If your car is overheating constantly and you smell rotten eggs, chances are you have a cracked exhaust manifold or a clogged catalytic converter. The rotten egg odor is more indicative of a problem with your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s catalytic converter. This is the exhaust system part that takes the dangerous toxins in your vehicle’s exhaust and converts them to safer gases or water. Heath’s Auto Service would be happy to inspect your catalytic converter if you notice any of the following problems.
Black Engine Exhaust Smoke
If the catalytic converter is unable to treat the exhaust and convert it into safer emissions, you may end up with black exhaust smoke flowing out of your tailpipe. This can also be an indication that the engine is burning too much fuel. Either situation is harmful to the environment and your automobile. It’s important to get the source of the black exhaust smoke repaired as soon as possible.
Overheating Under the Car
The reason why your engine is overheating constantly is that the catalytic converter is releasing excessive heat underneath your automobile. As you know, heat rises. Consequently, the excess heat will make its way into your engine and overheat the engine. Unfortunately, your engine will continue to overheat until you replace the malfunctioning catalytic converter. We can do that here at our shop.
Poor Engine Performance
You will also notice that your vehicle’s acceleration and engine performance will be reduced by the malfunctioning catalytic converter. Unfortunately, if the converter is clogged, you will end up with engine exhaust left in the combustion chamber. This does not clear the way for fresh air and fuel to be burned. Consequently, your acceleration will become sluggish as will your engine’s performance.
For example, you may press down on the accelerator to pick up speed once a traffic signal turns green. Rather than your vehicle picking up speed steadily and quickly, the engine will sputter and lag as it struggles to run. You may also feel your engine sputter when you are driving at higher speeds. This is an indication that the engine’s combustion is being compromised by a clogged catalytic converter.
Rotten Egg Odors in the Exhaust
Finally, as we discussed above, a malfunctioning catalytic converter will release an odor that smells like rotten eggs. You will notice this unpleasant odor in your vehicle’s exhaust. You may also smell it coming from underneath your automobile and in the engine bay.
Call Heath’s Auto Service in Flagstaff, AZ, today if you are experiencing any of the problems listed above. We will inspect your catalytic converter and replace it if necessary.
