Does Chevy Silverado Have A Catalytic Converter? (Must Read)
Most combustion engine or diesel-powered vehicles have catalytic converters installed to reduce the harmful effects of the emissions from the vehicle’s engines.
In addition, as a regulation, all vehicles on the road have catalytic converters installed to convert the toxic gases into environmentally friendly gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Thus, Chevy Silverado has a catalytic converter as well. As a rule, a Chevy Silverado will have its catalytic converter installed during production. Although the convertor may have issues or develop faults during its usage, each Chevy in the market comes equipped with a catalytic converter.
Does Chevy Silverado Have A Catalytic Converter?
Chevy Silverado has a catalytic converter; all trims of the Chevy Silverado manufactured after 1975 come equipped with catalytic converters; some Chevys have two converters instead of one.
It’s important to note that the catalytic converter is the most important part of Chevy’s emission system.
As the name suggests, it converts the bi-products of the vehicle’s usual combustion processes and changes them into less harmful, environmentally friendly emissions like heat, carbon dioxide, and water.
Almost every automobile has a catalytic converter installed on it, as has been the practice for nearly 40 years, and the Chevy Silverado is no exception.
From 1975, cars in the United States were mandated to have catalytic converters due to rising concerns about environmental pollution.
In compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s stricter regulations on gas emissions, each vehicle had to come standard with catalytic converters.
As a result, all-new petrol and diesel-powered cars must have catalytic converters.
How Many Catalytic Converters Are In A Chevy Silverado?
Most Chevy Silverado models have one converter installed, but if your vehicle has a dual exhaust system, it will have two converters to match.
However, the number of converters a Chevy Silverado has also depends on the year the car was manufactured and hit the market.
Some models of the Chevy Silverado have two converters, others have three, and some other years have one.
The 2014 Chevy Silverado 6.0L, for instance, has two converters installed, while the 2018 Chevy Silverado has three converters.
Thus the number of converters on the Chevrolet Silverado is not uniform.
Chevy Silverado Catalytic Converters Location?
Usually, the catalytic converter is underneath the trunk of the truck. The converter is often placed between the vehicle’s exhaust pipe and its muffler, making up its exhaust system.
The converter is on the underside, and bolts of the car attach it to the vehicle’s exhaust pipe.
Most of the time, Chevy Silverados have their converter welded to the front exhaust pipe, which is good engineering, especially as the converter’s job is to treat the dangerous emission from the vehicle.
However, the exact location of the converter depends on the make and year of your Chevrolet.
Also, the catalytic converter may be welded onto the vehicle’s exhaust pipe or attached using a bolt; the method used also depends on the year and make of your car.
Regardless, the converter is not difficult to find; it is part of the exhaust system, and you are very likely to find it around there.
For example, you may find it between the tailpipe or the car’s intake manifold.
Also, as a matter of necessity, you will find an oxygen sensor before the converters, and they also compulsorily have a heat shield around them.
Although you may likely mistake the muffler for the converter, that is not surprising; keep in mind that the converter resides before the muffler on your Chevy.
So look carefully and make sure you know which is which.
Finally, the position of the converter on one Chevy Silverado could be different from its position on another year and make.
So, if you can find it in the same place where you found it on your previous make, don’t assume it isn’t there. Just look again.
How Much Is A Chevy Silverado Catalytic Converter?
The current price of a converter is quite high, and converters are going from $1,545 to $1,584 for just the converter.
The price does not include labor costs; labor costs are also considerably high.
Since the converters are welded to the exhaust system, replacing them means having to remove and replace the entire converter exhaust system, which is over an hour’s worth of labor.
Usually, replacing the converter on the Chevy cost over $1,179.
The converters are so expensive because the rare metals used to make them are not cheap. And over time, the cost of the materials has increased.
In addition, these materials include precious metals that have become quite expensive.
Platinum, for instance, is important in converting carbon monoxide into water and carbon dioxide. However, it is not cheap.
Platinum is extremely dense and extremely rare, which makes it extremely expensive.
So are other metals like palladium and rhodium are also used; all these combine to make the finished catalytic converter very expensive.
Chevy Silverado Catalytic Converter Problems
Like all other technology, even those made to reduce environmental pollution, catalytic converters often get damaged and need to be replaced.
For example, your Chevy Silverado catalytic converter can last for over ten years, but afterward, it will develop some faults;
It will become clogged, overheated, contaminated, and even physically compromised.
These faults can cause the engine’s general performance to reduce, and it will eventually shut down.
Some contaminants could be responsible for contaminating the converter and causing the shutdown, especially if it is premature.
- One of them is leaded gas.
- The Engine coolant can also find its way into the combustion system and cause damage.
Once these fluids get into the system, they can cause a total breakdown because catalytic converters like to get a lot of air; without that, the converter will clog, and performance levels will drop.
A few signs can point to a broken catalytic converter; if your vehicle is displaying any of the following, the problem could be with your converter.
It most likely will need to be changed.
Thus,
- Fuel Economy is Poor
- Check Engine Light Is On
- Difficulty Starting Engine
- Failed Emissions Test
#1. Stolen Catalytic Converters
In addition to those, another problem that the Chevy Silverado catalytic converter has is that it is likely to be stolen.
The precious metals used in making the catalytic converter are valuable, and the resale and black market value is reasonable.
Some of its metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium are very valuable and very expensive.
Platinum, for instance, is worth more than gold, but since it is indispensable in the manufacture of the converter, a lot of it has to go into the manufacture of the converters.
However, unscrupulous fellows can easily break into your Chevy Silverado, remove the converter and make away with it.
With Chevy’s design, it will be easy for someone to go under the hood and make away with the converter.
#2. Catalytic Converter Overheating
For instance, if a sensor valve fails, it can cause the converter to overheat.
Likewise, if there is a high amount of unburned gas in the vehicle, then a spark plug or leaky Chevy exhaust pipe can misfire and cause the converter to overheat.
#3. Chevy Silverado Catalytic Converter Scrap Price
As I mentioned earlier, the converter is not cheap. However, it is valuable because of the precious metals used to make it.
Even when it’s scrap, the materials are still intact, which means the converter scrap is still of some value.
You will likely find about 5 grams of platinum, 3 to 5 grams of palladium, and at least 2 grams of rhodium in your old Chevy converter.
While both platinum and palladium are worth some money, the real seller is the rhodium, worth well over $600 per gram.
However, your old cat converter should go for about $200 or slightly less; the value of the cat converter also depends on the condition that it is in.
It shouldn’t be broken, it shouldn’t have marks or a rusty body, and the serial number must be visible when you take it to sell as scrap.
Additionally, there is a thin film across the ceramic honeycomb-looking thing that you find in a converter; the film is where the metals are.
However, you shouldn’t attempt to remove them yourself. That requires knowledge and special equipment.
Finally, if you’ve taken your converter to sell in the scrapyards and didn’t get any reasonable offer, try selling it online.
Find some online buyers, send them pictures of the old converter, have them make you an offer, and go with the best price.
Conclusion
Chevy Silverado has a catalytic converter; some trucks like the V6 and V8 engines have two catalytic converters while others have three.
The converter is located underneath the vehicle, close to the Silverado exhaust pipe.
