described above and the resetting the codes.
Keep in mind that after resetting the codes, drive cycle monitors are also reset and you must drive the vehicle under the correct parameters until the drive cycle monitors pass [AKA I/M monitors] before the vehicle will pass a smog check. The evap system takes at least two days coming from a cold morning start of the engine. Look up the monitors for your vehicle. Catalyst monitor usually is engine warmed up, drive vehicle at a stable speed without moving the accelerator, at 50-60MPH for 10 min
Interesting point. The issue with my old chevy Truck is that when the engine is running there's a very strong fuel smell that comes from the exhaust. It runs fine but the smell obviously means that I have an issue. Can this also be related to the catalytic converters?
Amen
I changed both my o2 sensors on my 2012 civic si. 274,000 miles. Disconnected my battery (negative terminal) for 5 minutes and check engine light disappeared ... never came back after since changing the sensors but shows graciously on my OBD2 scanner for the PO420 as "permanent" lmao.
Although I want to say, before changing my sensors, my Civic was running so damn rich with the check engine light on it was eating gas like a V8! Up until I changed the sensors the car has been running so good like its new until i plugged the scanner in and saw the code. What should I do man? my tags literally need to be renewed on New Years day of 2025 LOL!
No check engine light has returned, no power loss, gas consumption is like new but the readings on it is off, and when i took it for emissions i was told that the CAT is not ready. IDK what to do im stressed out lololol
@@GhadSpeed You have to drive for about 50 miles to reset the monitor before getting emissions test.
ive been a certified since the certification came out... 90% arent just plugged not broken up.. Ive recycled thousands of them... dont try to lie to people to make them think you know what your talking about ...
UPDATE !!! After so many people reached out to me regarding the dinging sound from having the key in the ignition. I decided to edit the video and remove the first minute and a half which eliminates the dinging sound portion of the video. I do apologize to all of those who sat through it, but I do appreciate that you did. You can now watch the video without going insane 😂
I have a P0420 code on my 2007 Toyota yaris but no engine light, I only found that out through Scan tool, what do I do because it is not smog ready, it given me the yellow exclamation mark rather than the green one. what do I do????could be I just have drive a few miles for it to go through the cycles, since it is only yellow and there no check Engine Light?
@@alexshatner3907 which scan tool are you using? also is your check engine light itself working? Like do you see it come on briefly when you first turn on the ignition. Sometimes the bulb blows out it’s why I’m asking.
@@alexshatner3907 here’s what I found online for you
A yellow exclamation point on a scan tool indicates a possible problem with one or more of a vehicle's systems. This could include a pending diagnostic trouble code (DTC) or emission monitors that haven't run their diagnostic testing
@@alexshatner3907 have you already done the Seafoam treatment like I showed in my video?
@@crushrreviews Yes the engine light does momentarily turn on when you turn on the car, I am using the BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD2 Car Scan Tool and Code Reader, I was told I just have to drive it longer to go through its cycles not sure
just got done doing it on my 2012 nissan Sentra, i think it worked because the code hasnt popped up again but i just need to complete 200 miles and 20 drive cycles for the permanent code to clear of the vehicle history. thanks for the advice man
Please come back and let us know how the smog test went
I'll give it a try tomorrow. I was thinking about pouring some lacquer thinner or engine degreaser into the upstream oxygen sensor plug hole, but after watching your video, the seafoam seems much safer. Thanks!
Going to try this, I have a 04 Lexus RX330 with 240k miles, Code P0420/P0430 been on for a year now, Recently tried Injection cleaning service and adding CataClean into gas tank but did not work. SMOG is due this month and i just have to this this, maybe find a open space so the smoke doesn't bother anyone. will keep you updated.
I tried it and cleared the code, but unfortunately my CEL came right back after driving 20 miles smh, i guess my CATs are no good.
@@Bercedes-Menztry the smoke on your air lines.. I got a video on how I do mines and it works for me.. but before I do that I replaced my both cats and 2 sensors and It was a bad leaking hose
@@lemossebas do you have the link for the video? would leaked airlines trigger check engine light and P0420 code ?
Great job Crusher. Thanks for the video. Thanks for the detail of what needs to be done. Very helpful.
Trying this as my last resort before having to replace my CC. Lots of smoke on the property. Lucked in that the smoke didn't blow towards any of my distant neighbours whilst in my 07 Corolla and to be safe I was wearing a half mask respirator that would filter any of those white fumes. So far so good. Thanks!
