What Vehicles Have The Most Valuable Catalytic Converters – Who Has Them?

Are you planning on selling your old catalytic converter and you are interested in learning what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? If this is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover on this topic and we are going to learn quite a lot when it comes to catalytic converters.

• Converter?
• Materials?
• Types
• Symptoms
• Vehicles?
• Conclusion

As we all know, we are moving slowly into a carbon-neutral world and the catalytic converters are the ones that accelerate this shift. This is because catalytic converters are ecological devices installed on a car. They greatly help reduce the pollution into the atmosphere and help us live a better life without polluted air and diseases.

But sometimes we want to sell the car for parts and the catalytic converter is one of the most valuable components inside of it. Selling it separately will greatly improve our resale value and help us make a bigger profit. This is because the catalytic converter on the regular costs more than the whole vehicle when you decide to sell it. So, selling these expensive parts like airbags, catalytic converters might be a great idea. That’s why we are going to help you out.

In this article, we are going to learn what is catalytic converter and how do they work. We will also understand from which materials they are manufactured. Then we are going to help you understand the symptoms of a broken catalytic converter since they are quite essential. Then lastly we will learn what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.

What Are They, And What Vehicles Have The Most Valuable Catalytic Converters?

So, what are catalytic converters? Well, catalytic converters are ecological devices that are installed on each internal combustion vehicle. As of 2022, there are a lot of road vehicles that are produced, and all of them implement these catalytic converters. Meaning that catalytic converters are an essential piece of equipment in every new car.

But what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? We’ll get there. The point with the catalytic converters is that they greatly limit the harmful particles that are released by the vehicles.

How they work is really simple. The catalytic converter when it gets up to temperature it burns off most of these harmful particles like Nox and other toxins. Meaning that it stops 99% of these harmful gases that can damage our health. The car still releases carbon dioxide but in limited quantities. Far less than without the catalytic equipment.

So, how the idea of catalytic converter was born? Well, in the ’60s American cities were suffocating in pollution and smog. So, something had to be done to stop this damaging effect and make the air cleaner. So, since the early ’70s. Smog regulating devices and catalytic converters were a must and all of the manufacturers started to include them in their vehicles.

And the results were basically day and night compared with the times before the regulations. So, it is a win-win for both us the drivers, and also the pedestrians. The disease rate has greatly reduced. Even though now we even aim for carbon neutrality in the upcoming years. This will be quite more difficult to pull off though. But have you asked yourself what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Well, we will get there.

From What Valuable Materials Are Catalytic Converters Made?

So, what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Well, we will cover that in a bit after we learn why they are so valuable. We need to learn what adds to the value of these catalytic converters and makes them so special so they are valued this high.

As we all know, the catalytic converter is a honeycomb structure design from the inside while on the outside it resembles a muffler.

The inside of the catalytic converter is precisely machined and the honeycomb is precisely installed to trap most of the harmful particles that are out there. To do this, the honeycomb is made out of many precious metals that are worth a whole fortune. Understandably, the level of these metals is relatively low since they will cost even more if the level of these expensive metals is higher. So, which metals are included in the catalytic converter?

The most expensive metal included in the catalytic converter is probably Platinum. The Platinum (Pt) is also known as white gold and costs a real fortune to obtain. The second most expensive is probably Palladium (Pd) and the third most expensive material is Rhodium (Rh) (to learn more, check out our guide on which catalytic converters have the most rhodium). All these metals are in the platinum group (for more insight, check out our guide on how much platinum is in a catalytic converter) also known as the PGM group.

They are very hard to obtain and extremely expensive. So, make sure that you make sure that your catalytic converter doesn’t fail and always runs it at the recommended temps. And that is something that we are going to cover a bit later.

But what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Well, we will get there. Let’s first learn what types of catalytic converters are out there.

Types Of Catalytic Converters – What Vehicles Have The Most Valuable Catalytic Converters

Before we delve into explaining what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters. It is useful also to discuss the different types of catalytic converters that are out there. We are covering the chain of action here and not if the catalytic converter is a honeycomb design or not.

The first type of catalytic converter is a two-way catalytic converter. These are the catalytic converters that are used on diesel engines. They do not work very well with gasoline-powered engines like the ones that we are going to cover next.

The second type of catalytic converters used is the three-way catalytic converters. These catalytic converters are the most common and since 1981 they are the only ones used. They just keep getting more and more refined throughout the years of long use. What is good with these types of catalytic converters is that they work well with gasoline, LPG gas, natural gas as well as ethanol fuels. Making them the way to go if you want to get something really good and Eco-friendly.

Enough on the different types of catalytic converters. Now let’s discuss more on the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter before we delve into the topic of what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters.

Symptoms Of A Broken Catalytic Converter In A Vehicle

So, what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Well, we will get there, let’s first learn what are the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter. But why is this important?

