Stolen cat convertor

[jstanovic]

A friends diesel Territory wouldn't start on Tuesday arvo, she was parked at an upper level parking lot at a suburban shopping centre. Roadside assistance couldn't get it going, tow truck couldn't fit in the upper car park, small tow truck organised for the following morning.


Overnight someone cut out the catalytic convertor! Didn't touch anything else, no vandalism, just took the cat. You hear about stolen cat convertors a bit but I'm just surprised that's all they touched.



I've mentioned to my missus to never leave her car unattended overnight in a public place, if roadside assist can't get there I'll grab a car trailer. A stolen catalytic convertor/smashed window, slashed tyres is not the end of the world but the cost/inconvenience is not unsubstantial.

[wodahs]

heard of cats getting stolen but didnt know it still went on anymore
also didnt know the diesel had a cat , thought it was just petrols

some cats were worth a few hundred in scrap price at one stage (tho not all some only like 30 bucks)

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

A friends diesel Territory wouldn't start on Tuesday arvo, she was parked at an upper level parking lot at a suburban shopping centre. Roadside assistance couldn't get it going, tow truck couldn't fit in the upper car park, small tow truck organised for the following morning.


Overnight someone cut out the catalytic convertor! Didn't touch anything else, no vandalism, just took the cat. You hear about stolen cat convertors a bit but I'm just surprised that's all they touched.

Never underestimate the depths to which filth will sink.
This is what happens when Bogans are allowed to breed.

[Tonz]

inform this (me) ignorant person what is in a cat converter to make them supposedly worthwhile to 'collectors' and is it some brands are worth more than others.

just curious, at my age I dont fancy another career and my back wont allow climbing under cars

[FairmontGS]

Catalytic converters have economic value as they contain precious metals. This is the main reason why they are sold as the most expensive scrap. Because it contains rhodium, palladium and platinum, which are among the most precious metals. They can be converted into more cash when Pt, Pd, Rh are recovered from the scrap catalytic converter.

https://www.proses-makina.com/what-c...ost-for-scrap/

[Citroënbender]

I’d not be particularly surprised if the smaller tow truck had something to do with it.

Cat desirability is debatable, I’ve been offered zero for metallic cores, and the scrappies who last visited me didn’t even ask if I had any. Yet a reliable fellow in southern Queensland recently said he made a few hundred selling three off one car (two metallic front cats, one ceramic).

[mad2]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I’d not be particularly surprised if the smaller tow truck had something to do with it.

Cat desirability is debatable, I’ve been offered zero for metallic cores, and the scrappies who last visited me didn’t even ask if I had any. Yet a reliable fellow in southern Queensland recently said he made a few hundred selling three off one car (two metallic front cats, one ceramic).

tried to find a used cat down here for mine. got told that they [the local wreckers] had sold all their stock [used] to a person[s] for between $200 to $500 depending on the cat. and have seen a lot of scumbook advertising .. altho that is debatable.

[jaydee]

It's a dog act.
Saw a video clip from USA where a guy welded a piece of weld mesh around his cat.
Wouldn't stop a cutter, but would them up or deter them.

[fordomatic]

Happens all the time here in Canberra, super easy to jack one side up and cut them off. Barina cats are worth $600, AU1 cats you can get 400ish etc etc

I always sell the cats on the cars i wreck, you get good money.

[jstanovic]

Seems like the details got mixed up over what happened...


Friend went to the shops for 2-3 hours, cat was stolen while she was shopping. She went to start it up to go home and obviously the loud engine and metal clanging made her stop the engine. That's when RAC/towies got involved and needed to pick up the car the next day.


Car still at mechanics, will be mid next week until they can get a suitable convertor.

[Aussie Falcon]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

AU1 cats you can get 400ish etc etc

Are they really that much? On ebay new ones sell for around $240

[arm79]

My basic understanding is that while Rhodium is a naturally occurring metal, it is collected as a by-product of refining certain precious metals. Mostly Platinum and Palladium. And even then it is found in extremely small quantities.

So a mining excavator might scoop a bucket full of dirt out of the ground that say contains 50% dirt, 40% platinum and 10% palladium. And after refining you might end up with a tablespoon of Rhodium. Probably a stupid example, but how it was described to me.

I always knew cat converters were made with platinum. When I read that people who scrap them also collect palladium and rhodium I thought they were just further refining the collected metals. But Google tells these days they actively use those metals in its construction.