So far so good is great to hear !! Keep us updated. Thx for watching my video. If you’re no already subscribed, please click that subscribe button for a chance to win a free click type torque wrench. Check out my other video titled “torque wrench giveaway” for a chance to enter and win
I want to thank you this worked on my 2006 Altima.
Got it passed. Emission test. And light is still out many days later. 🎆🎆🎆
Now today the wife told me the her. TSX light came back on so am going to do the same. To that car.
Need it too stay off for my. Inspection is do soon. Thanks again 🎆🎆🌲🌲
Thanks for coming back to share the results.
I use a product like this I don't know every 15-20k to keep everything clean and running smoothly! As I get older I try to do these things to avoid bigger problems
Thanks Bro! I’m now a follower and ordered 2 cans for my ‘05 350Z and ‘15 QX80. Looking forward to trying it out.
You all need to understand that each cat converter is different and depending on how old it is and how much dirt build up inside especially if there is engine oil leaks definitely need new converter. I would say this method he showing would work of the issue at the early stages and not much crap build up inside the cat converter
My 2003 Honda Accord has a Check Engine light (P0420 Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1) code) on and it looks like i found the solution, will look for sometime and get it done.
Please come back and let us all
know how it turns out.
please let me know how it goes. i have that exact same issue and used cataclean in my gas tank but i’m yet to try to discard the engine light to see if it turns back on
Have same code 20 and 30 . I did the spark plug fouler.. the cleaners in the tank . My.. 2008 tundra 200 000 miles low pressure wen I press the gass. .I'll definitely try this today. Thanks
Did it work?
That sounds like a throttle body needs replaced bro
I used dura lube cat treatment on my wife's car. Just added 1/3 of the bottle to her half full gas tank. I'd planned on using the rest when she filled up but the light went off and hasn't come back. The exhaust smelled pretty bad for about a week then it went away.
How many days did you drive with Cat Treatment in Tank when it Worked
Yourr lime green gloves provide High Contrast with the parts you're working on!! 👍
Very interesting. I am currently dealing with a cat code that is keeping me from passing emissions. May give this a shot.
@@onlyletisrickolous it may work for you or maybe it won’t but for a $10 investment it is definitely worth a try. Please keep me posted on that. Also, even if it helps keep your check in engine light out long enough to pass inspection. It’s a win.
Just curious how did it go? Did it work for you?
@@sapphirejan2040 I did not get to try this method. I had already tried Cata-Clean the month before. It did clean the cat very well and improved the gas mileage but with these additives you have to try them very far apart. Especially with some of the solvents in some that can react with alkalines in others. My case was unique because the SUV I bought had sat for a year while waiting for an engine from Ford. So the cat had to be changed out as well as the sensors.
The tactic in this video seems solid and if I had not tried the other cleaner I would have done this. Seafoam products have been a go-to over the years.
Just bought the sea foam, I will let you know how it goes, hopefully this works🙏
Did it work?
Answers are needed 😁 what has happened??!?
I started with. 420 code replaced the o2 sensor then got a air fuel ratio code & it’s been like 3 years I can’t get rid of the code definitely giving this a try ‼️
Did it work?
your post is completely worthless, nobody cares if you try we only care if it works or not
I tried this method and man, it smoked a lot. I had to do it around 9PM so that I wouldnt scare my neighbors lol. Anyway, I finished pouring the seafoam around 3pm and let it soak to 8:30pm. After clearing all the smoke, I do feel the car runs smoother and somewhat more responsive. But here is what happened too. So before I tried this, I put on O2 sensor adapter on downstream O2 sensor and was able to pass the Smog test, I was gonna just drive it like that but then I thought I have nothing to lose so I tried this seafoam for the first time. I dont know if its the adapter or the smoke, the next day the car popped p0139 code, calling for O2 sensor 2 slow respond or something like that. So I took off the adapter and put in a new O2 sensor, this time without the adapter and no more code. I will update how long that will last. Hopefully it will be awhile because replacing the cat bank 1 on my 08 Acura RL is a PITA.
I'm just commenting... you should be able to remove the passenger axle & half shaft...and remove the rear cat through the wheel well where the axle was. Take off both oxygen sensors.. and it should come out with lowering the bottom collector pipe too!
your pretty brave to put on a extender to go get it smog, if they catch that , your paying a big fine
I have the same code on my 4th gen 4Runner, I'm going to try this and let you know how things turned out.
I followed ur instruction perfect , now I have 2 codes instead of one
😂
What is the other code?
You probably switched on the ignition while the air fuel sensor was disconnected, thus creating a fault and a dtc code.
