Hello, to all forum members.

Two days ago I replaced my cat with a new ceramic unit.

Now after two days of city driving and one long 400km trip its showing some discoloration.
What do you think of it is it normal?

Based on steel oxide temperatures the hottest parts were around 300c and the coldest around 220c.

Are these temp on the outer shell normal?

Edited 25 June, 20214 yr by Thefeliciahacker

I have replaced my factory Ceramic Catalytic converter with a Metallic one many years ego and recently i have returner to a new Ceramic

No smell or serious discolouration, maybe because you ''push it" to hard and had no ''break-in" period?

Was an expensive (brand name) ?

No it is a basic of the shelf replacment (cut and weld) I think its bm.

Im not sure though.
I mean isn't a long trip from patras to athens (and back) a good break in?

Edited 27 June, 20214 yr by Thefeliciahacker

3 hours ago, Thefeliciahacker said:

No it is a basic of the shelf replacment (cut and weld) I think its bm.

I mean isn't a long trip from patras to athens (and back) a good break in?

 

120 euro (the fitting included) is a realistic price for a good Ceramic Catalytic for Felicia, avoid the cheap of 80-90 euro.

 

The break in period means time and patience, it's not ''once and done" no matter if it's knife-saucepan-rifle-motor-pistol etc.

I am not an expert but i think you push it too fast and over burned a little bit,even the used Catalytic won't look like this.

For sure you will have notice in the market the ''over burned" by the manufacturer tail-pipe in some exhausts:

 

 

Your Cat has the same ''bad look" now but don't worry it will last for many tenths of thousand kilometres.

 

 

It is hard to say if the exterior color of the cat is OK or not OK. Nobody knows for sure what metal was used for the outer shell. Nobody knows what coating had the outer shell.

Did you weld it in place?

40 minutes ago, RicardoM said:

Did you weld it in place?

Yes they cut the old one out and fitted this one on the previous pipes

4 hours ago, D.FYLAKTOS said:

120 euro (the fitting included)

100 for the cat

50 for mid silencer

fitting included

4 hours ago, D.FYLAKTOS said:

The break in period means time and patience, it's not ''once and done

my father drives the car when I ask him "are you flooring it right now?" he says "I don't know this word".
So no the first day of the cat we did a full throttle test for less than one km with 5th.

And the day after he went for a trip to Athens and back.

4 hours ago, D.FYLAKTOS said:

Your Cat has the same ''bad look"

my cat is looking great! !the purry type!

as for my other cat I thought it maybe running a bit rich and thus heating up

Edited 27 June, 20214 yr by Thefeliciahacker

Welding is the way for the Catalytic here plus a stamp from the repair-shop so they know the month/year that they put it when it's time for the Guarantee.

The break-in wasn't the proper but since it's not a cheap one don't worry, nevertheless ''Kalorizikos".

 

Ceramic means torque in the low-middle rpm

Metallic means some more power in the high rpm but ''you pay the price" in the middle rpm.

Can you advise me on what the proper break in should be. 

In any case thank you. 

What you say abouts ceramic vs metallic is somewhat true I will go into a deeper explanation tomorrow 

Edited 27 June, 20214 yr by Thefeliciahacker

On 25/06/2021 at 12:58, Thefeliciahacker said:

Based on steel oxide temperatures the hottest parts were around 300c and the coldest around 220c.

Hint; those are normal temperatures to reach when braze welding steel.

1 hour ago, Thefeliciahacker said:

Can you advise me on what the proper break in should be. 

 

What you say abouts ceramic vs metallic is somewhat true I will go into a deeper explanation tomorrow 

 

When you put new brake disks for example the seller and the mechanic will advise you to ''take it easy on the start"

the same applies to many metals that we use as i said before.

You should have made at least 200 kilometres in low speed at green zone without high rpm to ''push things more"

A journey at high steady speed especially those hot days in Greece it wrong as a break-in period, the metal of the Cat has no chance to cool down that's why externally looks like this.

Now it's done and you can not change anything.

 

You Cat looks over burned outside but this doesn't mean that it has been destroyed inside otherwise you should notice it plus the emission test would failed.

