Everyone knows about bad fuel and impacts to the undercarriage, but that’s far from a complete list of what kills the gas cleaning system. There are tons of hidden factors that destroy the ceramic block quietly but surely. And the most frustrating part — most drivers don’t even suspect these problems exist. If the element has already failed, check Ford catalytic converter scrap price on the Autocatalyst platform — there you can sell the used part for precious metal extraction and check current prices in the catalog for your specific model.

Hidden Enemies of System Longevity

The first reason is short city trips. The neutralizer starts working only after warming up to 300 degrees. If you drive for 5-10 minutes, the system constantly operates in cold mode. Unburned particles settle on the honeycombs, gradually clogging channels and reducing gas permeability.

The second problem is related to faulty spark plugs. Ignition misfires send portions of raw fuel directly into the cleaning system. There the gasoline burns off, creating temperatures above design levels. Ceramic can’t withstand constant overheating and begins to melt or crack.

The third reason is using oil and fuel additives without understanding their composition. Many additives contain silicon, phosphorus, or zinc compounds that settle on the platinum layer and block active catalysis centers. Cleaning efficiency drops after just 10-15 thousand kilometers.

Chemical Aggression and Mechanical Factors

Here are two more factors that are rarely considered:

  • Driving with constantly low fuel level in the tank — when remaining less than a quarter of volume, the pump begins to capture sediment from the bottom, which passes through the filter and enters the combustion chamber, and from there — into the cleaning system, settling on honeycombs as resinous deposits.
  • Ignoring lambda sensor errors — faulty oxygen sensors transmit distorted data to the ECU, which begins pouring over-enriched mixture, overloading the neutralizer with excess unburned fuel and accelerating active layer degradation by 2-3 times.

These factors act slowly but inevitably destroy the system without visible external signs.

Prevention of Premature Wear

The simplest way to extend the element’s life is regular trips over distances of more than 20 kilometers. The system should warm up to operating temperature and remove accumulated deposits naturally. Once a month it’s useful to drive 50-70 kilometers on the highway at 3000-4000 RPM to burn off carbon deposits.

Monitor spark plug condition and change them strictly according to schedule. Check lambda sensors at every diagnostic — incorrect fuel mixture kills the neutralizer faster than any mechanical damage.