Catalytic Convertor Remediation Thread (No Shield Arguments)

Figured I'd start another thread, hoping to keep out the useless arguments about whether deflector shields work or not.

Can we focus on solutions to the fact that cats are on months backorder for 5.7L tundras, and what some viable alternatives are?

I'm considering straight pipes and a tune, but also the aftermarket direct fit ECO III made by eastern catalytic. Would really like to know if anyone has tried those and gone MIL free?

 

It has been discussed multiple times throughout the forum. These trucks do not like aftermarket cats. They will throw codes. If you are in a state that does emissions testing or vehicle inspections then straight pipes would be a no-go.

 

Honestly no need for yet Another thread on this subject. All you points are already in other threads.

 

Yeah wadeing through the useless arguments got very cumbersome. Hard to find helpful info on specifically dealing with the shortages. I see some notes on specific aftermarket or universal cats, but all products are different.

 

I'm sorry, but if you don't care for useless arguments, you might want to give up social media altogether..

The existing threads are not so much useless arguing.
Some favor a certain plate over another.
Anyone saying plates are useless is simply ignorant.

I'm not arguing with you, I'm stating simple facts.

What would stop a thief from stealing your aftermarket cats, that replaced your stolen OEM cats?
Hum, maybe cat plates of your choice?

What is the point of every time they are stolen, you replace them with aftermarket that throws codes?
Prevent the initial theft.

Straight pipes are illegal in many states.
It is illegal for a shop to even install them in Texas..

It truly varies from state to state, as someone already stated......
^Get it..

Some states do visual checks, some do exhaust tests, and some states don't care.



There are a few here that don't have cats at all, but I believe they are running some kind of electronic tuner.
I have a coworker with a supercharged Ford.
When I warned him about my cat theft, he said 'Thanks, but I don't have any'.

One way to get around it is to find a dishonest inspection place and throw your inspector a Benjamin once a year...

I hope you receive the answer that you seek..

 

Arguing that plates do not work is identical to arguing that door locks on your home do not work. If I show up with a bulldozer or TNT your door locks are useless. Every security system is a deterrent and nothing more. If my plates make 80% of thieves look and move on then success. If another 10% continues but now the 1 minute job becomes 10 minutes and MUCH louder then police or my 40S&W stand a chance. Either way my plates (deterrent) blocked the vast majority of thieves.

 

Yup. Let’s just start committing murder whenever someone does some shit we don’t like. I’m literally shaking in my boots

 

As Adam Carolla says, “no mayo means extra mayo”. You brought it on yourself by telling folks on the internet “here’s what I don’t want…”. I getcha tho, any time I’ve tried to find sumthin on here there’s about 8k threads and almost all useless shit with some real gem comments in between. So many threads on the same subject with about 500 responses each. That’s what others are trying to prevent, but I also don’t have days and days and days to ACTUALLY find out what size tires I can fit, not a thousand non-sequitors from forum comedians and critics. Unfortunately the forum isn’t perfect, but it’s the best of its kind. You gotta take the shit or start digging through all those entries.

 

Search function works fine...oh and my mom thinks I'm funny. I feel targeted.

 

Some folks have successfully run defoulers with aftermarket cats. From what I've read here and on other forums it wasn't trouble free consistently enough for me to pull the trigger. OEM cats are pretty high flow and efficient; they will be tough to beat.

 

Actually, I’d say that cat plates are more than 99.9% affective. Out of the > 1000 Plates Valhalla has sold, there is one documented case of cats being stolen. That’s less than .1%. Pretty affective if you ask me.

 

OP didn't want useless arguing, but here goes.

Shit we don't like?
A thief stealing your cats can take away your livelihood.
Takes away your ability to go to work and provide for your family.
Many families only have one vehicle and a fixed income.

Are they replaceable?
Sure.
But to put one out of work for 8 months over a selfless criminal act by another?
Fuck that.

Texas, and other states, have Castle laws that give residents the right to protect their property, even with deadly force.
I'd love to know what state you live in that you think it is OK for someone to steal your stuff and walk away, while you tuck your dick between your legs and watch them go..

Retreat, retreat, retreat, while my livelihood is taken away from me....
FUCK THAT...........

