997.1 Catalytic Converter Failure - Euro fuel? replace both?

[sneakybear]

'05 997.1 C2S X51 with 62k miles. I was coming back from a cheeky late Euro ski/road trip last weekend (3k miles around Europe) and the amber engine light came on (almost at the ferry).

Got a call from OPC today saying that it needs one new catalytic converter.
This failure seems uncommon from my searches here and web wide - found a forum entry on 6speed - anyone heard of this? Or have you all fitted 200cel replacements by this stage?

So, my knowledge of this is weak - it has 2 cats being about the limit! My questions are:
should I replace BOTH of them? If I don't will this affect things...
what's a likely cause - running Shell vPower racing from Germany? I normally use Shell Vpower here (or nitro whatever it's called...)

The genuinely helpful OPC chap suggested it was more likely a cause of shorter journeys... the majority of mine are longer as I generally don't pootle about town in it so that's hard to prescribe. He also stated it wasn't a concern... which is reassuring - I suppose

Any advice/ideas/suggestions out there?

Many thanks,
sb

[m030]

I have seen a lot 997-1 with broken cats.
I would say that it's more the quality of the cats that is the cause, not the type of fuel or the way you drive.
Just have the elements replaced with 200 cpsi sport cats.
Far cheaper and +10 to 15HP on a X51.

[sneakybear]

Thanks m030, poor cat quality - right. 200 cpsi is definitely something to look at... wonder where Gibbo got his? will research later.

[MrC986]

if you are looking for replacement Cats....Carnewal offer an interesting option/ They apparently will upgrade your existing 'internals' on them and keep the stock casing/shell thus looking the same externally - they can either supply a pair of Cats from stock & you return your old ones on an exchange basis after the fitting, or they will sell you a replacement modified pair. Their website also claims the noise/power improves slightly! I'm just about to have a Boxster exhaust mod from them along the same lines

[sneakybear]

Smashing! Looks pretty interesting and considerably cheaper than the 1600 GBP...
http://www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_p97126.htm

Loving the increases as well.

[MrC986]

There are plenty of posts on here about Carnewal & the responses speak for themselves. B16 DSS has just had some rear boxes on his 996 which l had a hand in & he is very pleased with his purchase having suffered 'box rot' on his old 'zorts. The mods were so good the local OPC techies were baffled (sorry a bad pun!)