CATastrophic

Hey guys/girls, I paid $1300 in Sept. of 2023 to repair a cracked exhaust manifold on 2011 NOX 2.4L and the mechanic also told me the cat was melted,(he probably sold it?? Now only after 5000 miles, I'm getting the dreaded PO420 code(YIKES!),among others, like possible problem with downstream 02 sensor, MAF sensor/air filter. Well I replaced 02 sensor(even though it was new),spark plugs, air filter, cleaned MAF sensor, oil change, Chevron Techron fuel additive. I erased the PO420 code a few times and it stays out for a week or two, but it's like "Sleepy Joe" I can't seem get rid of it! I'm ready to install a 02 sensor spacer, my mechanic says it's legal, because I can't afford to go through another bad cat CATASTOPHY! Has anyone else tried this, I've seen a lots of videos that say it does work! THANKS

Hi Mr. Wick!
I am sorry to hear you are having troubles with this. My son has an 04 jeep liberty with intermittent p0420. I ran some Cataclean fuel treatment through and it solved the issue for a month, then right back to intermittent p0420. I have a feeling that his is coming from burning oil. It doesn't use much, maybe a quart every 3500 miles. Do you think your nox might burn some oil? Either way, I don't feel like the spacers will hurt. I was going to try them on the boys jeep.

Did they use an OEM CAT and O2 sensors. After market are known to fail. Is your engine burning oil? Excess fuel, long term misfire can melt the converter. Leaks can also set the code.

SYDNESB said:

Did they use an OEM CAT and O2 sensors. After market are known to fail. Is your engine burning oil? Excess fuel, long term misfire can melt the converter. Leaks can also set the code.

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The majority of NOX's 2010-2017 consume excess oil(which I think they FINALLY fixed on newer models?),I know mine does, I hear it's a big problem with most direct injected engines of any make. I don't really think it's from the oil The only code that keeps coming up now is the po420( low efficiency catalyst threshold), wouldn't other codes come up for excess fuel, misfire? The car runs & idles great, still put new plugs in anyway (which weren't fouled out or wet). I'm on a fixed income and can't afford an OEM cat, which I think the code would still pop up, I did install new OEM upstream & downstream 02 sensors. Like I said can't afford to go through all the cat crap again, I think the downstream 02 sensor is too sensitive and sending the wrong message to the onboard computer and needs spacer to back it out of the exhaust stream! The main reason I posted this thread was too see if anyone has tried this 02 sensor spacer and if it worked, I'm still going to try it and see what happens, I'll let you members know. PEACE OUT

Hey Vern! said:

Hi Mr. Wick!
I am sorry to hear you are having troubles with this. My son has an 04 jeep liberty with intermittent p0420. I ran some Cataclean fuel treatment through and it solved the issue for a month, then right back to intermittent p0420. I have a feeling that his is coming from burning oil. It doesn't use much, maybe a quart every 3500 miles. Do you think your nox might burn some oil? Either way, I don't feel like the spacers will hurt. I was going to try them on the boys jeep.

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Hey Chris, good to here from you old buddy! I think (2012Equinox2.4Turbo) said that being a direct injected gas engine, the synthetic oil is actually evaporated instead of burned? And that's why there's no plug fouling, black smoke, etc., I'm pretty sure that's what he meant, I could be wrong?Why would the CEL light stay out for a week or two, then come back on, if there was a real problem wouldn't it stay on continuously? Would a new cat clog after only 5K miles, I'm probably using a quart every 300 miles. I have a notion even if I installed a $1000 cat, the code would still pop up, so why not install the 02 spacer, which is supposed to fool the computer to think that the cat is working correctly! I think this emission regulation stuff is a big load of B.S. anyway, how many harmful emissions could I really be putting out. I hear vehicles loudly roaring past my house, how much emissions are they producing? Let me know if that works on your son's jeep, I hear they have a lot of po420 issues. Take Care!

