Aftermarket vs OEM Catalytic Converters

So I have two quotes for replacing my cats (mine have gone bad at 100k miles). One quote is with Genuine OEM Cats and one for Aftermarket OEM direct fit cats. Any experience? Is the OEM worth the additional $1000?

 

in general OEM last longer
not all AEMs will pass inspection in all places

 

If it works, it works! I personally would not spend an extra Grand for oem cats for a truck with a 100K on the clock. But then again, what the hell do I know!

 

cant you go parking lot shopping for some OEM's??

 

Buy aftermarket as long as your state/municipality doesn't do inspections that will care. No reason to spend the markup on OEM on a 100k mile truck.

 

In my experience, most vehicles dont like aftermarket cats. Meaning that most will still throw p0420 codes after. If your state doesnt do a visual inspection under the truck, you can just throw a o2 sensor spacer on the rear o2 sensor and it will do enough to keep the CEL from coming back on

 

My experience has also been that at least 90% of aftermarket converters will throw an engine light at least intermittently. Some of them will do fine for certain types of driving but set the codes at other times. If you want to be certain no codes will set go with OEM. This is what I explain to all my customers when giving them their options. In most cases the best scenario is the aftermarket will last 1-2 years before the codes come back, and that is if they are properly heat cycled which no shop will take the time to do, general motors has a good description of an initial heat cycle that involves highway driving, shut down for a few, then continue driving basically.

 

Also, unless there is a core charge associated with the new cats you purchase, request to keep the old ones as scrappers will pay good money for them.

 

If you are in a non sniffer test state that answer is easy. And it doesn’t involve any cats.

 

Emissions aside, anyone ditch the cats?

 

If the vehicle is registered in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson, or El Paso counties, you may want to lean towards the OEM cats. These are the only Texas counties with annual auto emissions testing.

 

In this department, I would go OE, unless you plan to dump it in another year or two.
Maybe see if you can shop em online and get local dealer to match or have shipped (if size allows) and have an independent shop install to save some money.

 

Based on very limited other Toyota experience, I would say oem is not worth it, and you may be better off getting a quote for universal aftermarket cats from a shop that does a lot of exhaust work instead of direct fit if direct fit is a custom to the taco part and significantly more expensive?
On a previous Toyota one mechanic said i had to go oem because Toyota makes the computer very picky, but when i went to an experienced exhaust shop, the aftermarket ones installed were about a third if the cost of the oem part including install. They made the light+code clear, just as they said it would, but i can’t give an anecdote on longevity because i sold the car within a month. Anyways, even if they coded later, replacing or rotating cats every 2 years for the emissions test still seems cheaper than spending 3-4x as much for oem.

Aren’t the oem cat converters supposed to last a really long time, 100k seems very short!? I thought they should go for 300k + based on nothing just making up a number, ….
Anyone who knows more, and still reading, have a summary of what they have gleaned as being normal cat part life, and why cats can go bad early other than mfr part quality?

 

OE cats. My 99 4runner cats just started o have a blockage and throwing the code. My 4R is sitting at 292K miles and is in impeciable
condition so I paid up $1800 for new cats and sensors. To me its worth it.

 

Me. Both of my trucks are catless

 

Yeah but the exhaust smells like ass without them.

 

No joke. I wouldn't want a DD without cats again.

OP I'd look for a used OEM setup. Look in the classifieds here.

 

Toyota/lexus vehicles are notoriously picky when it comes to aftermarket cats, so if you decide to go aftermarket be prepared mentally and financially to have to do them again with OEM anyways.

 

Am I the only one who loves the smell of catless exhaust?

 

100k miles? All of my previous trucks - all of them including the Ford and Chevy - never needed new cats even when pushing 300k miles with the other Toyota’s. And I live in Cali. Is this really something to look forward to with a 3rd Gen when it hits its first 100k?

Either Newer Tacos have shi-y cats, or you guys are getting really crappy gasoline where you live that is prematurely ruining your cats.