P0420/P0430 is ALL RELATED TO A PLUGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER (if you have 4 cats, it will always be the front two closest to the manifold. The front two cats are also metered with your upstream O2 sensor and downstream O2.
Seafoam is designed to go directly into the motor. When I remove cylinder heads Seafoam is one of the chemicals I used to clean pistons and cylinders.
It is good for any kind of vehicle and it is good for cleaning catalytic converter also
It’s great for a catalytic converter clean out.
@crushrreviews thxs for the answer i will do it and let you know after that cheap than buying other catalytic
@ I agree. What have you got to lose by trying right?!
@@alainparent5165 so, what happened? there is 4 weeks already, did you try?
@HeydaCarreras it's the pipe on top to the engine connected to the EGR valve was blocked that's why my light code was open but I need to change my cooling sensor cuz the radiator fan starts when vehicle is not warm 🥵🥵 happy new year to you 😄😄
Same issue with my daughters car, I will def try this. Thanks
thanks for sharing
i will give it a try because im due for inspection soon and i really need to get this check light off to pass
The day before you go for inspection, Disconnect your battery to clear the codes.
If the light doesn't come back on, the mechanic is none the wiser.
This definitely worked on my 2017 Honda Accord thanks 🙏🏾
That’s awesome to hear ! Thanks for coming back and sharing your results. Please stay subscribed. Maybe I can help with other repairs.
Did you replace any part? My 2016 Honda accord has the P0420 code I replaced the catalytic converter and it still has the light on.
@@marvxc18 the light will not go away immediately. After changing the cat, you have to drive a couple hundred miles or several cycles before the computer realizes the problem no longer exists and turns off the light. If you’ve already done that, then maybe you have to replace the oxygen sensors. There are videos on UA-cam that show you how to test an oxygen sensor. Unfortunately I don’t have a video like that.
That's a great video and very well explained, thank you very much
Great video. Thanks for sharing your find. I'm going to try this on my Subaru. Subscribed.
Excellent video sr. I’m working on.
Thank you. 🎉🎉🎉
I use the Walmart super-tech brand with the Acetone it does a much job than sea-foam and it’s much cheaper Roughly three bucks a can compared to almost $9 bucks for sea-foam it’s more of a lubricant the Acetone is the primary ingredient in the supertech throttle body cleaner and I have is much effective in desolving carbon buildup and varnish good luck 👍🏽🍀
@@rosieclark3661 thx for sharing 😃👍🏼. You probably just saved some of my watchers a few dollars. Thx again for watching my video.
same brand i use in my fuel injection machine mixed with fuel
The carburator cleaner or parts cleaner? Man this would be my last option, i ve tried everything even removed it and soaked it over night! Def dont want to pay the $2300 for a new cat😩
I’m going to try this on my 2016 sonata hybrid - the bendy straw seems to be an important part of this process
I poured Seafoam in the fuel tank, I think it cleaned the entire fuel system, but unfortunately for me it didn't clear out P0420 code. Check engine light keeps coming back. It'll go off for awhile then come back. I'm going try your method next to see if it works.
@@El_Ka69 you say it cleaned the entire fuel system 🤔. If you sprayed it directly into the CAT from the oxygen sensor port, then It would not have gone through your fuel system. It would have gone directly into the exhaust. How did you use the Seafoam?
@@crushrreviewsDid you even read the comment?
@@El_Ka69 oops my apologies. I forgot to click “read more” before responding. Please come back and let us know how it turns out.
Like any thing added to gas tank , laquer thinner is best, 6 gallons gas to one gallon of laquer thinner, then drive 120 or more miles non stop to clean out system thoroughly.
Hi, thanks for informative Video. Can we apply it on gasoline cars or only on diesel cars?
Yes we can
Great video with Old School "Let me fix it attitude!
😂Thx for watching !
Seafoam actually works in the oil, gas, ( & obviously in the exhaust too) says so right on the can.... Seafoam is great stuff. I had old gas in my Harley. I drained as much out of the tank as I could, by siphoning, since I didn't want to remove the tank. I was told by Seafoam to add a can of Seafoam to the tank with a gallon of fresh gas.... It worked great, cleaned up the fuel pump, injectors, hoses & lines, & any residual old gas & varnish!
@@donwendling7800 thanks for sharing. I didn’t know it could be used to clear out old gas. Will keep in mind for future needs.
Damn.. that’s badass
I had a rough idle caused by opd spark plugs my V6 has 2 cats, current codes are P0300, P0420, P0430. New pligs so runs smoother hoping codes clear in next 100 miles if not I guess I'm trying this in each exhaust half
If nothing else works, it is my understanding that spacers / defoulers on downstream o2 will resolve and get you to pass.