NOXimoto said:

Hey Chris, good to here from you old buddy! I think (2012Equinox2.4Turbo) said that being a direct injected gas engine, the synthetic oil is actually evaporated instead of burned? And that's why there's no plug fouling, black smoke, etc., I'm pretty sure that's what he meant, I could be wrong?Why would the CEL light stay out for a week or two, then come back on, if there was a real problem wouldn't it stay on continuously? Would a new cat clog after only 5K miles, I'm probably using a quart every 300 miles. I have a notion even if I installed a $1000 cat, the code would still pop up, so why not install the 02 spacer, which is supposed to fool the computer to think that the cat is working correctly! I think this emission regulation stuff is a big load of B.S. anyway, how many harmful emissions could I really be putting out. I hear vehicles loudly roaring past my house, how much emissions are they producing? Let me know if that works on your son's jeep, I hear they have a lot of po420 issues. Take Care!

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Good to hear from you, too! I think the spacer is the way to go for both of us. You take care as well!

NOXimoto said:

Hey guys/girls, I paid $1300 in Sept. of 2023 to repair a cracked exhaust manifold on 2011 NOX 2.4L and the mechanic also told me the cat was melted,(he probably sold it?? Now only after 5000 miles, I'm getting the dreaded PO420 code(YIKES!),among others, like possible problem with downstream 02 sensor, MAF sensor/air filter. Well I replaced 02 sensor(even though it was new),spark plugs, air filter, cleaned MAF sensor, oil change, Chevron Techron fuel additive. I erased the PO420 code a few times and it stays out for a week or two, but it's like "Sleepy Joe" I can't seem get rid of it! I'm ready to install a 02 sensor spacer, my mechanic says it's legal, because I can't afford to go through another bad cat CATASTOPHY! Has anyone else tried this, I've seen a lots of videos that say it does work! THANKS

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The spacer works. I just check the Gas mileage on every fill up to makes sure all is well. Mine was burning oil too, but the dealer fixed it due to a class action Lawsuit. Because oil will contaminate the Cat. Unless you use OEM cat and sensors you will need to use the spacers. These cars a Fed emissions cars.

A lot of the 2.4 engines we rebuild have damaged cat/cons. If owner is tight on funds (most are after agreeing to full engine rebuild) we use the Walker direct replacement. It seems to be the ONLY aftermarket unit that will function properly.

Even with the fresh bores, new piston rings, and updated pistons, the engines still use oil. Nowhere near the rate as from factory, but still.

Best bet is changing oil often. IGNORE the oil life monitoring system on the dash/info display.

Changing the oil every 2,500 - 3,000 will take the fuel that's forced passed the rings by the high pressure fuel pump out of the mix and fresh/non- diluted oil will function far better. Also way cheaper to change oil often vs an engine replacement.

Uluz2a6 said:

A lot of the 2.4 engines we rebuild have damaged cat/cons. If owner is tight on funds (most are after agreeing to full engine rebuild) we use the Walker direct replacement. It seems to be the ONLY aftermarket unit that will function properly.

Even with the fresh bores, new piston rings, and updated pistons, the engines still use oil. Nowhere near the rate as from factory, but still.

Best bet is changing oil often. IGNORE the oil life monitoring system on the dash/info display.

Changing the oil every 2,500 - 3,000 will take the fuel that's forced passed the rings by the high pressure fuel pump out of the mix and fresh/non- diluted oil will function far better. Also way cheaper to change oil often vs an engine replacement.

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Thank you for your info. and recommendations about the oil changes! I did install a Davico brand cat after some online research, said it was comparable to Walker but not as $$$. I really like the car, after owning many Chevy's in my lifetime and it's also my desire to support American built cars, not "rice burners". I bought the car a little over 6 years ago, paid a little over 7k for it, with 99k miles on it, so I feel I already got my money's worth and really shouldn't be whining! The car still runs as great as the day I bought it and find it hard to believe the cat's contaminated already after only 5,OOO miles! So I'm just going to try the "spacer" thing with the downstream 02 sensor and pray it gets me through another inspection, I'll let any interested members out there know how it goes, thanks!