The problem with a bad catalytic converter is something that bothers a ton of car owners on a daily basis. Some of them don’t even know that they have a bad catalytic converter. So, now is a good time to elaborate on these symptoms of a bad catalytic converter before we jump into discussing what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters. So, let’s dive into it.

1. Poor Engine Work Of The Vehicle Because Of A Bad Catalytic Converter

So, from where to start? There are a ton of these symptoms of bad catalytic converters. The first probable symptom that you will experience would be poor engine work.

This symptom is probably the most common when the catalytic converter gets clogged up with particles and this creates a ton of backpressure. This backpressure is something like an air brake to the engine.

The less amount of gas gets out of the exhaust, the bigger the backpressure the car simply gets very slow. It looks like the engine is suffocating and has trouble staying alive.

The more clogged the catalytic converter, the bigger the backpressure. If it is completely blocked, the engine will stop running and you will need to remove the catalytic converter and replace it with a new one. But what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? We’ll get there. First, let’s cover all of the symptoms of a clogged catalytic converter.

2. Check Engine Light Is On Because Of The Catalytic Converter

The check engine light is another symptom closely associated with poor engine work and a clogged catalytic converter. But why is this the case? What does the check engine light have to do with the catalytic converter?

Well, it has a lot to it. Since on the catalytic converter, there are O2 sensors that are mounted. Meaning that all of the gas that passes the catalytic converter is measured and observed by this sensor. So, when the catalytic converter is clogged up. This O2 sensor will get some strange readings.

At first, it will not pay too much attention to it. But as the clogging becomes worse and worse. The check engine light will illuminate and this is the time when you will need to start diagnosing things. And for this task, you will need an OBD2 scanner tool to get the codes that the ECU makes. If there are codes that indicate a catalytic converter. Then checking its condition should be your top priority.

If the catalytic converter is bad it means that it needs replacing. But have you wondered what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Is your vehicle on this list? Well, we are going to cover more on that topic later after we cover the rest of the symptoms of a clogged catalytic converter.

3. Bad Fuel Economy Caused By The Converter

So, what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Well, this question deserves an elaborate answer and we are going to cover it a bit later after we finish the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter.

The fuel economy unfortunately is one of them. As we know the gases are observed by the O2 sensor, meaning that the sensor is regulating the gases and reads their values. So, if the readings are not well up to factory spec. It can send this bad data and the ECU might dump more fuel into the combustion chamber.

More fuel in the combustion chamber will make the car run very rich and burn a lot of fuel. This is something that you don’t want.

Running rich for a long time can foul your spark plugs. It can also damage the valves and cause a lot of problems. Not to forget that your gas bill will be high and you will notice this symptom of increased fuel consumption.

The fuel consumption might get a lot worse as time progress and your car’s fuel economy might drop by up to 10 mpg. These are really poor numbers and you will notice this in an instant. If you are experiencing it already, check the condition of the catalytic converter.

But what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Well, we will get there. 3 more symptoms to go and we will learn what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters.

4. Rotten Egg Smell Coming From The Exhaust

The rotten egg smell is another consequent symptom of a bad catalytic converter. But why is this the case, what do rotten eggs and exhaust have in common? The common thing between rotten eggs and gasoline is the sulfur that they include. So, as you know, sulfur stinks badly.

When the catalytic converter honeycomb gets destroyed, you will notice how the exhaust will start to reek on sulfur also known as rotten egg smell.

Usually, when the catalytic converter is working well, this sulfur gets obliterated and it doesn’t escape from the exhaust. This is the process of conversion. As you know when the catalytic converter gets bad, this sulfur isn’t sorted out and escapes causing this smell to develop. So, whenever you smell this rotten egg smell, you know that your catalytic converter is done.

But what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converter? You probably want to learn the replacement costs. Don’t worry, we’ll get there after we learn the last two symptoms of a bad catalytic converter.

5. Black Smoke Coming From The Exhaust Caused By A Bad Catalytic Converter

Another in the line of symptoms of a bad catalytic converter that we are going to cover is the black smoke that is coming from the exhaust.

This symptom is most notable on cars that have their catalytic converters cut out or the honeycomb structure that is inside of the catalytic converter destroyed. Meaning that there is no work done by the catalytic converter. There is only an empty shell that serves no purpose rather than transferring the exhaust gases outside of the vehicle.

This black smoke is most notable when you apply the gas pedal and rev the engine. If your car likes to smoke, it could be that the smoke is caused by the catalytic converter. Other reasons for smoke can be blown head gasket if the car is burning coolant or blue smoke if the car is burning oil (in addition to seeing blue smoke from exhaust on startup).

But what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? We will get there, let’s first discuss the last symptom of a bad catalytic converter which is the emission test failure.

6. Your Vehicle Fails The Emissions Testing

As you know, each year we take our cars to register them and also test them for emissions. When you take your car to the DMV, the technician there will get a probe and put the probe in the exhaust and measure the emissions that your vehicle is producing.

