Does This Sound Like A Plugged Cat Converter?

[brickbat]

Car is a 96 850 turbo with 160k miles. Just finished the crankcase ventilation/oil trap job. Over the past year or so, it just feels like the car is getting sluggish. Classic plugged converter symptom, eh? The thing is, at w.o.t, the boost gauge reads the same as ever, and the gas mileage hasn't changed much. Maybe it's down from 25 to 24, but that's about it.

Oil consumption is running about 1qt/1000 miles, and hasn't been getting worse - been that way for a long time. No CEL, no pinging or bad sounds, no overheating. No tranny symptoms.

Maybe I'm losing my mind, and it's not getting more sluggish... What should a 0-60 time be in this car?

Thoughts?

[Mesoam]

clogged cat will normally decrease boost, also emanate a smell of rotten eggs (sulfur)

do you know where your oil consumption is coming from?

[brickbat]

do you know where your oil consumption is coming from?

Not sure. There's usually a puff of smoke on start-up, so I'd guess valve stem seal leakage is part of the problem.

[drive28]

Brickbat......the two O2 sensors should detect a drop in the efficiency of the CAT if it is plugged and through a code.

Have you had the codes checked with a reader?.........don't wait for the CEL light to come on.

It does sound more like you are not getting proper boost from the turbo.....I would check the air delivery pipe and vacuum connections for leaks

Good luck!

[troyhyde]

Check your fuel pressure at the rail. Make sure it is within spec.

Both of my turbo cars had a problem in the fuel tank, the fuel hose was barely attached to the pump and the car was not being provided enough fuel pressure.

Will make the car run slower and slower till you have trouble getting up hills.