Do Aftermarket Catalytic Converters Make Your Car Louder?

Some people don’t know how the aftermarket catalytic converter works. Even car enthusiasts and avid engine aficionados are no exception. Therefore they often ask – do aftermarket catalytic converters make your car louder?

The answer is conditional. Generally, aftermarket catalytic converters work as original Catalytic converters. It works mainly as a sound reducer of a vehicle.

Unfortunately, as they are cheaper than the original one, people don’t trust them and think they might make their car louder. But when you choose an excellent aftermarket catalytic converter, it can provide you with the best service possible.

All you need to do is do proper research on different brands and consult with your mechanic. Ensure that the brand you are choosing has good reviews from previous customers and suits your car.

Even though aftermarket catalytic converters are not original products and are somewhat compromised in quality, it still does their job. And for that, you will not have to pay thousands of dollars.

Summary

Aftermarket catalytic converters are a cheap way to remove sound from your vehicle. Mufflers and original catalytic converters can replace them. But those are not as cheap as aftermarket catalytic converters.

To decide which sound reducer to go with, you must compare them. And know what is best on your given budget. You can easily go with an OEM catalytic converter if budget is not a factor.

The function of aftermarket catalytic converters is not only to reduce sound. It also helps to purify the emitted gas from the engine. The component rectifies the CO into less harmful compounds before releasing it into the atmosphere.

Do Aftermarket Catalytic Converters Make Your Car Louder?

There are rumors that aftermarket catalytic converters make your car go louder. But in reality, it is not valid. If you choose an aftermarket catalytic converter of a good brand and set it perfectly, it helps to reduce your vehicle’s sound.

You should know some information about aftermarket catalytic converters before you decide.

What Is The Function Of a Catalytic Converter?

Catalytic converters transform dangerous gasses like carbon monoxide (CO) into less harmful compounds. A catalytic converter performs the same functions as a muffle.

Removing the aftermarket catalytic converter will make the car louder. The vehicle will become louder and make some particular sound.

But the noise from the exhaust will be the same. Your vehicle won’t be able to filter the dangerous substances once you remove the converter. It is simple to remove the converter.

Some precautions must be taken while removing this sensitive part of the car. If you create holes when removing the converter, your vehicle will make awful ear-piercing and roaring sounds.

You may think the car gets louder because of the added horsepower (HP). The truth is that HP gain is negligible even if you remove the converter.

What Is an Aftermarket Catalytic Converter?

Aftermarket catalytic converters are similar to the original catalytic converter that comes with your vehicle. When you buy the catalytic converter from the local market, it is known as aftermarket catalytic converters.

If you are not familiar with aftermarket catalytic converters, you should understand muffles and OEMs. All of the equipment helps to reduce the sound of your vehicle.

Suppose you are unsure whether you should be using an aftermarket catalytic converter. Then a comparative analysis of the aftermarket catalytic converter with OEM catalytic converters and Muffle will help you.

OEM Vs. Aftermarket Catalytic Converter

With time, you will be changing your catalytic converter to get a better soundproofing system. In such cases, you can choose between an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) catalytic converter or an aftermarket catalytic converter.

Price Point:

When dealing with expensive cars, OEM catalytic converters can be expensive. But the cost of an aftermarket catalytic converter is just a fraction of OEM.

Quality:

It is true that you will get better quality with an OEM catalytic converter. With an aftermarket catalytic converter, you need to be cautious about where and which brand you are buying.

The aftermarket catalytic converter’s quality varies a lot. Therefore you need to decide which one to choose and which fits your budget. Both OEM and aftermarket catalytic converters serve the same purpose.

Requirements:

Also, all the OEMs meet the EPA requirement. But in the case of the aftermarket catalytic converter, you will need to check manually.

Thus while deciding which Catalytic Converter you want to buy, make sure it is within your budget and the quality.

Muffler Vs. Aftermarket Catalytic Converter

The muffler also works as a sound reducer in the vehicle. Therefore you can exchange the muffler and after catalytic converter depending on your need. Here is a comparative analysis between the muffler and the aftermarket catalytic converter.

Power Need:

The aftermarket catalytic converter consumes more power than a muffler. When the damper is removed, your car gains about 5 HPS. Whereas eliminating the aftermarket catalytic converter removes 15 HPS.

Legality:

No matter which aftermarket catalytic converter, it will be legal as long as the replacement components are legal. But some of the mufflers available in the aftermarket are illegal.

Price Points:

The price of an aftermarket catalytic converter can be between $60 to $200. And the price point of the muffler is $150 to $200.

Comparison Chart

To understand if you need an aftermarket catalytic converter, compare it to other sound reductions. A chart helps to portray the picture more clearly.

	Aftermarket Catalytic Converter	OEM Catalytic Converter	Muffler
Price	$60 to $150	$2000+	$150 to $300
Durability	Can be compromised	Durable	Can be compromised
Requirement	EPA needed	EPA Not needed	EPA Needed
Power Requirement	About 15Hps	About 5Hps	About 5Hps
Legality	Always legal	Always legal	Can be illegal

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do new catalytic converters make noise?

The new catalytic converters don’t have any carbon buildup in them. Moreover, it works as space and creates an echo.

Therefore the catalytic converters make noise at new stages. After your vehicle runs about 100 to 150 km, it stops making noise.

2. Does a catalytic converter affect exhaust sound?

The catalytic converter works like a muffle on a regular vehicle. Its responsibility is to diminish the effect of the gasses rising out of the motor because of the ignition and consumption of fuel.

At the point when the catalytic converter is, as of now, not present, then the sound your vehicle emits is more robust.

3. How can I make my car quieter without a catalytic converter?

The catalytic converter is the way to make the vehicle sound lower. If you don’t want to use a catalytic converter, there are other ways to make the sound go down. Here are the things you can do to lower the sound.

• Buy a quiet muffler
• Mend the leak
• Change the silencer

Conclusion

If you are confused and wondering whether aftermarket catalytic converts make your car louder, then stay relieved. It should work properly, like an OEM component, if you haven’t fitted a faulty aftermarket catalytic converter. With a good brand of aftermarket catalytic converters, you will not only get a sound reduction, but it will also purify the harmful emitting gas.

In the market, even a good aftermarket catalytic converter comes at half of the price of an OEM catalytic converter and does its job perfectly.

Therefore, you can save a lot of money by buying aftermarket catalytic converters. Again, if it breaks down, you can replace it without spending tons of money.