 

Yawn. You’re just about as tough as the dude repping 40 slow & weak.

 

She tells me different

 

Low effort. I expect better from you.

I just checked again and the search function still works well.

 

Man you’re dumb as shit. Wtf does a search function do? Take me to all the comments on the thing I want. It doesn’t have a “check this box for the worthy ones” function. So I get them all. You know, the ones I mentioned? If that’s hard to figure out, try searching for some reading comprehension lessons

here’s an example of what I mean. Someone today will be searching for info on cats. Sadly, they’ll get every retarded response you’ve given today.

 

Requires more effort...as in more than low effort:
https://www.tundras.com/customsearch/?q=aftermarket+catalytic
https://www.tundras.com/customsearch/?q=aftermarket+cat

please continue...

 

Ok, will do.

your dumb ass just did a google fuckin search, from the forum? When we’re talking about comments and threads within? Was gonna ignore, but I didn’t expect you to get dumber. However, from here on out, like sex, you’re on your own. Any other direct communication with you has the possibility of making ME dumber.

 

You gonna be ok?

All this boo hooing and not one thing about cats

 

I don't think that is possible..

 

Im curious as well, has anyone used o2 simulators on their truck and run straights? I've found these but not much info. https://www.magnumtuning.com/en/detail/ez-cel-fix-oxygen-sensor-simulator/toyota/tundra

 

Don’t know about the simulators, but o2 spacers work with straights.

 

Well this thread served its purpose

 

Can he spend his week, if he wishes, reading our responses?

 

https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-7rj2ZgttvgomY

 

Nah it ain't so bad. I drove older trucks with big blocks. I liken it to that I guess (which I loved).

 

Hey get this, he's a "research associate" by trade

 

There are two sets of cats and two sets of O2 sensors. When the cat thieves stole all 4 of my cats, they only cut the wiring to the rear set of O2 sensors. So I’m guessing the front set of O2 sensors are attached upstream of the front set of cats since I only had to replace the rear set.

For the rear set of O2 sensors, I ordered new OEM sensors. I don’t remember if they’re different part numbers from the front set, though, but I suspect they may be. I could be wrong about that, though.

After two months of waiting for OEM cats, I gave up and went with aftermarket Magnaflows, allowing me to install the new, rear set of OEM O2 sensors. Everything worked well for awhile until the CEL came on, throwing a P0430 cat efficiency code. It would go out on its own and then come back on intermittently until now, about a year later, it has continuously stayed on unless I clear it with a scanner. But even after clearing it, it comes back on after 100 miles or so. I’m guessing the Magnaflows I installed just don’t last long or its possible I was unlucky enough to get a bad one.

Frisbee Automotive, an independent Toyota tech shop in Waxahachie, TX, warned me that in his experience aftermarket cats just don’t work well on Tundras for some reason. His own son’s Landcruiser even got its cats stolen years earlier, and he replaced them with OEM. He told me to wait for OEM cats, but given the months-long wait and my need for transportation, I just didn’t want to wait any longer.

If you want to remain street legal, the only solutions for the cat theft problem I can think of at the moment are the following:

- a good cat shield for preventive measure
- if stolen, immediately get on the dealer’s OEM cat wait list, buy new OEM O2 sensors, and then buy and install aftermarket cats in the meantime while you wait on the OEM cats.

Insurance will likely not pay the full cost of the second solution - either OEM cats or aftermarket, but not both. So you’ll have to eat that additional cost if you don’t want to wait months and months for OEM replacement cats after paying for and installing aftermarkets, and that’s assuming insurance will cover OEM cats (USAA insurance’s fine print won’t).

Also, take it to a good shop that knows Toyotas and have them thoroughly check fuel lines, brake and EVAP purge valve lines for any cuts. Cat thieves don’t care what or how much damage they do to your truck. The shop I took mine to found the EVAP purge valve line had been cut and the fuel lines had superficial cuts in them, but not enough for them to start leaking, at least not yet. Still, the superficial cuts likely would’ve resulted in failure over time. Fortunately, my insurance (USAA) agreed and paid for their replacement.

As for straight pipes, defoulers, tuners, etc., I have no experience with any of that. I just want mine to be street legal and pass the Texas annual safety and emissions test so I can keep it registered.