Could you turn up the dinging noise its so soothing
@@douglasjherring 😂🤣 thanks for being a good sport about it. I appreciate your feedback and for watching my video.
@@crushrreviews I tried to watch but I couldn’t take the dinging.
Seafoam is made to go into the engine in measured quantities. Read the package. Engine and gas.
@@src4409 it will cause no harm to your exhaust trust me. No need to measure quality when spraying directly into the exhaust
I have done it like this many many times and it works
I can't wear gloves working on cars... they either break or get caught on bolts or tools, the engine looks like the same kind in the chevy cruze. I might try this spring time 2025.
@@shaunsfrench1942 yes the Chevy Cruze does come with the same engine. I’m not a fan of gloves either but I’m trying to get used to it.
@@crushrreviews oh boys, I'm fan million time of Gloves. Why the hell they were invented? it protects your hands, fingers, skin and keep your hands clean and dry. OMG
yes soo true, it go into the exhaust. I was going to do the same thing before I just bought fuel injector cleaner and did a fill up. Drove it home says 10 miles, and the next morning started the car and the check engine light with that code was remove. But if that hadnt worked, yes i woukd bring out the 02 sensors and clean and clean where all opening and surrounding area too. We think so much carbon burn up cause all alot of error codes
well as long as :you think: that must mean it is fact since you're clearly quite knowledgable... ugh
My P0430 gone with ur help
Just be careful big smoke out
Save money and time
@@jcho649 thanks for coming back to share the results.
Thank you sir, it really works 💪🏼
My buddy's muffler shop told him to do the same thing. But my buddy is hardheaded and is going to a mechanic. Just to pay someone money to tell him to buy a new Cat and install it. It's probably gonna cost him $1,100.😢
@@fordresurrectionest9556 wow I’m sorry to hear that. I’m not saying it’s a guaranteed fix, this method may not work for everyone, but for a small $10 investment it’s worth a shot before spending a small fortune.
I got a 2014 Honda accord sport with the P0420 error code. I am going to replace the censors AND I am going to use thi magic Seafoam. Not idea this was around. Thanks for this video. I just subscribed
I would do the Seafoam cleaning before replacing the sensors. In that order.
@@crushrreviews thanks…. Well, I just bought them all. Trying the foam now. It is fine, compared with the ripoff from Honda, $300 is nothing from autozone. My motor vehicle inspection is due next month. Thanks a lot for your help. Without you, I wouldn’t have saved soooo much
@@franklincarreno8668 keep us posted on the results
@@franklincarreno8668how’d it go?
About to do this now waitiing for it to soak up
Did it and notice the difference right away! the car has more torque. I think I will do it again considering I own a 17 year old mdx
For those saying don't put Dielectric grease on contactors, please read more, find more, prove it and try it. I have done that in both cars, my cars for years and nothing happened. Stop scaring people.
When running your power wires from outside into your breaker box (in your house), you're supposed to use it. Why wouldn't you use it on other wiring? Makes no sense to me.
@@cujoedaman Exactly my point.
Will using sea foam in the gas tank or crankcase be of any value? I can’t do what you did in this video. Have same codes. Thank you.
If you really cannnot remove the upstream sensor than you can try the other methods, but it won’t be as effective. Definitely worth a shot. Atleast you’re trying something.
I really appreciate this I need to try this
I'm trying it.i did the service with the sea foam and waiting an hour or so.and will start it up..
How did it go?
Great it is the first video that really solves the issue. I just have a question: In the monitors (OBD II) does it show as complete? The issue I have is that It does not present a code but in the monitors shows the catalyst as Incomplete. and therefore it does not pass smog. So in you experiment, was the catalyst shown as complete?
You need to literally drive your car a couple hundred miles for the computer to reset it as complete. It will not do it overnight. Good luck
B12 chemtool is half the price and works excellent.
Thanks for sharing, I appreciate your feedback. This channel is all about helping DIYers and your input helps us all. 😃👍🏼
Why not just get a can of liquid Sea Foam and dump it into the O2 sensor hole. Gonna do the same thing.
@@billblane7725 someone else suggested that but I tried the spray method and that’s what worked for me.
You have to check the monitors in order to confirm the fix.
In the video linked below I show the monitors after the cleaning
ua-cam.com/video/MHFabgEIn7s/v-deo.htmlsi=QpGZPDirA1jjdMHk
I will do this because what do I have to lose if I dont. thanks man!
