Hot Rod Forum banner

s10 with gutted cat, bad mpgs.. CEL on, Limp home mode from downstream cat?

14K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  frige 
#1 · (Edited)
I noticed the previous owner gutted the cat on the s10 I drive. This is a 1998 s10 with 2.2L, the mileage is horrible. The power is low. It seems to run fine though other than that. Is it possible the downstream o2 sensor is causing me to not stay in closed loop and get bad gas mileage? I have read about others using a non fouler and some steel wool to try to correct throwing the code. Any thoughts? Thanks, Austin

edit: title should read "from downstream o2 SENSOR" instead of CAT" or the like sorry. Thanks
 
#2 ·
Steel wool? The down stream O2 sensor is comparing what comes out of the cat to the upstream O2 sensor measuring what's going into the cat. This is an issue of the exhaust's chemistry not one of back pressure. The O2s are looking for specific ratios of free oxygen in the exhaust stream and adjusting the mixture accordingly. In this case the computer would be reading excess oxygen which it reads as a lean mixture and is trying to compensate by throwing more fuel in.

I mean like give yourself a break, put the cat back in as it should be, a 2.2L engine isn't being held back by a catalytic converter. The O2 sensor might be toast as well. If you don't live in California you can get an aftermarket converter for a lot less than the OEM part thant will work just fine. Magnaflow and a host of others are the web let your browser do the walking.

Bogie
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the reply. The cat was gutted before I got the truck, it looks like it is still there only is completely hollow. I have no idea how that is even possible because running a pipe through there just makes a pipe sized hole right? I discovered this after changing the down pipe because the flexi part of it had a leak.

As for the steel wool comment, the steel wool is to be pushed into the spark plug anti-fouler and the o2 sensor screwed into that, the anti foler screwed into the pipe. I read this on some hyper miler websites.. Because several different sites suggested it, I assumed it was a known thing.

Can the downstream o2 sensor keep it from running in closed loop?

I recently replaced the battery and the check engine light came on about forty miles later..
Thanks, Austin
 
#4 ·
Can the downstream o2 sensor keep it from running in closed loop?
No, but the CEL can. If the downstream O2s pick up an emissions issue, it can send it into fits and alter the fuel and timing curves to prevent emissions.

Either replace the cat (expensive) or put some o2 sims in place of the rear O2 sensor. (slightly less expensive)

Or... the equally illegal route would be to have someone reflash your PCM to ignore the downstream O2s. (slightly less expensive)
 
#5 ·
Never saw a downstream cat that changes A/F ratio, they are only for determining cat health. Maybe on a brand new car, but not an old S 10.
The CEL keeping the system from going into closed loop is possible, but its more dependent on the code generated and failure type than the light itself. But it DOES happen.

It sounds to me like the upstream O2 sensor is the trouble, however without knowing the exact code we cant help further the diagnosis.
You need to get the code , and if you go to autozone or something get the correct SAE number for the code. Write it down.post it here.
Last time someone came in with a scan test from autozone it had some off the wall number/listing that made no sense, and i had to scan it anyway to get the correct SAE number.It was a ford, the code number made no sense, and the code description was WAY off from anything discernable.
Its quite possible that the muffler is plugged from remnants of the cat as it most likely partly disintegrated before it was finally gutted. All the pieces would have to get caught in the muffler if anything broke loose, which does happen.
You can determine that by unbolting the exhaust at the back of the cat and then driving it to see if the power improves.
 
#6 ·
I have seen the anti-fouler thing done, not with steel wool though. It works with a weak cat, I dont think it is going to work with one that is empty.
I also doubt the CEL on is effecting your power or mileage.
Have you scanned it to get codes, there may be several and they could shed some light. Anytime you get a vehicle that has been hacked you cant assume anything. You need to check it all.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top