Too Hot Cats???

[DEFYANT]

Do these cats look like they've gotten too hot?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/2/6/4/4/transafter.JPG

Since I got them from Kooks, this seems to be the place to post this question.

Here are the temps I've gotten off the data logger:

Cat temps under:
- WOT at the track temps peak at 1840* at the finish line.
- Cruising "the fast lane" temps run between 1450* - 1608*
- Cruise control at 70mph temps run 1239* - 1273*
- Parked idleing temps stay within 1*+/- of 839*

Opinions?

BTW, FYI, the cat on the right got some trans fluid on it during the pan swap.

Thanks<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[Joe Walsh]

Charlie, I don't know for sure...but those Cats do look like they've gotten baked by very high temperatures.
It's kinda odd though, that the piping right next to the Cats shows no discoloration...maybe just a difference in the surface finish...:dunno:
I'm not familiar with modern day Catalytic Converter operating temperatures.

BTW: thread should be retitled: 'COOKED KOOKS???'

[DEFYANT]

Charlie, I don't know for sure...but those Cats do look like they've gotten baked by very high temperatures.
It's kinda odd though, that the piping right next to the Cats shows no discoloration...maybe just a difference in the surface finish...:dunno:
I'm not familiar with modern day Catalytic Converter operating temperatures.

BTW: thread should be retitled: 'COOKED KOOKS???'

I'm hoping they are not cooked. :( I noticed the other pipes also. And the headers are not looking bad either. Also, there seems to be no loss in performance.

[MENINBLK]

It just looks to me that your cats are a different color than your exhaust
because they are made from a different metal tham your exhaust.

I've never seen cats made from stainless steel.

BTW, your temps look fine.

[snowbird]

" ...
Cat temps under:
- WOT at the track temps peak at 1840* at the finish line.
- Cruising "the fast lane" temps run between 1450* - 1608*
- Cruise control at 70mph temps run 1239* - 1273*
- Parked idleing temps stay within 1*+/- of 839*

Opinions? ..."

Defiant,

I do my exhaust temp readings at the 4 into 1 collector of the KooKs and they are significantly lower. Where is your probe installed ?

In my case:

Idle at red light : 5-600 F,
Cruise at 70 : 9-1000 F,
Spirited cruise, OD off in third gear 80 mph : 12-1300 F
Foot on the floor, OD off, third gear to redline with 6-8 pounds of boost: 1500 F

[DEFYANT]

Temps are read through the OBDII port using the Xcal2 data logger.

[TAF]

Do these cats look like they've gotten too hot?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/2/6/4/4/transafter.JPG

Since I got them from Kooks, this seems to be the place to post this question.

Here are the temps I've gotten off the data logger:

Cat temps under:
- WOT at the track temps peak at 1840* at the finish line.
- Cruising "the fast lane" temps run between 1450* - 1608*
- Cruise control at 70mph temps run 1239* - 1273*
- Parked idleing temps stay within 1*+/- of 839*

Opinions?

BTW, FYI, the cat on the right got some trans fluid on it during the pan swap.

Thanks<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Yes...VERY hot. Usually what we see from running under very "rich" conditions....

What will eventually happen with a CAT that gets this hot...is it will get SO hot that what will start as a small "fissure" in the ceramic brick (usually the front one...there are 2 in your Magnaflow CATs) and will eventually break up...turning the brick(s) into something that looks like what's left in the bottom of your charcoal grill. This is not good...as the bricks break down....they lose their effectiveness and efficiency of turning the carbon monoxide that comes from your motor into more friendly carbon dioxide. And you should get a code from the rear O2s that are monitoring behind these CATs if that is the case (and they haven't been turned off in your tune.

BTW....ALL CATs of ANY "respectible" quality (and certainly the Magnaflows) are made from Stainless Steel. regular aluminized steel would never be able to handle the temps.

Net/Net though DEFYANT, if you do not hear a rattle in the CATs (we use a rubber hammer on them)...then you're O.K. But it shows all signs that you are running a little (lot?) rich.

I hope this is helps.....

[DEFYANT]

:hmmm: The car was dyno tuned last year and checked out. The Spark plugs did not show signs of a rich condition.

After searching the internet, I found critical temps to be in the 2200* range. However I do know know if the site I came across is credible or not.

Thanks, hopefully we'll clear this up in Detroit next week.

I am waiting for a call back from Kooks.

[DEFYANT]

It passed the rubber mallet test. No rattle. I need to get under the car with it running. There is an odd noise that sounds like a loose heat sheild, I am guessing the muffler (moving parts w/ DMs).

I know what a FUBAR cat sounds like, this is not the sound I have.

More pics:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/2/6/4/4/DCP_1918.JPG

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/2/6/4/4/DCP_1917.JPG

I'll also be in NY next week, about 5 miles from Kooks. Perhaps I should stop in..

[snowbird]

Defiant,

I don't know where XcalII is making it's readings so your reading and mine are not necessary that far apart as just a couple inches here or there can make a big difference in the F degree read.

About below: "There is an odd noise that sounds like a loose heat sheild, I am guessing the muffler (moving parts w/ DMs). "

I had that noise 2-3 months after Kooks kit install and it was a bad cat from Kooks that have been replaced locally (without warranty claim). No trouble ever since ==> 15 months.

[DEFYANT]

Defiant,

I don't know where XcalII is making it's readings so your reading and mine are not necessary that far apart as just a couple inches here or there can make a big difference in the F degree read.

About below: "There is an odd noise that sounds like a loose heat sheild, I am guessing the muffler (moving parts w/ DMs). "

I had that noise 2-3 months after Kooks kit install and it was a bad cat from Kooks that have been replaced locally (without warranty claim). No trouble ever since ==> 15 months.

I was afraid of that :( . My system is only a year old too! :mad:

What kind of cats did you use as replacements?

[SergntMac]

Your EGTs look fine to me, Charlie, and the discoloration in your second cat pic is almost identical to mine. My aftermarket cats went into service back in October of '03, with no problems since.

One time I was following BigJoeP on the highway and he spit out a egg-size projectile from his passenger side tip. Damn thing busted up my grill, and it turned out to be the remnants of a ceramic cat. I suppose there is a shortened life span of the ceramics when running a rich AFR, but this is the cost of doing business, yes?

[Tallboy]

It just looks to me that your cats are a different color than your exhaust
because they are made from a different metal tham your exhaust.

I've never seen cats made from stainless steel.

BTW, your temps look fine.

I've never seen one that wasn't.

Haven't seen many, have you? :shake:

You do realize we're talking about exhaust and not feline figurines, right?

[DEFYANT]

Thanks Mac.

I took the car out for a spin - 15miles round trip and data logged everything again. Air temps are about 83* today with low humidity.

This car rocks! :D

I'm not too concerned

On a positive note, the MMC drive shaft cured the vibration and trans temps were down to 185 consistantly. But those results are for different threads.

[FordNut]

I've never seen one that wasn't.

Haven't seen many, have you? :shake:

You do realize we're talking about exhaust and not feline figurines, right?
Well, I have always thought that all cats were stainless too. Every aftermarket cats I have ever looked into as replacement candidates specified stainless.

[snowbird]

I was afraid of that :( . My system is only a year old too! :mad:

What kind of cats did you use as replacements?

Defiant,

I asked the muffler shop guy for a high flow replacement 2 1/2" and amazingly, what they had IN STOCK was the very exact same kind of cat. 15 minutes and 100 something canadian dollars afterward, i was on my way out the shop with a smile.