The Advantages and Disadvantages of Decat Pipes

A replacement for your car’s catalytic converter, decat pipes are designed to remove the build-up of back-pressure on the engine, taking your car’s performance to new heights. Catalytic converters are known to reduce top-end power and horsepower, lowering overall vehicle performance. This has made decatting a popular process among car enthusiasts and tuners.

Decat pipes can offer several benefits for your car. However, there are also a few disadvantages that need to be considered while decatting. This article talks about the advantages and disadvantages of decat pipes so that you can weigh your options and make the right decision for your car.

Advantages of Decat Pipes

Decat pipes are known to offer a wide range of benefits such as:

Improved Horsepower

Catalytic converters obstruct the flow of gaseous waste from the engine. This can create back-pressure on the engine, lowering overall performance. By removing your catalyst, your car can benefit from the smooth flow of exhaust gases, resulting in more horsepower and better performance.

Better Initial Acceleration

Another benefit of the smooth discharge of waste is improved initial acceleration. Your car will accelerate much faster and much smoother with a decat pipe installed.

Elimination of Catalyst-Related Problems

Without a catalytic converter, you won’t have to worry about problems that come with the device. You will save up on several costs such as regular maintenance, repair costs, and replacement costs. Catalyst failure can sometimes result in a foul odour. However, this can also be resolved by simply decatting your car.

Disadvantages of Decat Pipes

Decat pipes have their fair share of disadvantages that are essential to understand.

Air Pollution

The foremost disadvantage of decatting is the negative impact on the environment. Since the function of catalytic converters is to convert harmful gaseous waste into a less harmful version, having your catalyst removed will allow these harmful gases to directly mix with the air. These hydrocarbons can be extremely dangerous for the environment in high concentrations.

Risk of Engine Failure

Without a reconfigured engine management system, decatting can be extremely harmful to your vehicle. Without a catalyst and no back-pressure, the engine management system will try to recalculate the changes and allow more air into the engine. This can result in the engine fuel mixture becoming lean, meaning too much air and too little fuel.

This can potentially lead to your engine overheating and engine failure. However, a simple ECU remap can solve this problem.

The Bottom Line

Decatting remains a popular process among petrol lovers and car modifiers, mostly owing to the range of benefits this process offers. However, understanding the risks that decatting can pose is also essential before making any decision for your vehicle.

Get your decat exhaust pipes today from Turborevs and take your car’s performance to the next level.