Citric Acid? To clean Catalytic Converters? For real?

[ravenmaster]

Apparently a study was done by some guys out in spain. Apparently Diluted Citric Acid (2:1 Water to Acid) will restore and clean your catalytic converters in without harming the platinum inside them. All without taking apart the Cat.

Apparetly the process is simple:
Fill a container large enough to hold your cat with the 2:1 water to Acid ratio.
Put your CAT in the container and let sit for 8 hours. Then pick up your cat after the eight hours and flush water through it to thouroughly clean the cat of residue and citric acid and the like. Let dry. Put Cat back on car.
Apparently this will restoreit to 90% its original usefulness without harming the platinum or other metals used inside of the CAT. Is this for rreal? i mean is that actually feasible or are these guys in spain blowing smoke?

[Supra2NR]

i could see it possible,
citric acid can break down sum hard stuff
on your kitchen

i can see it breaking down sum of the buildup
on the cat,
why not giv it a shot

[mrnickleye]

http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=1737

[Supra2NR]

nevermind then

i got happy for second there
i thought there was gonna be a backyard/kitchen
solution to clean you cat
and save you sum money in the process

but well so much for my hopes

[mrnickleye]

If you keep your engine running properly all the time, and fix things right away, your cat will last for nearly the life of the car.

My cat was original, 15 years old, and I still passed Calif Smog test.

I went to a new (and larger diameter opening) Magnaflow when I did a complete exhaust system upgrade.

I manage a smog test & repair station, so I retested the car with the new cat to see the readings. They were close to the same, so the old cat was working very well.

[ravenmaster]

Wait, I am confused. How could it ONLY clean Cats from diesal engines. The deposits are about the same between Diesal and Gasoline engines (HC's, N0X, CO) so this trick would not work on normal CATS? If not...y?

[mrnickleye]

From diesel motors, sulphur in the fuel and phosphorus from anti-wear oil additives can gum up a converter and prevent it from working.

A gas engine cat will self-clean if the engine is kept in good running condition. What really kills a cat is too much blow-by, so oil coats up the inside; an overly rich condition for long periods, and mis-fires, which send raw gas into it and over heats it to the point of burning it up.

[ravenmaster]

So citric acid wouldn't do anything at all?

[mrnickleye]

It might work, But it might be like being the guinne pig in a new drug experiment.

I'd only try it if I had failed the smog test, and needed a new cat to pass.

Also....
It seems to me that a lot of folks on this forum tend to say "ouch" if they have to spend the $60-$150 for a new cat.

That tells me they don't have (or don't desire) to spend any more than they have too on repairs.

I've learned that to support a car, you must plan on spending at least $100 month. This should be placed in a savings account to build up a reserve for the larger ticket items, like tires, and repairs you can't do yourself.

[ravenmaster]

Originally Posted by mrnickleye

It might work, But it might be like being the guinne pig in a new drug experiment.

I'd only try it if I had failed the smog test, and needed a new cat to pass.

Also....
It seems to me that a lot of folks on this forum tend to say "ouch" if they have to spend the $60-$150 for a new cat.

That tells me they don't have (or don't desire) to spend any more than they have too on repairs.

I've learned that to support a car, you must plan on spending at least $100 month. This should be placed in a savings account to build up a reserve for the larger ticket items, like tires, and repairs you can't do yourself.

Agreed, However y ass makes 8.50 an hour so i am saving up for a new CAT but until then my car is out of reg by over a year. And I kinda need a "quick fix" to pass California Smog Standards. Thanks for your help. ill let you know how it goes :-)