Especially the second you can see it with your eyes in a quick test to a local repair-shop, after few hundreds of Kms take a measure as a reassurance and the numbers will tell you the truth.

 

6 hours ago, Thefeliciahacker said:

Yes they cut the old one out and fitted this one on the previous pipes

Well, there's your problem. Heating it at both ends created irreversible damage to the metal of the cat.

Next time use clamps and liquid gasket for high temperatures or special exhaust tape.

Edited 27 June, 20214 yr by RicardoM

5 hours ago, RicardoM said:

Well, there's your problem. Heating it at both ends created irreversible damage to the metal of the cat.

Well that was localised though but the discoloration seems to have propagated

8 hours ago, KenONeill said:

those are normal temperatures to reach when braze welding steel.

I mean cats do run hot at leats 400c on the inside the issue is what i should be seeing on the outside
keep in mind that lpg does run hotter

9 hours ago, RicardoM said:

Well, there's your problem. Heating it at both ends created irreversible damage to the metal of the cat.

Next time use clamps and liquid gasket for high temperatures or special exhaust tape.

 

Welding is the rule here in Greece for decades, i have changed 2 Cats plus 2 silencers-tail pipes same way (welding) and i didn't had that problem of over burned look

Keep in mind that i didn't push them but a take my time for some hundreds of kilometres.

Tape and patches are for small holes only.

10 hours ago, RicardoM said:

Well, there's your problem. Heating it at both ends created irreversible damage to the metal of the cat.

How can you tell? I can't see the cat itself; just the metal box it's contained in.

7 hours ago, KenONeill said:

How can you tell? I can't see the cat itself; just the metal box it's contained in.

This topic is all about the metal housing of the cat. The OP asked specifically about the exterior look. I have referred only to that. Not to mention the interior is mostly ceramic.

 

11 hours ago, Thefeliciahacker said:

Well that was localised though but the discoloration seems to have propagated

I don't find to be a coincidence that the cat got a burnt look exactly close to the welding. The excessive heat from the welding modified the properties of the metal, especially in terms of exterior coating. Slowly the cat got a burnt look after the first long trip. Nothing mysterious.

Edited 28 June, 20214 yr by RicardoM

2 hours ago, RicardoM said:

This topic is all about the metal housing of the cat. The OP asked specifically about the exterior look. I have referred only to that.

Ok; we're in agreement then.

3 hours ago, RicardoM said:

The OP asked specifically about the exterior look

Well for what its worth external temperatures will indicate working conditions of the cat somewhat

Edited 28 June, 20214 yr by Thefeliciahacker

Chevy Camaro 780 HP, no problem with the welding procedure and the ''burned" look, works fine.

 

 

13 hours ago, D.FYLAKTOS said:

Chevy Camaro 780 HP, no problem with the welding procedure and the ''burned" look, works fine.

Do you have proof that the welding tools and the welding procedure were identical to those used on @Thefeliciahacker car?

Do you have proof that the metal housing of the cat had the same structure and coating to those used on @Thefeliciahacker car?

9 hours ago, RicardoM said:

Do you have proof that the welding tools and the welding procedure were identical to those used on @Thefeliciahacker car?

Do you have proof that the metal housing of the cat had the same structure and coating to those used on @Thefeliciahacker car?

 

It's purely a Teleportation (the first part ''Tele" is Greek means ''distance" ,it's written Τηλε in Greek) but i can not reveal further informations, it's highly NASA Classified material.

Thus @Thefeliciahacker you can sleep calm at night, whatever has to be done has done and your next car would be a Camaro like this (you Lucky guy....)

26 minutes ago, D.FYLAKTOS said:

Camaro like this

i much rather have a str-10 viper convertible

 

Keep in mind that after the world common-safe-proper-robust-nice combatant looking welding procedure they apply a paste as it is still hot, this seals the whole project plus some times the guy sprays the welding area with a special high temperature paint if the customers wants it.

 

On 27/06/2021 at 21:27, Thefeliciahacker said:

What you say abouts ceramic vs metallic is somewhat true I will go into a deeper explanation tomorrow 

 

We are waiting.....