Then he gets the input on how much your car is polluting. If the values from the readings are far more than the recommended ones, you will be less likely to be able to register the car. Especially if you live in California or some other state that has strict emission control.

In a case like this, you will fail the emissions testing and you will be asked to fix your catalytic converter and bring back the car for testing. After the car is returned to OEM spec, you will be able to register it and drive it on public roads without a problem.

But what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Well, that’s what we are going to learn next where we will elaborate on what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters and learn if your car is one of these.

What Vehicles Have The Most Valuable Catalytic Converters?

Now we came to the important bit and that is the question of what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters? Which are these vehicles that have catalytic converters that are really expensive and cost a ton of money to replace? And the answer is really simple, exotics.

As you know, exotics are vehicles that are targeting the top 1% of automobile owners and these cars have the best of everything. Namely, catalytic converters. These catalytic converters that are running in Ferrari or Lamborghini cars can easily cost up to $4,000 each. So, why they are so expensive? They are expensive because the market for these vehicles is relatively small and there are not that many of them out there. Meaning that they are hard to come by. So, the price gets very high.

The second in the line of vehicles that have the most valuable catalytic converters are trucks. Namely big trucks like the F-250, RAM 2500, Silverado 2500. The prices for a catalytic converter for these cars are about $3,200. They are expensive and for a reason. Since these catalytic converters are more advanced than your regular catalytic converter, they are designed for heavy-duty use.

The least expensive catalytic converters are the ones that are found in regular cars. These catalytic converters go up to $2,000. But are mostly found in the $1,500 range. Still quite expensive but not that expensive like the truck catalytic converters or the converters found in expensive cars.

As we know Prius catalytic converters are the ones that cost a lot of money to replace, about $2,000. While a Mustang catalytic converter is about $1,500. This is normally for new catalytic converters. Second-hand ones can be found for cheaper.

What If I Drive My Vehicle Without The Valuable Catalytic Converter?

We learned what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters, now let’s discuss some common topics and see if you can drive without a catalytic converter. Technically, you can drive your vehicle without a catalytic converter.

But the question is whether you will be able to register this vehicle. As you know your vehicle once a year has to go for an inspection and it needs to pass this inspection. So, if your car doesn’t have a catalytic converter it can mean that this vehicle is not eligible for registration. Meaning that you will not be able to register the car. So, beware of this.

Will Driving Without Catalytic Converter Improve The Engine?

We learned what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters. Now let’s take a look at whether driving a catalytic converter will improve the engine performance?

And the short answer to this question is yes. Driving without a catalytic converter will improve the engine performance by a great margin. But why is this the case?

Well, this is the case because the catalytic converter is something like an obstruction. So, when this obstruction is removed, the performance of the engine will greatly improve. Each engine could get up to 30hp easily if you remove the catalytic converter and you implement a well-built exhaust.

That’s why you won’t see race cars equipped with catalytic converters on tracks. They are just not practical when the goal is making power from the engine. So, if you want to drive your car on the drag strip. It is better to remove the valuable catalytic converters from it and race it like that. You will get quite more performance from it.

Facts about Expensive Catalytic Converters and Tips to Prevent Theft

1. Catalytic converters are valuable components in a car’s exhaust system, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $3,770 for luxury sports cars and massive trucks.
2. Chemical catalysts in catalytic converters help clean the car’s exhaust system, but only certain elements such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium can be used as catalysts (to learn more, check out our guide on what’s inside a catalytic converter), which are expensive precious metals.
3. Car manufacturers try to minimize the use of precious metals for catalytic converters, but there is still a limit to how much they can reduce the cost.
4. Trucks and SUVs are common targets of catalytic converter theft because it is easier to slide under them to access the component.
5. Cable locking devices for converters, steel shields, cages, and motion-sensing cameras and lights can help prevent theft (otherwise, you’ll know that it’s been stolen if you notice what does a missing catalytic converter sound like).
6. Driving without a catalytic converter is possible, but it can lead to numerous mechanical issues and harmful emissions.
7. Failing or malfunctioning catalytic converters may lead to engine failure, and in some states with strict emission standards, they will cause failed inspection results.
8. The most expensive catalytic converters are found in luxury sports cars like the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Aventador, followed by the Ram 2500 and the Ford F-250 pickup trucks.
9. The catalytic converter in the Ford Mustang is almost twice as less expensive as the one in the Ford F-250.
10. Palladium is one of the primary metals used in catalytic converters, and its limited supply means that these components will continue to be valuable in the future.

Conclusion To What Vehicles Have The Most Valuable Catalytic Converters

In this article, we covered quite a bit when it comes to catalytic converters. First, we learned what are they and how do they work in practice. We also learned from what metals they are made and as we acknowledged they are manufactured from really expensive materials.

Then we covered the symptoms of bad catalytic converters for those who are troubled by this problem and then we learned what vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters out there. Lastly, we learned that running your car without one will give you more power on the race track.

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