New catalytic converters stink?

[jaymac]

I just put on a BBK catalytic H pipe, and it smelled real bad at first, but now, almost a week later, you can still smell it a little bit, especially after gettting off the highway. There was a whole bunch of sludge and gunk stuff inside the pipe that I'm assuming has been buring out/off, but is this normal, and how long is it supposed to last? This was brand new, direct from the factory-to me, and I put in new motorcraft O2's and plugs. The car runs great, just smells funny.
Any ideas?

 

[DeVus1]

Sludge and gunk INSIDE the pipe? I would say that is the source of your problem. Once its all burned off, you shouldnt have any more problems. I dont know, however, why the sludge and gunk is in there.

 

[jaymac]

yeah, me neither!!!
Maybe I shouldn't say sludge...it looked like dirt, and I swiped dome off with my finger, and it was greasy, like spraying wd-40 on something, then sprinkling dirt (dust?) on it.... I didn't quite get it myself....maybe someone with a BBK pipe can chime in if the same thing happened to them?
I just hope it doesn't ruin my new O2"s and cats.
F'ers were expensive!!

 

[DeVus1]

I ordered a BBK pipe for my old 92 GT and never had that problem. They may coat it with something so it doesnt rust while sitting on the shelf.

 

[JChalfan]

I ordered a BBK pipe for my old 92 GT and never had that problem. They may coat it with something so it doesnt rust while sitting on the shelf.

That's what I was thinking, they probably spray it down with something so it doesn't corode.

Is the outside of it painted or coated with anything? Whenever I've painted headers, they stink to high hell when I first start it up, and I can usually still smell it for a week or so.

I wouldn't worry about, I'm pretty sure it's just breaking in.

Jeff

 

[jaymac]

I don't know if the outside is coated or painted or if that's just the color of the raw material they use... The smell is def. not as bad anymore, just a little noticeable...The outside of the pipe was claen enough to eat off of, just that crap on the inside......

 

[HISSIN50]

When I've replaced cats (just cats alone), even then I'd get a nice chemical smell out of it. Most times after a couple heat cycles it was much less noticable, but still there (esp to someone who never smelled it the first fire-up).

 

[savegoodautonfg]

thats why you get an offroad h-pipe.. no problems with cats lol

just messing with ya man. its illegal wheere i live but i never got bothered for it and i no someone that does my inspection

 

[jaymac]

yeah, i ran an O/R pipe for three years and managed to find someone to pass my smog, then someone to pass my visual, but this year I don't know of anyone to do the smog, plus, my O/R rusted and split right down the middle of the H-connector. Suck ass.