Fuel induction service Thursday. Check engine 420 today. Detergent in fuel line?

I have once or twice over the years seen a P0420 after performing an injector- induction cleaning. Can't say if the cleaning chemicals affected the converter or oxygen sensor directly, or if having cleaned the injectors altered how the engine ran enough that the cat could no longer handle the exhaust gasses being produced. In both cases the the monitor test results had shown that the cat test was barely passing before, then barely failed afterward.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

If your mechanic convinces you to install new catalytic converters, ask him what he plans to do with the old ones since the gen2 prius cats sell for ~$1200 scrap value. Too may times, shops are telling people they'll swap their exhaust and only charge them 200 or 300 dollars for the new one.

 

I believe since you live in Maryland, you can use an aftermarket system, commonly available from $150-400 depending on model. I've swapped all the Gen 2s in my family to aftermarket to pre-empt the theft now occurring nationwide.

One thing I've been amazed about is how much carbon dust comes out of these when you blow compressed air through them. After removing, I typically connect the compressor to an air multiplier blow gun and blow air through it from both ends and through the O2 sensor hole. Clouds of carbon come out. I had one that had a P0420 prior to removing, but 've never reinstalled one afterwards to see if it cleared the codes. Could be an interesting experiment to try though. I've read a leaf blower can accomplish the same thing.

In the big picture, a P0420 is not always the end of the world. I drove a white 2005 with a P0420 for about a year and still got 50-52mpg the whole time. Car got totaled when a SUV liked my lane better and nudged me off the road, so I never got to mess with it.

 

Is Baltimore a carb state?

How often do you check the oil? If never because you got a guy the car may be eating oil and has fouled the cat that’s way more
Plausible then “fuel induction cleaning”?

which is that exactly from your guy?

If The dealer does that it means putting a bottle of Techron in your tank. Most would think it’s a thorough scuba dub dub
Of the throttle body bore with carb cleaner but that does not see any fuel but is part of the induction system.
I have done that many many times and put maybe 20 bottles of Techron in the tank in the last 13 years and neither has caused a 420.

btw that code is no big deal the car will run fine. One of my cars has had one for a few years it’s the gas tank vapor system and a real pain to find.

you just won’t pass inspection.

 

Pretty sure California and New York are the only states that are restricted for aftermarket Prius converters. There are plenty of options of EPA approved replacements available for the other 48 states.

 

This can all be due to the O2 sensors near the CAT too.
Sometimes they can be cleaned but more often replaced.
A LOT less expensive than a new CAT.

It could be just a coincidence that it happened when it did too.

 

If the check engine light keeps coming back on, then something is NOT fine. It keeps failing the catalyst test - could be a small exhaust leak, the air fuel or oxygen sensors are not quite good enough- or the cat is itself.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.