Best Replacement Catalytic Converters

Replacing a catalytic converter is never pleasant. If yours was stolen, it is best to start with your insurance provider. If yours has worn out or been damaged, a local shop can use aftermarket or OEM parts. There is an important difference between the two types of parts with this job, so read on for more details.

Car Talk's Key Takeaway

• There is an important difference between OEM and aftermarket catalytic converters. OEM catalytic converters will last longer.
• If your catalytic converter is stolen, call your insurance company first.
• The average cost to replace a catalytic converter is about $2,000 but can be more.
• Planning to sell or trade the car in the coming year? Go with an aftermarket converter.
• Planning to keep your car? OEM is the way to go. Your local shop can source the OEM parts.

Car Talk's Top Recommended Catalytic Converters

The following are recommendations based on interviews with ASE-certified mechanics:

• Brand 1: OEM - The go-to choice if you plan to keep the car long-term

• Brand 2: Walker »

• Brand 3: Magnaflow »

Car Talk's Top Recommendations

#1 OEM: Best for longevity

Our expert mechanics noted that in their experience, only OEM catalytic converters will go the distance. Other brands may earn you an inspection sticker in year one, but after that, the aftermarket replacement may not pass the emissions test (if your state requires one).

Pros and Cons

Specs

• Price range: Depends on brand

#2 Walker: Best for aftermarket

About Walker Catalytic Converters

Walker is an exhaust systems component manufacturer that our expert mechanics know and trust. If you are shopping for an aftermarket catalytic converter, this is a very good company to consider.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• Price range: $130-$550

#3 MagnaFlow: Great aftermarket choice

About MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters

MagnaFlow is an aftermarket exhaust components manufacturer that our experts have come to trust. This is a company that should be considered when opting for an aftermarket catalytic converter.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• Price range: $100-$500

What is a catalytic converter and what does it do?

Catalytic converters are a key part of any modern gasoline-powered vehicle’s emissions control system. During the normal combustion process, chemical compounds are created (gasses) that are harmful to air quality. Your car’s catalytic converter reduces the amount of those harmful gasses that your car emits.

The term “catalytic” refers to precious metals used in a chemical process to cause a reaction. When hot exhaust gasses pass over the special metals in your catalytic converter, the products of combustion undergo a chemical reaction. This changes the gasses into less harmful compounds before they pass further down your exhaust system and exit the vehicle.

Why you may need a new catalytic converter

There are only a few scenarios in which you’d need a catalytic converter. The first is that it has failed after its 8-year, 80,000-mile federally-mandated warranty period. Failures occur due to engine problems for the most part. The second scenario is it was stolen. If this is the case, your insurance will be involved to help you to pay for its replacement.

What to consider when replacing your catalytic converter

Car Talk is not opposed to the use of aftermarket parts in vehicle repairs. Many aftermarket parts do a fine job, and many aftermarket companies are trustworthy and make reliable products at affordable prices. However, with catalytic converters, there is a demonstrable difference between the OEM parts supplied by automakers and the aftermarket parts used by mechanics.

When replacing a car’s catalytic converter, the choice between OEM vs. aftermarket should include your expected ownership period of the car. If you plan to keep the car for many more years, OEM is the way to go. If you plan to sell, trade, or donate the car in the next year or so, an aftermarket part will do the job just as well, and at a substantially lower cost.

What costs are associated with replacing catalytic converters

Catalytic converters are not repaired but rather replaced. When they fail, the internal components are still very valuable. “There is a core credit that we get when we return the old converter,” said Junior Damato. “This can be from $100 to $700 in credit toward the replacement catalytic converter.” Of course, if your catalytic converter has been stolen, you and your insurance provider need to pay the full price for the replacement.

Junior also wanted to let our readers know that if a catalytic converter has failed after many years of service and the exhaust is all original the cost will be higher. “If all of that other piping, resonators, and muffler assembly is original and welded together, we may need to replace the entire exhaust system.” This can have a cost of $1,000 or more on top of the catalytic converter’s cost.

