Removing Catalytic Converter

scagle777 · February 20, 2008

I have an '03 K1500 with a 5.3. If I remove my cat, will my truck run bad?? I know that they have sensors after the cat and didn't know if this would make my truck run bad

ATMINF · February 20, 2008

Your truck has OBD-2 on it and it reads the O2 sensors (should be 4 of them total, 2 before the CATs and two after) to monitor a lot of stuff. If you do not retune the computer to not read the rear O2 senors it will set off a code. So if you want to remove your cats without redoing the PCM your truck will have its warning lights come on. As for running worse propbably not, but I am not sure what the PCM will "tell" the motor to do once the warning light comes on. Also why do you want to remove the CATS, the peformace gain is minimal, if any and its one HUGE Fine in alot of places?

chitownpete · February 20, 2008

Your truck may or may not run worse but your lungs and the lungs of those near your truck will definately suffer. If it was 1978 I would say go for it but these days nobody really does that, it doesnt help and often hurts. If nothing else leave it on for the kids, they're getting a crappy planet as it is no need to make it worse. Plese dont get mad just telling the truth.

pm26 · February 20, 2008

In one word:

ILLEGAL

redvett · February 20, 2008

Modern Cat's flow as good as ever and with sufficient back pressure for the 4.8,5.3 & 6.0L engines to run best for street use. Just not worth the trouble removing.

VMax2007 · February 20, 2008

Also, if you remove the CATS, plan on doing ALL of your own service work, including tires. I was at the tire shop getting my wheels/tires put on and a guy came in with a used car he just bought that needed tie-rods and the shop refused to work on it because the CAT was missing. He went on to explain that it is ILLEGAL for any shop to work on a car with it's CATS missing unless they replace it as part of the service. They face HUGE fines for working on a car without CAT, regardless of the type of work performed. The Gov't is really cracking down on this, as they should.

stss95 · February 20, 2008

Just buy a pair of 02 sims and you won't get any service lights.

2000DV4.8 · February 20, 2008

Your truck may or may not run worse but your lungs and the lungs of those near your truck will definately suffer. If it was 1978 I would say go for it but these days nobody really does that, it doesnt help and often hurts. If nothing else leave it on for the kids, they're getting a crappy planet as it is no need to make it worse. Plese dont get mad just telling the truth.

Couldn't have said it better myself. A vehicle with a cat produces 90% less emissions than the same vehicle without a cat. There's a reason it's there.

d3athsong · February 20, 2008

Your truck may or may not run worse but your lungs and the lungs of those near your truck will definately suffer. If it was 1978 I would say go for it but these days nobody really does that, it doesnt help and often hurts. If nothing else leave it on for the kids, they're getting a crappy planet as it is no need to make it worse. Plese dont get mad just telling the truth.

It is reccommended to change your catalytic converter every ten years. The reason for this being that with use, they break down and actually end up doing more harm then if they were not there at all.

If you cut it off on newer vehicles, there is a good chance it will run like s%^t due to the 02 sensors

cambo · February 20, 2008

Don't do it.

Plain and simple.

Silverado4x4 · February 20, 2008

Leave it on, as said the motor and power improvements will be minimal and if any maybe worse to due loss of some back pressure. Converters back in the mid to late 70s when removed did make a differance but not now there all free-flow. Just not worth the trouble.

redvett · February 20, 2008

2009 C6 Corvette has converters and makes 620+ HP if the MFR's can make that kinda HP and be emission compliant there is no reason to remove the Cat's.

scagle777 · February 20, 2008

I probably won't do it anyway. But we don't have emissions where I live and I was really more curious than anything because I thought that removing the cats would make the truck run bad and have an erratic idle. But I just like 'em loud!!!!

silveradocoa · March 4, 2008

aye leave em on

side not, it is not illegal everywhere to remove cats. there is no federal law saying that, it goes state by state, even then only certain counties

unit731 · March 4, 2008

I probably won't do it anyway. But we don't have emissions where I live and I was really more curious than anything because I thought that removing the cats would make the truck run bad and have an erratic idle. But I just like 'em loud!!!!