@@TheMAC0876 a $20 investment is worth a shot before spending a few hundred on a new CAT
@@crushrreviews it sure is
I changed all my 02 sensors 0n my 05 wrangler and code never went away think i may try this
Be careful where you put dielectric grease or any kind...because the O2SEN needs ambient air to function. Air is drawn in through the wire harness for comparison to oxygen in the exhaust.......I'm not sure if it applies to A/F SENSORS....BUT IT DOES WITH. ZIRCONIA SENSORS
I've been dealing with the same issue on a 2015 Volvo S60. The P0420 code keeps turning on and off. I'm going to see if I can do this and save the small fortune. Thanks.
@fengetaset9488 Did it work?
I am also wondering if it worked? I have the same problem with my 2015 xc60
Rest assured that Cata-Clean DOESN'T DO S**T.
DITTO.. been there; don’t that, I agree 100%.
Agree
Nice job with the video. Well explained throughout
any update now that its been about 6 months? I have tried all cata cleaners that you can find at autozone but they seem to only work short term. I mean it makes a whole lot more sense that if you wanna clean the cat, you have to clean the cat, not something that pour into the gas tank.
Fuel injection cleaners that come with an induction cleaner which get sucked into the intake manifold works great. I've done hundreds of them. You must have the tank and hose/valve to connect to the vehicle intake and put the induction cleaner in and then run the cleaner at a heavy stream being careful to not let the Cat glow more than a dull red. What is happening is the Sulpher is getting burned off the catalyst honeycomb.
@@DrHarryT I tried some fuel cleaners but not the one that hooks to the air intake. I tried the ones that you add into the gas tank but they didnt work for my p0420. Which fuel injection cleaners do you use?
Has the light come back on, I've tried Catoclean, works and light went off, then exhaust leak gotten worse and it came back on after time. So I don't know if small exhaust leak, haven't looked as I can't anymore from pain on my Honda 2.4L these all seem to get the same code from chevy to Honda to Kia and others that has 2.4 engine, not in my old 1999 Plymouth voyager, clogged instantly at 170K and never burned oil ever, still in yard with clean oil at 200K , off road from 2011, need to scrap it
Light never came back on. I made a separate video showing the Scan Tool read after several hundred miles to show that there were no pending or permanent codes. Please see my other videos if interested in seeing that one.
Try & see if the purge valve is the problem 1st guys just my two cents
Can’t hear well with the bell in background
Gonna give this a try. Like u said...a $10 can might save me $$$. I have a 2004 Pontiac Vibe with a PO420 code. I will update ...
Did it work?
@JohnV123456 ....nope....😩
NICE. I have a 2013 Dodge Journey 3.6 it has a catalytic converter in the front and another one under the middle of the car. do you think it will not hurt the under neath converter 02 sensors???
@@NewBayERA it will not hurt the sensors. In my video I only removed the top sensor (upstream sensor) just to have direct access to spray the CAT. I did not remove the bottom one (downstream sensor) It did not harm the sensor.
Sometimes it's not dirty. Sometimes it is broken or has exhaust leak
Yeah I have a cat that was dislodged from the casing ...
Great video, thanks.
Good video i will try this other wise ill just Get rid of the Car 😊
My 2015 HONDA fit same thing the Engine light went on and i stop at the O'reilly for free scan . showing p0420 as everyone in here. i clear the code and put STP treatment in the fuel tank at the gas station aslo fill it full. i wonder will it hard to do the 2015 honda fit. thanks.
When you said you tried the ones that go in your gas tank which ones did you try?
@@gatti1969 I tried Rislone cat complete fuel and exhaust & emission cleaner. I also tried Rislone Hyperfuel. Had no luck with those
Also, just curious if your spraying right into the cat and not the motor I would think it doesn't have to be seafoam..it could be brake clean, carb cleaner, etc
Brake clean or carb clean is completely different and fairly quickly evaporates so it would do no good. Seafoam sits there and penetrates the buildup in the cat.
When you are spraying the seafoam into the air sensor slot, does that clean all the banks of the catalytic converter. My air sensor is under my truck. Thanks.
@@brownyes6211 It will clean whatever cat sits below that 02 sensor. If you have 2 banks you will need to remove and clean each cat through the top of both upstream sensors.
@@brownyes6211 remember that it has to go through the hole of the upstream sensor not the downstream sensor. The upstream sensor usually sits below the exhaust manifold just before the CAT
@@crushrreviews Thanks for the information.
@@crushrreviews Thank You.
Does the secondary o2 sensor need to come off also?
