Hi folks,

Recently I got a P0420 code on my 2013 5.0 with 135,000 miles. I checked Forscan live data for the O2 sensor. Two sensors of Bank 1 showed the same voltage waveform. After research, I'm pretty sure that my catalytic converter of bank 1 has failed. I will run temperature tests before and after the cat to double-check my suspicion.

Anyway, I'm wondering how many miles you replace your catalytic converter for your 5.0 engine? Is my 130,000-mile a normal longevity? And why does the catalytic converter fail? I think my 5.0 doesn't have issues on misfire, coolant gasket, and water pump. What do you think of the reasons?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

It's designed to trap polution, eventually they get plugged.

 

I'm approaching 225,000 miles, still on original cats with no problems.

 

How many miles you think we need to replace?

 

thanks for mentioning coolant. If coolant leaks outside the engine, that won't affect the catalytic converter. But, if the head gasket is bad and the coolant leaks inside the engine, I think that will definitely damage catalytic converter.

 

I had a bad cat and didnt have any notable difference in cat temp bank to bank. If you go back into forscan and look at the mode 6 data there is a section on catalytic converter health.

I dont know if the cats Ford started using are sub par, not properly sized for the job, being hurt by over fueling from the DI system or what but does seem way more people are replacing cats than in the past... or maybe the programming is more sensitive and reporting failures early on. My light was off and on for a loooong time before I had any actual performance issue (drop in mpg)

 

The latest 12th gen rolled off the lot almost 10 years ago. Anything at this point is bound to fail.

I've replaced a cat before with <100k, have seen them replaced at >150k and know people on original cats with 200k+ miles. Coolant leaks, corrosion, faulty 02 sensors, oil consumption, overheated convertors, unburnt fuel, etc..all can lead to failure.

 

Its not supposed to trap pollution, its not a DPF. It promotes a chemical reaction. If its plugging up its probably because there is something flowing through the cat that shouldnt be.

 

Arn't the cat temps predicted based on load and rpm, not actual measured values?

 

i always assumed they were measured but have no basis for that.

if the cats aren't actually physically coming apart/melting I doubt there would be a measured temp difference though