NOVICAT

Catalyst types

Ceramic catalysts

The most common type on the Polish market. A porous ceramic substrate coated with platinum, palladium and rhodium.

A ceramic catalyst substrate is a cordierite honeycomb coated with a thin layer of precious metals. It is light, brittle and relatively easy to identify — once the housing is cracked open you see a light grey or beige material. This is the most common type in European and Asian cars from the 2000s onward.

How to identify

  • Substrate cracks and crumbles on impact
  • Light grey or beige colour
  • Lighter than the metallic type
  • Housing usually steel, powder-coated

Most often found on

  • Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat (most petrol models)
  • BMW 3 and 5 series (1998–2010)
  • Toyota, Honda, Mazda
  • Ford, Opel, Renault, Peugeot

Precious metals

Platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh) — proportions vary by make and emission standard.

Indicative quote

PLN 380–980 per piece. Premium BMW, Audi, Mercedes — up to PLN 1,800.