@@hkarsp00lup31 no it does not, the downstream sensor does not have to come off.
Did after doing this did it help with fuel mileage? I’m getting the PO 420 code thinking about doing this cause I’m having very bad gas mileage.
Another proven and great way to do this is, let the tank get a hair below 1/4 , pour in 1 gallon of laquer thinner and run on the highway at speed 30 to 60 mins, re fuel. The engine 420 code will go away and the sensor and cat will be removed of slight impurities
Is lacquer thinner safe on gas engines?
Thank you very much for your video,I will try it and what happened 👍
My 1997 Ford Ranger 2.3L scan report said, code P0420 Bank 1 so that is that sensor upstream near the engine? Thanks.
@@brownyes6211 yes
@@brownyes6211 bank one is Right side aka passenger side of car. Find the upstream sensor just below the exhaust manifold
Its a 4 cylinder does that matter. Thanks for all your help
@@brownyes6211 4 cyl then you have only 1 bank. Just spray the opening of the upper O2 sensor
@@crushrreviews Thanks.
just did this on my 87 ford f150 with the 5.0L. smokes like a banshee for 15 minutes after starting it back up....white cloud. hopefully this did the trick. I don't have a code for this (ODB1)...the O2 sensor is new (bosch) and was black as soot.
Thanks for watching. Please keep me updated on your results.
@@crushrreviews i have a leaking fuel injector that is the cause of my issue...VERY poor fuel mileage. that will be addressed shortly.
does this only work for the bank 2 catalytic converter or does it go through bank 1 catalytic too
@@robertroman55 if you have a bank 2, that’s a separate upstream oxygen sensor. Bank 1 is passenger side of vehicle or right side of engine. Bank 2 is left side of engine or driver side. For each bank, there are two separate oxygen sensors, bank 1 upstream and bank 1 downstream, then bank 2 upstream and bank 2 downstream. So if your code is reading bank 2, then it would be the upstream oxygen sensor on the left side or driver side of the engine that you would have to remove and spray. But it would not hurt to do both bank one and bank two. I hope this makes sense and I’m not confusing you more.
@@robertroman55 check out this link for a diagram.
images.app.goo.gl/Tc3uza4m6mW2SwMH6
I find any Chevy product to be the worst. Absolutely worse for there sensor issues and going off with codes. How do I know? I owned to many. No more and it’s been 10 years and never had an issue with other brands
It would not work resovled. I put seafoam light went off few weeks later come on again. Sound like not help enough.
Sounds like the CAT is shot, but before you go replacing that very expensive part, I would recommend replacing the upstream oxygen sensor.
I’m a firm believer in the seafoam I use it in every thing to fuel oil the booster line. I also have had that rotten egg smell in my cat but did a few treatment of it and has gone a way. I will find out today or tomorrow if it really works after having my emissions done.
@@crushrreviews That what I wonder and thank for recommend. I am going replace when I can
Crushr how often do they have you check smog in your state? Do you have to have all your readiness monitors completed to pass smog? I am glad you got around putting on a new cat. I just replaced mine. You saved a lot of money.
@@dogsplantscarsneatstuff176 hi, and thanx for taking the time to watch my video. I really appreciate that. To answer your question, In my state “NY” we’re required to pass a smog test every 12 months. We’re allowed the following, up to two monitors to be in a "not ready" state for 1996 through 2000 vehicles and one monitor "not ready" for 2001 or newer model year vehicles. I’ve been good so far. Check engine light still off with approximately 201,550 miles on the odometer as of today. Now a question for you, was your CAT replacement expensive? Did you do it yourself? Just want to know for myself if and when the time comes for me to replace mine. Looks like a pretty easy DIY project.
