Sure, you can drive for a short time without a catalytic converter, a modern car, and engine will not be damaged.
However, long term you will create emissions, destroy your car’s engine performance and fuel economy, and may even find yourself in trouble with the law. And that includes if your catalytic converter has been stolen.
In this article, we’ll detail what a catalytic converter does and why it’s illegal to drive without one. We’ll also discuss what happens if you drive without a catalytic converter, how safe it is and some frequently asked questions.
So let’s go!
What Do Catalytic Converters Do?
Before considering if you can live without, we should know what a catalytic converter does.
They are present in a modern car between the exhaust manifold and muffler. A catalytic converter will turn harmful chemicals (such as CO) in your exhaust gas into carbon dioxide and water before it exits your car.
This reduces harm to the environment and improves your car’s performance and fuel economy!
So it is Fair to Say, a catalytic converter is one of the most important parts of your car.
But what does it mean if you don’t have one?
Let’s explore.
Can You Drive Without Catalytic Converter?
The short answer is, yes.
You can drive without a catalytic converter temporarily as long as it is not damaged, you will not destroy your car’s engine or the car will not severely affect the performance of the engine.
But the real question you want to consider is? Why would you drive without a catalytic converter?
Driving without a catalytic converter is only going to increase the release of harmful exhaust gas in our air.
Also, catalytic converters and emissions tests have very strict laws (for a good reason).
Sadly, the laws that pertain to the emissions test still apply even if your catalytic converter is already stolen.
Let’s look at it from a legal perspective.
Is it illegal to drive without a catalytic converter?
Yes, in most states no cat equals no legal. There are some exceptions to legality as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that make driving without a cat legal.
Laws vary by state, but it would be safest to make sure your vehicle always had a catalytic converter. Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, all vehicles must be sent from the factory with carb compliant catalytic converters.
What if your vehicle didn’t come with a catalytic converter?
Good question.
Most cars built before 1970 (before the Clean Air Act) came with no cat from the factory. For this reason, several states (Georgia as an example) will allow you to pass the respective emission checks if the car is older than 25 years.
So now we know that it is illegal (mostly) to drive without a cat.
Next, let’s discuss checking to see if it is a safety issue.
Is it Safe to Drive Without a Catalytic Converter?
Sure you won’t die driving without a cat, but you won’t be legally safe! (also mentioned above).
As an exhaust component, catalytic converters help reduce air pollution. So physically if you can drive with a broken catalytic converter (or one absent) you will not crash your car as a result. However, we want you to replace it as soon as you are aware of it being stolen or malfunctioning.
Why?
A broken/absent catalytic converter means you will expel ridiculously high concentrations of carbon monoxide – a terrible emission. The majority of deaths as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning occur inside a vehicle in closed space.
Also, if you have a broken catalytic converter (a clogged/broken/faulty cat converter), it will severely hinder your vehicles engine performance.
Let’s take a look at how the cat converter affects driving without out it.
What if you drive without a catalytic converter?
You will see definitely signs if you have had a failed catalytic converter, or if it is not on the vehicle any longer!
Here are things you may see:
- Loud exhaust pipe sound: If you have had your catalytic converter stolen, an immediate thing you will be made aware of is a louder exhaust pipe noise. When you start to rev the motor, you will also see the volume of your exhaust system increase significantly, which would be almost impossible to ignore.
- Loss of Performance: Without a complete exhaust system on the vehicle, you will see a major decrease in engine performance. Weak acceleration, stalling, and lack of power going up hills are emblematic of issues regarding your car’s catalytic converter.
You may also see a Check Engine Light illuminated if the Oxygen Sensor is unable to read exhaust exit from your car’s ECU.
- Strong fumes: You may have a car that has so much of no catalytic converter, that it will put out strong smells (and deadly carbon monoxide gas, with no smell). If you ignore these exhaust fumes, they may enter into the cabin of the car and potentially create a deadly mistake.
- Poor fuel economy: Whenever the car noted the increase in the concentration of exhaust fumes, the fuel to correct the imbalance, and exhaust flow from the engine cylinders will be affected by the ECU.
The above usages may cause your fuel economy to rise significantly.
In addition to fuel economy, you may have a Check Engine Light illuminated, too; if that happens, then the ECU could limit the amount of fuel injected to the motor for without catalytic converter performance.
- Failure for emissions: Vehicles in every state must have carb compliant catalytic converters fitted. If you went in for an annual inspection without one, you would fail the emission test.
Still have a few questions?
FAQs.
Below are some answers to questions you may have about catalytic converters:
1. Why Do Catalytic Converters Get Stolen, and How Do I Prevent It?
Catalytic converters are full of precious metal components, including palladium, rhodium, and platinum. These precious metals react with nitrogen oxide to remove harmful gas from gases. Additionally, catalytic converters have a valuable resale market for catalytic converter theft.
Even more unfortunate, they have very few identifying markers outside of a serial number. Depending on your vehicle, you may never see your catalytic converter again.
If you’re the owner of a low emissions vehicle your catalytic converter is more likely to be stolen, because the CATs on these vehicles often have higher concentrations of valuable metals.
It is illegal to pay for scrap metals in cash, but unfortunately some scrap metal stores still accept cash.
If you’re looking to prevent catalytic converter theft, there are a few options:
- Install an anti-theft detector on your catalytic converter: this installation will set off an alarm when tampering is detected with the cat converter and will operate similarly to a vehicle alarm. Anti-theft alarms are the best choice for catalytic converter theft deterrence.
- Paint your catalytic converter: While it may not deter theft, painting your CAT will provide an identifier – and hopefully assist you in finding your stolen catalytic converter.
Tip: Often, it’s always best to have car insurance for moments like catalytic theft. Insurance won’t get you your stolen catalytic converter back but it doesn’t hurt to take a little of the load off to replace it.
2. How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Catalytic Converter?
With all of the precious metals in a catalytic converter, it’s not going to be cheap to have to replace the catalytic converter! A new catalytic converter will cost anywhere from $400-$3000 and that’s just for the part!
With labor cost included, you could expect to pay a minimum of $1000 to replace your vehicle’s stolen or broken catalytic converter.
Conclusion
Driving without a catalytic converter (or with a broken catalytic converter) can result in a huge amount of air pollution, and be damaging to your health. As a car owner, it is your responsibility to have your vehicle’s catalytic converter repaired or replaced, even if it is stolen.
Having a catalytic converter repaired or replaced might be expensive; but the sooner it is fixed or replaced the better! You do not want to be facing unwanted trouble with the law and the Environmental Protection Agency during your next emissions test!