4 Things to Know About Your Car's Catalytic Converter Recycling Value

If you have been thinking about making extra money through scrap metal sales, you might be wondering about the best resources for that metal. While there are plenty of places to gather scrap metal, you may actually have some in your own back yard.

If you have any old cars sitting around, or know where to find some, you can gather the catalytic converters for scrap metal. Here is what you need to know about recycling these car parts.

Auto catalytic converters are a great item for metal recycling. One of the reasons that they are so popular is because they are fairly easy to remove and handle, and they can offer a great return at a scrap metal yard. The key is knowing how to scrap them and handle them properly.

The catalytic converter in your car may be either the original one from the factory or an aftermarket model if it has been replaced in the past. This matters when it comes to the value of the converter. The original catalytic converter from the factory may actually net you more return in scrap metal than an aftermarket one.

That is because the original equipment has a higher precious metal content compared to the aftermarket units. Automobile manufacturers are held to higher standards when it comes to parts and equipment manufacturing, which means those parts have a higher value.

Aftermarket parts manufacturers aren't held to the same standards, though some requirements were stiffened in 2009, so the precious metal content in the aftermarket catalytic converters is often much less than that of the original factory equipment. The lower precious metal content means that the aftermarket converter holds less value than an original manufacturer's unit when you are selling it for scrap metal.

An easy way to identify aftermarket versus original converters is through appearance. If the catalytic converter has a silver metal casing on it with an arrow, that typically means that it is aftermarket. The arrow indicates the proper installation direction based on air flow.

The scrap metal value of a catalytic converter will vary depending on the vehicle that the converter came out of. Catalytic converter construction, including the precious metal composition, will vary from one car to another.

You will need to be able to tell the scrap yard the year, model, and make information for the catalytic converter in question to ensure that you get the appropriate scrap rate. This can also be calculated by running the serial number of the converter through the scrap metal buyer's parts system.

Many people make one critical mistake when they remove a catalytic converter and decide to sell it for scrap. Removing the honeycomb filler of the converter will cost you significantly in your scrap return. A lot of the precious metal that a catalytic converter contains is housed within that honeycomb.

Leave the entire converter intact when you remove it so that you get the most possible value for the unit. However, you can trim the pipes on each end if you want in order to make it easier to transport.

Catalytic converters are a pretty common part that can be found on all sorts of scrap vehicles. In fact, even if your car is not being scrapped but you're replacing the converter, you can sell the old one to a local scrap metal buyer. For more information about recycling scrap metal, contact us at Bruce Metal & Salvage. We will be happy to assist you with your scrap metal and recycling needs.