@@crushrreviews At 240K miles my cat finally gave up. I may try soaking my old cat in a solution like lacquer thinner. Before I talk about the putting on of a converter let me say how disappointed I am in the warranty of the new cats: 25K! The bogus 50K warranty is only for the outside of the cat. In a state like NY where you lay down a lot of salt I be enforcing the warranty may be next to impossible. I did the cat myself but was surprised at some of the things I had to go to. All catalytic converters are expensive as you well know so I got mine off of Rockauto. I buy a lot of stuff off of them and have had few troubles although they are not known for being great if things go south with a bad part. Here is the big education factor: If you get just a cat converter those old pipe expanders that you can borrow from Autozone or OreillyAuto such as www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/evertough/rental-tools-evertough-1-1-2-to-2-7-16-inch-tailpipe-expander/ren1/67096/v/a/2625/automotive-car-2002-buick-lesabre?q=exhaust+pipe+expander&pos=7 are not usually success in expanding exhaust pipe to slide your cat into. This one works on std. 16 gauge exhaust pipe with my Ryobi std. impact gun: www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-Tool-78835-Stretcher/dp/B01JBICBJ4?th=1. It is $100 to $130 on amazon. Harbor freight has one for $150. The original Lisle tool sells for about $215. If you do a second one this tool will pay for itself in money and frustration. I used band clamps to connect it the new pipe. Although I originally bought std exhaust clamps they crumple the connections and make it more work to remove components in the future. I went whole hog and bought the catalytic converter, resonator line, and the muffler all new. In Calif. I had the choice of buying a new Magnaflow cat from Autozone or OreillyAuto for $1300 off the shelf. I chose the Rockauto's AP/Eastern for $540. I got mine without the resonator since it was cheaper to get the separate resonator with the extended exhaust and the muffler from OreillyAuto with their 20% off sale. The resonator assembly and muffler were another $290. I got the 2" and 2.5" in band clamps from amazon at half the price of the auto parts houses: $8 vs. $15. I have 4 six inch high railroad ties that I drove the car up on securely. I couldn't use my creeper since I am a overweight. Not a great idea. I also used permatex ultra red to connect the exhaust bands to the pipe. Jack stands would have been better. Although the resonator and the muffler were from Walker they look so much wimpier than the OEM original. Here is the only nice thing I can say. The last two smogs (two years apart as per Calif. smog check) I had to drive 250 miles to get my catalyst monitor to complete. With the new Eastern cat I drove less than 40 miles to get all of them except my evap monitor which we don't have to complete in Calif. Although I could have welded the joints I wanted to make sure everything worked before I finalized the deal. Hope this helps. i am thinking about getting a home lift for my cars since the 6 inches was close for my car. People report sales of Quickjacks on slickdeals if you are interested. Hope this helps.
PS with band clamps you want to check them for tightness after a short time due to the expansion and contraction of metals and the possible leakage of exhaust pipes. Hope I didn't miss anything. Feel free to ask more questions.
thx for the feedback. Very much appreciated, I will definitely keep that in mind. Somehow sounds like a lot of work.
@@dogsplantscarsneatstuff176I actually own a Quickjack 5000, I honestly LOVE IT !! It has made working on my cars sooo much easier. Yes it’s up there in price, but it’s worth every dime. It’s made by Bendpak which has been around for decades and has been tested by the folks at Quickjack to show it far exceeds the rated capacity. I use mine without worries and no need for jack stands. I recently saw that VEVOR makes one also, but honestly it looks scary to me. I don’t think I could trust the VEVOR one. Maybe I’m wrong. But I’ll never know. The Quickjack goes on sale during FEMA and also COSTCO has good prices on it from time to time. They all ship from Quickjack anyway. I highly recommend. The Quickjack. I’ve owned it a few years now and it’s flawless. Maybe I’ll do a video on it for my subscribers. Haven’t done one already because there’s tons of videos on it.
My bank 1 O2 sensor goes directly in the middle of the cat. Can I spray directly into the cat? Thanks..
into your fuel tank should be enough
Yes you can
Wow, that sounds great, but did you do a smog check test?
@@shameika7921 going for state inspection within the next 2 weeks
@crushrreviews ok cool. I just ask. i have two banks and wanted to know. Thank you for your response.
I have two Cats (V6) and 4 sensors! OBDII indicates P0430 (Bank 2).. should I work on Bank 2 and ignore Bank 1?
By the way, if this works, it will save me $1,800.
Thanks.
If the code is indicating bank 2, then I’d concentrate on that one
Seems like you should have used the black piece on the straw?
do you have to reset the thing with that device before you test drive it ) or will engine light eventually go off by itself after you drive +/- 100 miles ?
You can reset it if you want to, but the computer will erase the code and turn off the light on its own after a few drive cycles where the problem is not present
1:44 mark is where the ding 🛎️ stops lol 😂 goodness gracious
@@kdtxtooldad 😂 I’m sorry about that. All I had to do was close the door but it was HOT out. I didn’t think it would be that annoying on the video. Removing the key was not an option because I was showing the code reader. Thanks for sitting through it. ✌🏼
Ecotech? Oh brother what can I say. Glad you got alot of miles from it.
