Catalytic converter is smoking...

90blacknight

Member
Apr 11, 2006
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I noticed that one of my catalytic converters (passenger side) is smoking and the bottom of it appears to be wet. Is this condensation and evidence of it being clogged? Is it fuel or coolant? There is an obvious smell of something burning. The other cat appears to be ok. Oil looks ok and coolant level is fine. I do have a small leak in the rear main seal.

Thanks for the help.:nice:
 
ok cool, does it smell sweet? coolant has that smell, it might be clogged though, check how hot its getting as well, if it is actual smoke (hazy dark smoke) it is more than likely oil, is any dripping down the h-pipe? either way if the car starts to feel laggy, or underpowered when up to temp it could very well be a clogged cat..
 
ok cool, does it smell sweet? coolant has that smell, it might be clogged though, check how hot its getting as well, if it is actual smoke (hazy dark smoke) it is more than likely oil, is any dripping down the h-pipe? either way if the car starts to feel laggy, or underpowered when up to temp it could very well be a clogged cat..

Car has lots of power, no driveability issues. The smoke I'm seeing is not dark, more like steam looking. I'm smelling something but not sure if you'd call it sweet (it could be I guess). If I had coolant in the cat, wouldn't I also see smoke out the tail pipe? I'm not seeing coolant on the ground but the bottom of the cat definitely looked wet.