Top 5 Best Catalytic Converter Cleaners In 2022 Reviews

Catalytic converters may not be a crucial part of the engine, but their function is incredibly important. Cat converters are the middle-men in the engine system. They are found in between the engine and exhaust system.

Their primary purpose is to filter the toxic gases that are released from the engine, using redox reactions. They lower the toxic gases before emitting them from the exhaust system. To keep this system clean and ensure that carbon emissions are at a minimum, we need to use catalytic converter cleaners.

Therefore, we decided to review the very best catalytic converter cleaners currently out there, so let’s go through them and find the perfect one for you…

Top 5 Best Catalytic Converter Cleaners In 2022 Review

1 Cataclean Complete Engine, Fuel and Exhaust System Cleaner – Best Professional Catalytic Converter Cleaner

Cataclean’s complete engine cleaner is one of the best on the market, cleaning your engine, fuel, and exhaust system. Cataclean might be more expensive than other brands, but it is of the highest quality and has an excellent reputation.

Professional results…

Cataclean will also reduce your vehicle’s carbon emissions up to 50%, which is advantageous not only for the environment but for vehicles that are tested on a regular basis like delivery trucks etc.

Using Cataclean will also help clean and prevent carbon build-up in your catalytic converter, as well as the fuel injectors and oxygen sensors. This results in improved fuel efficiency.

Noticeable improvements…

If your vehicle suffers from a lack of power, rough idling, or below standard fuel economy, it’s a good idea to give Cataclean a try.

2 Solder-It (CAT-1) Catalytic Converter Cleaner – Best Deodorizing Catalytic Converter Cleaner

Smelly emissions from your vehicle’s exhaust got you down? No worries, Solder-It catalytic converter cleaner has got your back. Designed with deodorizing properties, this catalytic converter cleaner not only gives everything a good clean but removes the foul odor that some vehicles might emit.

Fresh as a daisy…

To use this product and achieve the best results, you should add the whole container into a tank that is less than a quarter full and drive at least 50 miles before refilling the tank. This should clean up your catalytic converter and give you better carbon emissions before a test.

It’s not as effective as Cataclean, but does a decent job whilst also removing foul odors if that’s a problem with your vehicle.

3 Hi-Gear EZ Emissions Pass and Catalytic Converter Cleaner – Best Simple Catalytic Converter Cleaner for Petrol Engines

Stuck with a Catalytic Converter error code? Need to run an emissions test within the next week?

With Hi-Gear’s EZ emissions pass and catalytic converter cleaner, you won’t have to worry any further. This cleaner clears up the whole engine, from your catalytic converter all the way to the exhaust system. This not only mitigates carbon emissions but also allows for a smoother ride with improved fuel economy.

How you ask?

This is achieved by clearing up and preventing carbon build-up on your catalytic converter and other engine components. This reduces the overall amount of toxic gases released from the exhaust.

This specific product is easy to use. Just add the contents to your gas tank and drive for at least half an hour for the product to start working. This product is not made for diesel engines and only works with petrol engines.

4 Sea Foam Motor Treatment – Best Non Toxic Fuel System Cleaner

The penultimate item in our best cleaners for catalytic converters roundup is for the most environmentally-conscious of you.

Sea Foam isn’t a catalytic converter per se, but it cleans the fuel system of your vehicle, which includes the fuel injectors, carburetors, etc. By cleaning these parts of the engine, your toxic emissions will be much less, which in turn leaves the catalytic converter clog-free.

Gentle fuel stabilizer…

Any error codes produced on the dashboard might singlehandedly be dealt with by adding Sea Foam. It also won’t corrode any engine parts due to its non-toxic nature. It’s also an excellent fuel stabilizer, meaning it can help fuel last up to two years in containment.

Sea Foam works excellently on newer engines but might not be strong enough to clean very old, dirty engines.

5 LUCAS Fuel Treatment – Best Fuel Treatment for all Engines

Lucas’ fuel treatment has been manufactured to work on gasoline and diesel engines of all ages, which means carbureted or fuel injected. This treatment offers not only lubricating oils but is also a detergent that cleans the engine’s insides. This helps the engine run smoother and more efficiently.

Great if you have both diesel and petrol-run vehicles to maintain…

It cleans and lubricates the car’s injectors, which helps it burn fuel more efficiently. It also clears up a clogged catalytic converter to improve the vehicle’s carbon emissions, which could clear up problems with the check engine light.

Because this treatment works on diesel engines as well, it can help remove the harmful effects that low sulfur diesel causes.

Best Catalytic Converter Cleaners Buying Guide

Buying the right catalytic converter cleaner is very important because it is an essential, sometimes overlooked part of an engine system.

The catalytic converter is a system that comes before the exhaust and controls the amount of carbon emissions that are released from the car. This is done by taking the gas that comes from the internal combustion engine and turning these toxic gases into less poisonous gases using a redox reaction.

Ok, what happens if I don’t use one?

