Will catalytic converter removal boost power?

Question

My friend swears that if you remove or hollow out your catalytic converter, your car will get a major boost in power, especially if its a 4 cylinder engine. Is this true or an urban legend?

Answer 1

only if its bad and need to be replace...and ilegal in most states

Answer 2

It is true, but also illegal for street operated vehicles.

Stay legal and replace it with a high flow catalytic. Which most shops will and can install for you.

But putting a straight pipe they will not do.

Answer 3

Straight piping your engine does a few things

1)it endangers you and your fellow road users: how well when you remove the catalytic converter you remove the ability of the exhaust system to burn excess fuel not burned on combustion spiting fire out when too much unburnt fuel runs down the pipe. HAVE YOU ever seen GT racing or even Nascar well when you see the vehicles spiting fire out that is what is happening, however they inspect their vehicles before and after every race to make sure the exhaust system does not have any leaks. Why is it important to make sure the exhaust does not have any leaks risk of fire of course unburnt fuel can easily spill under your vehicle slowly and suddenly ignite.

2)You remove the catalytic you need to reprogram the computer as though most computer will try to compensate for the lack of back pressure your engine was designed for but wont be successful and your vehicle will in fact run like c**p. Is easier to take a cat out of a carburetor run car because you just have to change the idle, the car will run like c**p at low or high speed depending on how you set it up, most people will tell you that that the power gain will off set the benefits of fuel consumption but in reality you turn your vehicle into an inefficient machine.

3.)BOOST of power is actually obtained from the intake not the exhaust

4.)To answer clearly yes it can increase your horsepower but only at a very specific range, but not with fuel injection systems.

5.)Most vehicles are already set up for optimum performance, any more and you need to start changing parts in your case it would be reprogram the factory fuel management system, and your exhaust system to one that is not going to leak not your average store bought one you are talking about 5,000 alone and believe me unless you are racing you don't even need to remove your cat.

6.)Is illegal because is dangerous not because you can out run police cars (out running police cars that is a urban myth)

Answer 4

Most all factory cat converters are high flow now.

No real gains in doing this.

Answer 5

dont remove the catalytic converter as most states wont pass a car without one for inspection...punch it out...that will increase speed cause it wont clog up...