How To Use Lacquer Thinner Catalytic Converter Cleaner Properly

A catalytic converter is an important device for converting the pollutants in an automotive engine into harmless exhaust emissions.

It needs cleaning by chemical process engineering liquids, including lacquer thinner. Yet, using lacquer thinner as a cleaner for this device is awkward.

This article will help you use lacquer thinner catalytic converter cleaner safely and easily.

You can let your hair down by following the simple steps below to keep the catalytic converter in your vehicle clean.

And the good news is that the lacquer thinner cleaner use is not as complicated as you think.

Scroll down for specific instructions and read them carefully to do this tricky job successfully.

What Is A Lacquer Thinner Catalytic Converter Cleaner?

It is a chemical liquid likely to wipe a catalytic converter in an internal automotive engine.

Acetone, butyl acetate, and additional dissolvent chemical substances are basic components of this cleaner.

These dissolvents can be solvent lacquer coating and plastic.

Thereby, a lacquer thinner cleaner can clean a catalytic converter like several other cleaner types.

However, using lacquer thinner to clean catalytic converter is arguable. Perhaps it is not popular and reliable.

Lacquer thinner can replace other cleaners to clean this automotive device if you know how to apply this cleaner properly and safely. Keeping a vehicle’s combustion engine catalytic converterin great condition makes it more effective when using.

Lacquer thinner
Lacquer Thinner – Credit by Flickr

How To Clean A Catalytic Converter With Lacquer Thinner

Check The State Of The Catalytic Converter

A converter plays a crucial role in turning harmful compounds from the internal automotive engine into toxic-free emissions thanks to the catalysis.

This device easily captures dust particles or stains during its working process. Therefore, you need to wipe it carefully with a dedicated cleaner.

Firstly, you must check the catalytic converter state before cleaning it with a gallon lacquer thinner.

The poor operation of this device is realizable through some abnormal signals in your vehicle. The dust or lots of particles obstruct the catalytic converter.

This bad status can clog the converting of the toxic pollutants, hindering the device from working effectively. Follow the steps below to check the catalytic converter state thoroughly.

  1. Look for the clogged place through the catalytic device’s exterior. This determination of these areas can simplify the industrial processes of cleaning a catalytic converter. 
  2. Inspect loose components that can cause your car’s exhaust gas pipe obstruction. Using a rubber hammer to hit the catalytic converter to ascertain loose parts inside this device.
  3. Check for oil leakage inside the catalytic converter to get a cleaner.
check the catalytic converter
check the catalytic converter

Get And Check Lacquer Thinner Cleaner

After checking up on the device, you can use a lacquer thinner to clean it. This is the simplest way to repair the catalytic converter without removing it, though you don’t have any process engineering or mechanical engineering knowledge.

  1. Purchase this cleaning product in prestigious stores or shops. It would be best to ensure that the product’s origin and brand are clear and reliable like Autozone.
  2. Check its components to apply suitable solvents to clean the catalytic converter. Despite being based on chemistry, the combination of components is different for each brand.
  3. Read the instructions and caution before using the cleaner carefully. This preparation reduces the mistake and hazard if you clean catalytic converter with lacquer thinner.

Pour Lacquer Thinner Catalytic Converter In The Fuel Tank

When carefully reading the manual and grasping the cleaner’s proper usage, you can pour it directly into the fuel tank.

This step decides whether the catalytic converter can be cleanable or not. Yet, it isn’t easy to do.

Pouring lacquer thinner cleaner into the tank needs to be followed by a permissive proportion as an instruction.

If you go on the wrong track, the lacquer cleaner can ruin the exhaust system and other parts of your car’s engine.

Lacquer thinner production is mainly based on the chemical engineering process. Thus, it strongly corrodes automotive parts if you get an improper solvent amount. Follow the guide below to pour lacquer thinner in gas tank to clean catalytic converter.

  1. Check your fuel tank one more time before pouring the cleaner into it. Keep the gas tank in an almost empty condition.
  2. Remove the lacquer thinner’s stopper and gradually pour a small cleaner amount into the tank.
  3. Continue adding pure lacquer thinner AutoZone in the rest part of the fuel tank up to a half tank.

Drive Your Vehicle

The lacquer thinner pouring process is over. You can start driving your car at different paces.

At the beginning stage, your vehicle can run in the speed range of 1500 – 2000 RPMs to heat the catalytic converter.

Gradually, you speed up to 2500 to over 3000 RPMs for 150 – 200 miles to make the catalytic converter hot enough.

Its high temperature will burn out the clogged elements and impurities inside this gear. Yet, this burning process can ignite the industrial gases if they are still full in the tank.

Thus, make sure that you remove them from the tank before putting lacquer thinner in gas tank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lacquer Thinner Clean Catalytic Converters?

Yes, it does. The main lacquer thinner material is acetone. Acetone is a chemical liquid with powerful cleaning capability. Thus, lacquer thinner can clean the impurities inside the catalytic converter like other cleaners.

Is It Safe To Run Lacquer Thinner In Gas Tank?

No, it is not safe. Lacquer thinner is capable of cleaning the stain or impurities.

However, its acetone component can dissolve other artificial materials inside the fuel tank. Thus, it is harmful to pour this cleaner into the tank.

Follow the manufacturer’s manual instruction of an acceptable amount to keep safe when pouring it into thetank. 

What Can I Use To Clean My Catalytic Converter?

Some products for cleaning your catalytic converter are more popular such as oxicat and cataclean. In some cases, you can try lacquer thinner or seafoam on cleaning the catalytic converter.

Cataclean vs lacquer thinner: which should you choose to clean the automotive gear in the best way?

Cataclean is better than lacquer thinner. This product has a great reputation for cleaning the catalytic converter easily and effectively with a good budget for a long time.

How Long To Keep Lacquer Thinner Stay In Gasoline?

This cleaner should not stay long in your gas tank. After pouring the cleaner into half of the fuel tank, you can drive at high speed to generate the energy and burn out the catalytic converter’s impurities.

This process only lasts a half or almost a day. It means lacquer thinner is also in the tank within that period.

Will Lacquer Thinner Damage Car Paint?

Yes, lacquer thinner can ruin your car paint. It is a strong greaser due to its properties of physical sciences.

Its acetone can dissolve lacquer, paint coat, or plastics. Thus, it can easily strip the paint on your car.

This disadvantage also explains why you shouldn’t apply a big lacquer thinner to your vehicle.

Besides, you must keep this cleaner carefully away from the car’s paint when cleaning the catalytic converter.

Conclusion

This article provides a simple process for using lacquer thinner catalytic converter cleaner effectively and safely. It also helps you determine the benefits and downsides of this cleaner.

Some people reject the cleaning ability of lacquer thinner to the catalytic converter due to its automotive damageable risk.

Yet, this cleaner is still replaceable for the others if you can use it with a properly permissive amount.

Besides, you should follow the above steps and the available manual guide to using lacquer thinner for catalytic converter cleaning without any difficulty. It will save money and limit the unexpected damages and hazards.

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