Keeping your car in good condition, having it checked regularly, and maintaining it to the best of your ability at home will extend the life of your vehicle and save you costs on repairs and fuel in the long run. Your exhaust is an integral part of your car, and while it can often be overlooked as a priority area to maintain service, taking care of your exhaust system and catalytic converter can be a real money saver.

The catalytic converter (CAT) is one of the most important parts of your vehicle’s exhaust system and helps minimize your car’s impact on the environment. A catalytic converter reduces pollutants released into the atmosphere when your car’s engine is running. But the CAT can only work properly when there is a specific ratio of air and fuel. If there are faults in the engine management system or fuel supply, the catalytic converter may malfunction or be damaged.

The CAT sits under the car and is therefore susceptible to bumps and knocks that can also affect its efficiency. Try to avoid braking the car or going too fast over speed bumps – approach obstacles and potholes at a slight angle so you don’t straddle them and therefore put the bottom of your car at risk.

A catalytic converter can be expensive to replace or repair, so it pays to take care of it! There are several things you can do to keep your CAT running efficiently and avoid costly repairs:

• Have your car checked regularly at an authorized and trusted workshop.
• Always use unleaded fuel with a catalytic converter – only a fuel tank with an LED can completely disable a CAT!
• Avoid running out of fuel.
• Grounding your vehicle can hit the catalytic converter and even break the ceramic monolith (a crucial part to the conversion process).
• Never start a car that has a CAT installed. Instead, use jumper cables.

You can also get a “green ITV”, which analyzes the performance of the CAT as part of your ITV emissions test. If there is a problem with your catalytic converter, your local garage will be able to repair or replace a faulty unit. A standard ceramic model will typically have a one-year warranty, while an unbreakable metal monolith will give you a three-year warranty (and is stronger than the ceramic version).

Problems with your exhaust system can end up being costly, but with careful driving, regular car maintenance, and an experienced exhaust technician, you can extend the life of your exhaust and catalytic converter and save money.