As for why a cat converter is soooooo coveted by scumbag thieves alike, this might put it into perspective.

My Dad is a manufacturing jeweller. He handmakes custom pieces for customers and has done for 54 years now.

His current buy prices on metals are the following:

• Sterling Silver - $1.46/g
• 9ct Yellow Gold - $37.809/g
• 18ct Yellow Gold - $72.00/g
• Platinum - $62.90/g
• Palladium - $93.00/g
• Rhodium - $1565.00/g

Yes, you read that right. Rhodium is a whopping $1565.00 per gram at the moment when used in the jewellery trade.

Dad buys his in a solution use for plating. He recently had to buy a new lot of Rhodium plating solution and required 2g per litre. His discounted cost was just under $3000 for the 2g/LT solution. And I do understand that some of that cost will be attributed to making it into a solution, etc, etc.

Last time he bought it it was $1800 for the same 2g/LT. Previous to that it would cycle between $300 and $600 for the same.

It would be interesting to know how much of these previous metals are recovered by a scrap cat converter. I did find this:

Although the quantities vary by model, on average, only one standard catalytic converter contains about 3-7 grams of platinum, 2-7 grams of palladium, 1-2 grams rhodium.

When Dad sells back his scrap and waste for refining he is typically paid 5% to 10% under the current world price.

So if those quantities are correct then you can see why cutting out some poor suckers cat is so attractive these days. There is big business and money to be made in recovering these metals.

I also cant understand how aftermarket cat converters can be sold at the prices they are given what is supposed to be in them. Obviously they aren't manufactured anywhere near OEM specifications.

In Dads case, Rhodium as a plating solution has a pretty strict best before shelf life. As some point the Rhodium starts to stick together and clump up in the solution, plus attract dirt and impurities. At this point the plating finish becomes poor and its time to throw whatever is left away. Normally happens after 18 to 24 months.

Unfortunately no one refines Rhodium plating solution. No one has found an economical and profitable way to do it. Until then Dad collects what's left of his unusable solutions in a hope one day someone will. He has 11LT of it at the moment.

[Citroënbender]

Unbelievable the present “waste” in that discarded plating solution. I hope it swings around for him. Used to get stuff Rhodium plated almost 35 years ago in Surry Hills (Sydney) as it was a nicer finish than chrome and more durable than silver or nickel. Even then it was dear.

Just checked my cat pile again, all OEM (ECIA) - three ceramics and two dual can metallics. Wonder what it’s worth?

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Friend went to the shops for 2-3 hours, cat was stolen while she was shopping.

WTF?
What shopping centre was this at?

[arm79]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Unbelievable the present “waste” in that discarded plating solution. I hope it swings around for him.

In Dad's case its more a consequence of his business. Working for himself now means a limited amount of items he uses it for. Would be the same for most businesses like his.

When he had 6 to 8 people working for him it would usually be gone within 6 months because it was literally running dry or the contaminants were getting to it. But overall he'd get far more "use" out of it.

It would be interesting to know how much metal is in those bottles. Might be 1 gram or might be 5. Probably will never know.

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Used to get stuff Rhodium plated almost 35 years ago in Surry Hills (Sydney) as it was a nicer finish than chrome and more durable than silver or nickel.

You can also get Platinum plating. Just as durable, far cheaper, but not as bright or shiny.

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Even then it was dear.

It's always been very dear in comparison. Dad gets upset when I chastise him for not charging customers anything for a quick plating. Some stores charge in the $200 to $250 range.

Big chains like Michael Hill have these BS "care plans" you can buy with their jewellery. The used to include 2 or 3 Rhodium platings per year, but now its down to 1. Seems even billion dollar corporations making 300% to 500% markup on their items are hurting a little.

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Just checked my cat pile again, all OEM (ECIA) - three ceramics and two dual can metallics. Wonder what it’s worth?

Save them for a retirement present? Retirement holiday funds?

If you want to retire rich on speculation, get into pink diamonds. Real winner there!

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by Aussie Falcon

Are they really that much? On ebay new ones sell for around $240

Sure are, I’ve sold plenty.

[arm79]

By virtue of Google's never ending spying and YouTube's magnificent predictive algorithm, I bring you todays science and education lesson.



I work out his yield to be worth around $30. The 3% of Rhodium is worth only a little less than the 70% Palladium. Would have been interesting to see the yield if there was no accident.

[jstanovic]

Midland Gate, parked on the upper level.