Identifying Aftermarket Converters

Aftermarket converters are a junk car buyer's worst nightmare. Purchasing a car only to find that the converter has been replaced is a waste of time, money, and effort. Use this guide to help avoid making that costly mistake!

1. DATE CODE: Aftermarkets often feature a date code stamped on it, something that is not found on stock OEM converters.

2. AFTERMARKET WELDING: Aftermarkets will often show signs of poor welding. Look for evidence of NON FACTORY welds as a clue it is not OEM. You will also typically see a different type of metal on the exhaust pipe. Both are indicators of aftermarket converters.

3. CRIMPED EDGES: While some OEM cats can have crimped edges, when one sees this on a converter you should be suspicious that it is an aftermarket.

4. SLOPPY OR POORLY WELDED OXYGEN SENSOR PORTS: Just like the factory welds, the oxygen sensor port should have a clean, smooth port. Aftermarkets are designed for multi-fit applications, so evidence of poorly done oxygen sensor ports is good indication it is not OEM.

5. IF IT SEEMS FUNNY, IT'S PROBABLY NOT OEM: Unfortunately for converter buyers, aftermarket manufactures produce converters designed to have the same fit as OEM cats. This is to make installation easier for repair. In these situations, use all the tips above to help you make a determination.

In conclusion, this guide should help you identify these nuisance converters and avoid any costly mistakes. Please remember that there are always exclusions to every rule, and identification should be done in concert with all the above rules. Thanks for reading and look for more posts in the future.