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Does The Catalytic Converter Reduce The Horsepower In My Toyota Prius?

I’ve heard that catalytic converters reduce a car’s horsepower. If I take the converter off of my Toyota Prius, will it have more horsepower?

avatar
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The short answer is no—the catalytic converter does not reduce the horsepower in your
Toyota Prius
.
You’ve probably heard people say that catalytic converters inhibit engine performance and that removing them can boost its power. This is not exactly true. All the converter does is reduce harmful emissions by converting dangerous compounds in your exhaust into safe gasses.
Sensors on or near the converter, however, do monitor your exhaust and regulate engine behavior accordingly. Sometimes, this means restricting performance slightly but only in the interest of minimizing its environmental impact.
In some older models, you could get a horsepower boost by removing a converter. In modern cars, however, you’ll just end up with a whole mess of performance issues, an inability to pass emissions tests, and serious legal ramifications since it’s illegal to remove converters.
While you’re tinkering with your Prius, it might be a good time to review your
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