Junior’s shop regularly replaces catalytic converters. He looked at some recent work slips and told Car Talk, “The cost of a new converter with the core credit applied usually runs between $750 and $1,500 for aftermarket and around $2,000 for OEM.” Without the core credit (if the converter was stolen) and if the rest of the exhaust needs to be replaced, the cost can approach $4,000. Junior also wished to emphasize that the cost of OEM catalytic converters varies from brand to brand and model to model, just like all parts do. Our prices refer to high-volume mainstream affordable vehicles.

Read more on the Cost to Replace a Catalytic Converter here.

Car Talk expert ASE mechanics weigh in on catalytic converters

Both Ray and Junior emphasized that OEM and aftermarket catalytic converters are not equal. Ray pointed out that the aftermarket converters use less of the expensive active ingredients that do the converting. Junior warns that many states use California’s rigorous emissions control standards. Many New England states are among those who have adopted this standard. In such states, particularly those that test vehicles for emission annually, aftermarket catalytic converters should not be expected to last the life of your vehicle. They will pass when installed, but that may be the last time they will do so. While they may come with a warranty longer than a year, the cost to change them out again is not included in that warranty.

Straight from our ASE-certified mechanics:

"Cheap converters will skimp on the catalysts -- the rhodium, palladium, and dealer-boat-payment-ium -- the stuff that makes converters expensive.”

-Ray Magliozzi, Car Talk and the Good News Garage

“We find that aftermarket catalytic converters will only meet strict California emissions standards for a year or so.”

“The two most trusted exhaust product brands in my shop are Walker and Magnaflow.”

“When we replace a catalytic converter and the customer wishes to use less expensive aftermarket parts, we ask them to sign a work order saying so to avoid hard feelings down the road. Our recommendation if the customer plans to keep the car is to use OEM parts for this job.”

-Junior Damato, Junior’s Automotive Sales & Services

Can I DIY this replacement?

Replacing a catalytic converter is not technically challenging. However, you may need a torch, a cutting tool, and a lift to do the job. Having a welder on hand is also not a bad idea. We spoke to Junior Damato about how a catalytic converter is changed, and he told us the job can be done in an hour or two unless things go sideways and the whole exhaust has to be changed out. So, this is one of those jobs that makes sense for the folks with the tools and lift to handle. The labor costs are a small percentage of the total bill.

Conclusion

Catalytic converters are a vital part of your vehicle’s emissions system. If yours is stolen, start with your insurance company. If it has died, your mechanic can use either aftermarket or OEM parts. OEM parts are the way to go if you plan to keep the vehicle. If you do want to go the aftermarket route, our expert advisor says that Walker and Magnaflow are the exhaust system parts he trusts most. The budget price for an OEM replacement can vary, but $2,000 is the approximate average cost for most jobs when OEM parts are used.

Who are Car Talk’s certified experts?

Our Car Talk staffers live the car life and have many special skills, but none of us are experts in all areas of car ownership. For our vehicle maintenance and repair focus stories, we interview ASE-certified mechanics who perform car repairs and have a long history in the industry. They know how to do these repairs at a very detailed level, and they know what products and brands can be trusted and which to avoid.

For this story, Junior Damato, owner and operator of Junior’s Automotive Sales and Service in Middleboro, Mass. served as our primary go-to expert. Junior is a long-time Car Talk associate whose relationship with Ray, Tom and Bugsy spans many decades. He began his professional career in trade school and upon graduation went on to serve in the U.S. military as an engine specialist. After completing his service, he began working as a mechanic and earned his ASE Certification. Junior also hosted a radio program of his own. Junior Damato is a long-time New England Motor Press Member.

Our own Ray Magliozzi, himself a long-time mechanic and owner of the Good News Garage, weighed in and offered insights on this story.

Read more on the topic of Car Owning here.