Without a cat converter, the toxic emissions would be much more, which in turn would harm the environment even more than we are already. Thus, having a cat converter that is working well is very important, not to mention when your car goes through tax registration. Its amount of carbon emissions is measured. If it does not meet the minimum amount, it will not be roadworthy.

In a nutshell, a cat converter cleaner helps free up clogged carbon from the catalytic converter, thus helping it work a little smoother and reduce the engine’s carbon emissions further.

Other Benefits of Catalytic Converter Cleaners

Lower carbon emission levels are the most considerable benefit to a cat converter. Cars are still able to run without one since it is not a key component in the engine but rather sits between the engine and the exhaust.

Having a clean catalytic converter is still important, though, since a clogged-up converter will lead to your car feeling groggy or slow. Throwing in some cat cleaner with your fuel might help alleviate the rut the car is in.

There’s more…

This, in turn, genuinely leads to better fuel economy. A clean engine runs smoother, with less hassle resulting in better fuel consumption.

Most catalytic converter cleaners come with deodorizing agents that help older, smoky car’s emissions.

Some cat cleaners come with lubricating properties as well, which help lube up the internal parts of the engine; keeping it clean and well oiled is key to its longevity.

Top Brands

CataClean

Cataclean has been making their cat cleaner since 1995. They are one of the top consumer brands and a favorite among gear heads.

Cataclean is manufactured in the UK, which is quite strict when it comes to carbon emissions, so you know that Cataclean knows the ins and outs of keeping those emissions as low as possible. They have three products, with cat cleaners for diesel and gasoline separate, and a treatment specifically for bikes as well.

Chevron

One of the biggest brands manufacturing oils for automobiles, Chevron, has been producing some of the highest quality products since 1879. Chevron is located in San Ramon, California, and all their products are manufactured in the United States of America.

Sea Foam

The Sea Foam Sales Company has a very clear direction, putting all their efforts into producing safe, quality products that help keep engines and equipment clean and prolonging their lifespan.

Sea Foam originated in the 1930s, with Fred Fandrei, a petroleum salesman who was fed up spending too much time fixing his motor due to fuel-related problems. This led him down the path to discovering a new blend of petroleum, which helped keep the fuel clean and fresh for more extended periods of time.

Sharing it among his friends, it quickly gained momentum, and he started selling it. The rest is history.

Catalytic Converter Cleaner Pricing

Under $10

These are considered budget options, which tends to also lower the quality of the product. Don’t expect these products to truly clean out the engine. Some might offer short term benefits, but if you are looking for permanent or, at the very least, long-lasting effects, consider buying a more expensive brand or product.

$10 – $20

Around the mid-range prices, you might even find products that offer the same, or more benefits than that of the premium, brand name products.

That said, a lot of these products tend to be a 3 in 1 cleaner, which is multipurpose and works on all engine types. These usually work well on gasoline-run engines but don’t end up doing such a great job with diesel or hybrid cars. The high-end brands, therefore, tend to sell a different formula for these cars.

Over $20

Here we find some of the biggest brand names in the business. These tend to be specifically formulated for a specific engine, which makes it work much better than the all-in-one formulations.

How to Clean Catalytic Converters

If you are stuck with a PO420 code, which is the catalytic converter error code, you might be stuck wondering what to do? Well, the first thing worth doing is cleaning the converter.

This can be done by removing it, but that would be a long, exhausting task, which we don’t recommend, at least until you’ve tried to clean it with a cat cleaner first. If this doesn’t work, then you are in for a world of hurt.

Using a cat cleaner is easy…

Most of the bottles will have instructions on them, but the basics remain the same. The liquid is added to the gas tank, which is preferably not full; around a quarter of the tank is recommended for the best results. Once added, drive the vehicle for at least half an hour, preferably somewhere where you can reach higher RPMs than in town.

That should be enough to get the clogged cat converter clean. Then you can fill up your tank. Once you reach half of your tank, it is recommended to add cat cleaner again for the most effective results.

The best care for your vehicle

There is a host of equally brilliant and equally straightforward products out there to keep your vehicle looking and running at its best.

So, don’t miss our reviews for the Best Rust Prevention, the Best Oil Filters for Cars, the Best Fuel Injector Cleaners, the Best Carburetor Cleaners, the Best Automotive Touch Up Paint, the Best Car Waxes, the Best Dog Car Seat Covers, and the Best Car Upholstery Cleaners for the money in 2022!

Back to the best cleaners for catalytic converters…

Our Best Catalytic Converter Cleaners Top Pick

Our recommendation has to be…

Cataclean’s Cat Cleaner

With an excellent reputation among many car enthusiasts and DIY home mechanics, we can safely say that it is the best for the price. Cataclean has a range of products for different engines, so you will get the very best result with a product that has been specially designed to your engine’s exact needs. So, make sure you buy the correct one for your vehicle.

Here’s to a clean, happy engine!