@@1div2agent74 I take very good care of it. Frequent oil changes and good maintenance. I also don’t abuse it while driving. I love the sonic. Want it with me a lot longer
Does it work in larger engines I have a 1st Gen 5.3 Ls but according to the instructions on can it says to insert in throttle body while engine is on so just want hour take on this matter should I apply it through o2 sensor or directions on can
@@robertsanchez6998 you should definitely go through the 02 sensor opening if possible, that way you would be putting 100% strength directly into the cat, versus going through the throttle body where the engines combustion would burn it before it has the chance to go through the cat. Hope this makes sense to you. Keep me updated
Can I do this for my 2016 Kia forte? My check engine is on, and this is the code that's coming up.
@@brittneywilliams8851 hi, thanks for watching my video. you absolutely can. It’s not a guaranteed to fix your problem but it’s definitely worth a shot and you run no risk of hurting anything. If you read the comments, you’ll see it has worked for quite a few people. Let us know how it works out for you.
My sons 2021 Forte has the P0420 also I’ll try it I had also thought about using VS7
@ give the Seafoam a shot. Disregard the usage instructions on the bottle. Follow my video instructions for best results.
I have a 2013 Acura TL SH-AWD V6 can I try this without removing anything? Really on a budget I have a below threshold on bank 2 code.. I’m getting really high $$ estimates hoping I can get some luck to buy me a little time until repairs. My car idles really rough, losing power, & a shaky when I’m at a stop
Sorry for the delayed reply. There are many ways to treat the CAT with a cleaner, but spraying directly as I show in the video gives you better results than the other methods. If you really don’t want to remove anything, try using one of the gas tank treatments like Rislone and then take the car out for a drive and try to drive it hard like one of my viewers mentioned. This should help clean the cat out with forced pressure from acceleration. Hope this helps.
@ Thankyou for getting back to me! I will try & see if it helps
What about using engine degreaser or carb cleaner or brake cleaner?
I wouldn’t recommend that. Could hurt the downstream sensor. The Seafoam is only $10.
@@crushrreviewsdo you think cleaning the 02 sensors would also be ok to do or just stick with original plan?
I didn't see him driving around how to clear that code 😊
ok i will try this. im live in NYC dump, I went for an inspection yesterday and failed. cuz of Cat Monitoring is not ready. EGR not ready.. My car is a 2007 Sub Outback with 141k on it. Screw it I ain't spending 2000.00 OEM cat. I rather spend 20.00 and see if works or not. P420 comes on like every 200 miles, I have to reset it with my scanner. Ok keep finger crossed.
@@KLNYC the monitors are not ready because you reset them in the hopes of passing inspection. Unfortunately there’s no way around those monitors. You have to drive long enough for them to be ready. Usually that means the fault code coming back. In NY State you’re allowed only 1 not ready monitor as long as the check engine light is not on for inspection. Do the Seafoam exactly as I show here by going directly into the cat via the 02 sensor opening. Don’t go through the fuel tank or throttle body. Let it sit for atleast 20 minutes then idle the car at 2,000 RPM until no more white smoke comes out of the tailpipe. Afterwards drive the car in a highway to continue blowing out the lose carbon buildup on the cat. Lastly “make sure you re-install the 02 sensor before you start it after the Seafoam spraying otherwise you’ll trigger a different fault code. I’ve had commenters say they now have another code, that’s most likely cause by starting the car won’t out the oxygen sensor installed. Follow my direction for best chances at taking care of the problem. It’s not a guaranteed fix, but it’s definitely worth trying before spending money on a new cat like you mentioned in your comment.
@@crushrreviews That's exactly what I did. I freaking clear every pending codes. I just ordered 2 packs of SF from Amazon. Next weekend I will tackle this project.. I will keep you posted.
You're probably burning oil, around 1qt every 2500 miles or so is standard for that year subaru after 100k miles. This oil burn is coating and contaminating the cat. The cat is a terrible design. I had good luck clearing this code by keeping my PCV clean and running a dose of Cataclean every few tanks of gas. If you want to really pass look up the spark plug defouler trick. Questionably illegal but a lot of people are doing it. Subaru had a terrible design, built to fail, and is charging $1500 - $2500 for the OEM (which they always have over 1000 in stock in the US, gee i wonder why)
Thank you so much I really appreciate it.
I don't like the video, but I love it thank you once again.
@@johnclottey1362 lol. Had to read that twice to get it. Thx for watching my video. I really appreciate the feedback.
I tried this with a bottle of carb cleaner and the short red straw fell into the hole. Took off the bolts on the cat and now i cant find the straw. Weird.
Lol 🤣🤣🤣 shit happens don't smoke before or during
I wouldn't stress that, it will just melt instantly