Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: shd1968 on 21 October 2010, 23:52:05

Title: 3.0 V6 Catalytic converter
Post by: shd1968 on 21 October 2010, 23:52:05
Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum but have found it an invaluable source of information for an engine rebuild that I just carried out on my 3.0 Elite, thanks for all your great posts and detailed articles.
I do have a problem and a question that I hope someone can help with.
I bought the car with the dreaded cam cover oil leak. It was misfiring when I picked it up. Had to drive it about 80 miles home which it just about did. Half way home I got a whooshing of air sound from the engine and a serious loss of power.
Since done a complete top end overhaul, new everything, heads timing gear coil pack, leads the lot.
Fine on start up and tick over but taking it around the block I got the same whooshong of air sound and then rough idling.
Research points me to plugged catalytic converters due to the misfire that it had, the question that I have is does anyone have any experience with the cats on the web for around the £100 mark? I've already spent a fortune on the girl and quick fit want almost £500 that I just don't have now. Even considering second hand for now.

Any thoughts or experiences greatly appreciated.

Keep up the fine work.
Title: Re: 3.0 V6 Catalytic converter
Post by: alank46 on 22 October 2010, 07:21:09
You're probably better off with used cats rather than cheap new ones as long as the used ones are genuine Vx items.

Quote
Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum but have found it an invaluable source of information for an engine rebuild that I just carried out on my 3.0 Elite, thanks for all your great posts and detailed articles.
I do have a problem and a question that I hope someone can help with.
I bought the car with the dreaded cam cover oil leak. It was misfiring when I picked it up. Had to drive it about 80 miles home which it just about did. Half way home I got a whooshing of air sound from the engine and a serious loss of power.
Since done a complete top end overhaul, new everything, heads timing gear coil pack, leads the lot.
Fine on start up and tick over but taking it around the block I got the same whooshong of air sound and then rough idling.
Research points me to plugged catalytic converters due to the misfire that it had, the question that I have is does anyone have any experience with the cats on the web for around the £100 mark? I've already spent a fortune on the girl and quick fit want almost £500 that I just don't have now. Even considering second hand for now.

Any thoughts or experiences greatly appreciated.

Keep up the fine work.
Title: Re: 3.0 V6 Catalytic converter
Post by: Dave Elite on 22 October 2010, 08:18:06
Quote
You're probably better off with used cats rather than cheap new ones as long as the used ones are genuine Vx items.

Quote
Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum but have found it an invaluable source of information for an engine rebuild that I just carried out on my 3.0 Elite, thanks for all your great posts and detailed articles.
I do have a problem and a question that I hope someone can help with.
I bought the car with the dreaded cam cover oil leak. It was misfiring when I picked it up. Had to drive it about 80 miles home which it just about did. Half way home I got a whooshing of air sound from the engine and a serious loss of power.
Since done a complete top end overhaul, new everything, heads timing gear coil pack, leads the lot.
Fine on start up and tick over but taking it around the block I got the same whooshong of air sound and then rough idling.
Research points me to plugged catalytic converters due to the misfire that it had, the question that I have is does anyone have any experience with the cats on the web for around the £100 mark? I've already spent a fortune on the girl and quick fit want almost £500 that I just don't have now. Even considering second hand for now.

Any thoughts or experiences greatly appreciated.

Keep up the fine work.
Yes as said, the aftermarket cats are cheap and nasty and very noisy. Get a pair of good used Vx cats.
Title: Re: 3.0 V6 Catalytic converter
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 22 October 2010, 12:03:45
normaly cats are for lifetime.. never seen a blocked one.. and if their ceramic is broken (very rare)  you can hear when you tap..
Title: Re: 3.0 V6 Catalytic converter
Post by: shd1968 on 22 October 2010, 15:08:31
Thanks for the replies, the cats are damaged because the unburned fuel from driving with a missfire burns in the cat and melts the monolith (or so I'm told). hence forming a plug.

Finding it hard to get second hand Vx ones though as they have a high scrap value, most of the breakers chop them off for scrap.
Title: Re: 3.0 V6 Catalytic converter
Post by: fiend61 on 22 October 2010, 15:36:45
hi
online automotive are quite good looks like they can send your cats nextday delivery for £79 and £86  lhs and rhs .......http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk/
Title: Re: 3.0 V6 Catalytic converter
Post by: amba on 22 October 2010, 22:29:01
I had a loose "brick" in my n/s cat just before mot time last year.

In my haste to get it fixed I went down the route of the speedy exhaust fit company who quite happily releaved me of a far wedge of money for a replacement cat and lamba sensor saying it was highly likely the original sensor would break when removed.

Car past its mot and for the next 6 months or so I lived with a nice luxury car that sounded like a boy racer from inside and this really got on my nerves.

After extensive searching I eventually managed to get a genuine GM cat from a breaker and fitted it a week or so ago.

Car has now been restored to its proper sound of a nice deep gurgle on idle and gentle acceleration and very pleasing growl on hard acceleration the way I like it to be.

Moral of my experience is don,t waste your money on a overpriced piece of rubbish.If you are going to travel that route call by my house if passing Kent and you can save the cost and have the nasty 6 month old cat free of charge as I will just end up taking it to the best home for it..."The local tip ".

Just my experiences though.