dead cat?

[smoo]

I've just found out that while I was out of the country, the person I left my 1990 (G reg) 309 Style with put some lead replacement petrol in the tank... The car takes unleaded... I think it was about a can full (a gallon?), and would probably have been mixed with a little unleaded left in the tank. The car seems to be running fine (obviously I wouldn't have run it if I'd known), but I'm assuming that the catalytic converter will have been buggered. I'm wondering though, will there be any other significant damage (e.g. to the engine) if it isn't immediately apparent? I've just been on a three day trip around Scotland and haven't noticed any problems.

[504V6Ti]

You'll probably get away with it. I don't think this one-off could be enough to damage the cat converter or the engine. You've probably run on more than a full tank of petrol during your 3day trip, so any additive leftovers would have been washed off.

[smoo]

Thanks. The car's due for an MOT so I guess I'll find out when they do the emissions test. I'd heard that even a small amount of the wrong petrol could knacker the cat. converter. Given the age and condition of the car, I could just about stretch to getting a new exhaust system if necessary, but not if the engine is also significanty damaged. It's had several tanks of petrol through it since then.

[504gld]

If it is dead, just fit a pre-cat exhaust system and do away with the expense of it. You'll more than likey find it goes a bit better too. I assume you have the 1360cc TU3 engine, if so the exhausts can be changed in this way. If you want to fit it yourself you can buy a centre pipe and rear box for £67 delivered. If though you are green and want to keep the cat, it would be £155 alone (inc of delivery).

see www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk/bosal/default.htm

[andy504]

erm, are you sure you have a cat.?? 1990's a bit early for a uk spec car to have one.Just a thought.

Regards Andy

[504gld]

Andy is right, October 1991 was aparently the start of cats on 309.

[smoo]

Oh well, that explains why when it went for the MOT the emissions were "not tested".... It's the old G1 1295 engine (I think the last year it was used), not the the 1360 TU3. Presumably cats came in with the TU? It's definitely unleaded, though - I thought the whole point with unleaded, however, was that it was supposed to work with a cat to filter out the nasty stuff they put in to replace the lead? The car's had at least one (probably more) complete exhaust system replacement in its time, though. This is going to sound daft, but how do I tell if I have a catalytic converter? There's definitely a big box at the back of the exhaust...

[Admin]

Cats are normally found at the other end of the exhaust as they need to be very hot to work properly.

Are you sure that's not just the back box!!

[504gld]

If you did have a cat it would be mounted straight after the down pipe from the exhaust manifold. The Talbot engine certainly wont have a cat!