Has anyone tried making/using a catalytic converter warmer?

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by dichotomous

right but the amount of energy to heat up that cat would put more strain on the electrical grid, if you live where its main hydropower or clean energy great, but if you have coal fired electricity, bad

Given the emissions before light off I think it'd be worthwhile even w/ electricity from coal. Most manufacturers put the converter in a well so that the rising heat forms a pocket when the vehicle's parked which helps I guess but otoh the catalyst has to get really hot to start working well so there may not be a whole lot a warmer could help with. If anything the best bet would be one of these off a BMW or similar, although that would technically be illegal under federal and some state laws. It looks like it'd be a bit much for a DIY project.

[diesel_john]

Would a glow plug in front of the converter help? They get red hot in 15 seconds. Only take 9 amps. Heck I'll try it can't no more than blow up the exhaust system.

[roflwaffle]

I don't think it can make enough heat where it matters (the honeycomb material w/ the catalyst on it) to matter before burning up, but if ya had access to a smog machine it'd be a neat experiment. In the second link of my last post it looks like the heater is incorporated into the honeycomb material and looks like it would heat the catalyst itself up not just the incoming air.

[Christ]

Problem with pre-heating the cat - Engines run slightly richer during warm up as a means to heat the cat quickly. A cold cat can handle the excess fuel without gross pollution.

Pre-warmed cat + cold engine == engine still running rich and cat over heating.

At least I think. I have no proof to back this up, other than what I know about excess fuel entering the catalyst, and causing it to heat up substantially.

[guudasitgets]

New style of Cat "pre-heater" equation would be this> 1 bag of Kingsford charcoal+generous dose of charcoal lighter fluid+1 lit match=WAMMO! hot catalytic conveter.

[dichotomous]

Originally Posted by Christ

Problem with pre-heating the cat - Engines run slightly richer during warm up as a means to heat the cat quickly. A cold cat can handle the excess fuel without gross pollution.

Pre-warmed cat + cold engine == engine still running rich and cat over heating.

At least I think. I have no proof to back this up, other than what I know about excess fuel entering the catalyst, and causing it to heat up substantially.

engines run rich to heat themselves up, not the cat. my motorcycle runs richer and in a higher RPM at warmup so the engine gets up to temp faster, there is no cat on that. heck, there is no cat on my car either, but thats actually supposed to have one.

[guudasitgets]

dichotomous, the new bikes have them

[dichotomous]

many 2007 and newer bike do, but not all, and mine does not, its a 2005 and is pre-O2 sensor

[guudasitgets]

Mine either, 89 harley ultra, new ones all do, we are making the parts for the exhuast for them

[Christ]

My car has what I like to call a "Vortex black hole thingy" in place of the catalytic converter I know it's horrible, but there is a resonator with a double helix baffle inside it (read: DNA series performance mufflers) that quiets the exhaust flow without creating a lot of backpressure... the cat was plugged up, so I replaced it, since early Honda catalytic convertors look like resonators anyway.

I'm currently working on a way to put the OEM heatshield on my aftermarket header, too, so they can't see that at the inspection shop.

Less questions I have to answer about the car, the better.