Long Trip w/o Catalytic Converter??

[TexasRider]

Yep - Cat stolen from our F-53 V-8 2022 Bounder 33C while in storage; they got 14 of em all in a row.

OEM replacement availability listed as "unknown" in the inventory system - we're on the waiting list since November with, I'm sure, alot of you .

We have our 1st one month trip (3700 mi) coming up in May; TX to NM, AZ, UT, NV and back thru TX.
We have all the campgrounds reserved (no easy task) and were ready to go.
At this point I'm beginning to wonder if the Cat will be in place by them.

I am getting ready to add a straight pipe to fill the gap as a temp replacement to drive it back & forth to service center and maybe a short campground but...

QUESTION:
IF May comes and no Catalytic Convert we will have to decide whether to cancel or bite the bullet and take to long trip with No Catalytic Converter in place.

What'd y'all think? Will the Bounder be OK for that many miles with a straight pipe and no Cat.

Thanks for the input,

Jeff

[rhusak]

Originally Posted by TexasRider

Yep - Cat stolen from our F-53 V-8 2022 Bounder 33C while in storage; they got 14 of em all in a row.

OEM replacement availability listed as "unknown" in the inventory system - we're on the waiting list since November with, I'm sure, alot of you .

We have our 1st one month trip (3700 mi) coming up in May; TX to NM, AZ, UT, NV and back thru TX.
We have all the campgrounds reserved (no easy task) and were ready to go.
At this point I'm beginning to wonder if the Cat will be in place by them.

I am getting ready to add a straight pipe to fill the gap as a temp replacement to drive it back & forth to service center and maybe a short campground but...

QUESTION:
IF May comes and no Catalytic Convert we will have to decide whether to cancel or bite the bullet and take to long trip with No Catalytic Converter in place.

What'd y'all think? Will the Bounder be OK for that many miles with a straight pipe and no Cat.

Thanks for the input,

Jeff

Jeff..
Your engine doesn't know if you you have a cat or not! But your emissions system will. At least have check engine lights and ll.. Plust O2 sensors are probably gone so fuel mixtures will be all wrong. You might check with a knowledgeable Ford tech but he probably wont touch it as it won't meet federal standard..
Wish they could catch and prosecute these type of thieving bastards and those that buy these cats and stop this. Ron

[PJStough]

If you dont have O2 sensors after the cat, you wont notice any difference in engine performance, or your engine performance may improve as you wont have the resistance of the cat to restrict exhaust flow.

[spsm]

I love my straight pipe. After more than 100,000 miles and I still love the sound. I use to worry about leaving the campgrounds so early in the morning, but now I worry about, just leaving lol, enjoy while you can

[F4Gary]

Well, if you live in Texas, you don't need an OEM cat. Any aftermarket 49 state will do. They are much cheaper.

Also, depending on how old you're coach is, you may only have one O2 sensor before the cat and nothing in or after the cat. If so, your engine/emission system will never know you have a straight pipe.

[SergioP]

Running without the cat wont hurt the engine. You should notice a small power increase. The exhaust will run cooler since there’s not a million degree cat cooking the emissions. The main thing is to keep the CEL off. Since there’s no cat, the second O2 sensor will recognize this and turn the light on. Search the net on how to use spark plug anti foulers to fool the computer into not turning on the light. No Ford dealer will do this since it’s bypassing an emissions system and can get fined to the moon for doing so.

[TexasRider]

Thanks all -Any warranty issues to consider?

Am I voiding any warranties by driving it distance and bypassing Cat?

[dbircky]

Enjoy the improved fuel mileage.

[TravelSolo]

A 2022 will almost guaranteed to have pre and post O2 sensors and not having the cat there will throw off the ECM without a sensor bypass/delete kit. You will probably not see better MPG or more power with just a filler pipe as the ECM is going to be continually trying to adjust fuel mix. In fact it might be somewhat unpleasant of a drive at times.

[wolfe10]

Call your insurance company.

And, with a 2022, absolutely, go back OE.


Camera at the storage lot showing ?????


Hopefully the police will have an eye on anyone buying these stolen converters.

Should be like selling silver, etc-- driver's license info recorded! More than one or two sold by the same individual and they should have a visit from the local constabulary. They have to make it difficult to SELL those stolen converters or it will never end.

[SergioP]

Originally Posted by TexasRider

Thanks all -Any warranty issues to consider?

Am I voiding any warranties by driving it distance and bypassing Cat?

The emissions systems are warranted for 8 years or 80k miles I believe. If any part goes bad its covered. A stolen converter isn’t covered of course. I don’t think you will void any warranty without a cat.

The engine should be fine, they ran fine in the old days before converters.

You will need to have the converter for state inspection, technically. If the CEL is off and the inspector doesn’t look under the RV for the presence of the converter you could get away without it. I used to be a state inspector in Texas. On most cars I could tell if it had converters or not from how they sounded on start up. Plus any sporty car always got checked for them because racers always want more power. Most everyday cars(minivans, sedans, work trucks, RV’s, etc) always had the converters.

[F4Gary]

2022? Yeah, the straight pipe won't work I don't think. There is an O2 sensor right in the middle of the cat.
This is the only one I could find on a quick seach.


https://mufflerexpress.com/products/...l-v8-2020-2021


Again, living in Texas, you don't need a 50 state compliant (i.e. California) cat.


Actually, without the cat, you may be OK for your trip but you will most likely get a Check Engine light or similar. I'm not that familiar with the new Ford stuff. I know a bunch of Corvette and Viper guys running no cats. They get a cat delete tune which just fools the downstream O2 sensor.

[Russ Silber]

On my sport racing Miata I just hollowed out the cat. Still passed inspection better than before.

[ArtJoyce]

Originally Posted by rhusak

Jeff..
Your engine doesn't know if you you have a cat or not! But your emissions system will. At least have check engine lights and ll.. Plust O2 sensors are probably gone so fuel mixtures will be all wrong. You might check with a knowledgeable Ford tech but he probably wont touch it as it won't meet federal standard..
Wish they could catch and prosecute these type of thieving bastards and those that buy these cats and stop this. Ron

plus 2, you might have a power loss and decrease mpg. I think you will be missing the post o2 sensor. Expect a CEL after warm up. check with a ford service rep. I would look at a CA compliant cat if you can not get a oem part, dont play with the cheap ones they will fale after 3 months.