Mazda RX8 Catalytic Converter Scrap Price – How to Sell It?

The RX8 is one of the stylish vehicles made by Mazda. The vehicle was manufactured between 2003 and 2012 exclusively in Japan and sold all around the world. Mazda made almost 200,000 vehicles of this model and a lot of them were sold in the US. Given the RX8 cars are quite old, now the question about its catalytic converters is very important and often asked.

Today, we'll tell you how much money you can get when selling the scrap catalytic converter from your Mazda RX8. Also, we'll cover other questions about these cats and why they may still cost some money even though they are just pieces of scrap metal. We hope this article will prevent you from making some common mistakes many Americans make.

Here's what we'll be talking about:

• The type and location of the catalytic converter in your Mazda RX8.
• How long will the cat converter live in the RX8?
• What exactly kills converters in your Mazda RX8?
• How much will buyers pay for the broken OEM converter from the Mazda?
• Who will want to buy these converters?
• Will you need to buy and install the replacement catalytic converter?

Let's get started!

What are the types of converters in your Mazda RX8?

One of the most common questions people ask is how many catalytic converters are installed in their Mazda RX8. All RX8 models were equipped with the 1.3-liter Wankel rotary engine which is quite rare in the industry. This was both the good and bad side of the vehicle. But in terms of catalytic converters, all Mazda RX8s had one catalytic converter.

This cat converter is placed right in the exhaust system, before the muffler. The converter is not small, it's just the middle size, so it may cost quite a lot of money compared with other cat converters on the market. Also, it's the classic converter with a ceramic honeycomb inside it.

Here are some common features you may want to know:

• these converters are Mazda OEM and they are pretty durable, they don't cause a lot of problems when you own the vehicle;
• catalytic converters in Mazda RX8 contain quite a lot of platinum and palladium, they also have some rhodium inside them;
• given they are Japanese converters, they may not have a visible serial number on their body which is stressful at times when you try to identify the cat;
• in most vehicles under 200K miles, these converters haven't been replaced yet, so there is a high chance you have the OEM converter;
• to cut it off the exhaust system, you will need to have the replacement because different cats will need different types of cutting to get the system prepared for welding;
• these converters don't rust too much, they are high-quality parts and usually get damaged because of different side factors.

Well, to locate the converter, you will need to get under the vehicle. Then look at the exhaust pipe that is connected to the exhaust manifold near the engine. If you look a little further, you'll see that the pipe is getting wider in one place. This is the catalytic converter you are looking for.

The vehicle was only assembled in Japan, so all catalytic converters are also Japanese. In Japan, companies don't tend to recycle these parts and buy them from private sellers, so the serial number is not that important. So, you may not find it at all or you may see that it's affected by corrosion.

How long will the OEM converter survive in the Mazda RX8?

The durability of this Japanese converter is above average. These cats will live more than 12 years or over 200,000 miles which is not a conventional result. Also, the Mazda RX8 converter has quite a durable metal shell that is not going to rust through even after 20 years of use.

So, usually, the catalytic converter in the Mazda RX8 may clog or break down because of these reasons:

• it was hit over something when you were driving the vehicle;
• the catalytic converter was overheated because of engine problems;
• you have used bad fuel and it affected the normal conditions for the converter;
• you have overfilled the engine with oil and it got directly into the converter;
• the engine is dying and causing lots of problems for the converter.

Also, a misfiring engine and some other issues with fuel or oil may cause problems with the converter. Its inner part will just melt and clog the system stopping the air circulation. This will just choke the engine in the end.

After this happens, you will need to cut off the converter and then sell it. But how much money can you get for an old converter from the Mazda RX8?

Scrap price of a Mazda RX8 converter

If you have this catalytic converter in your hands, the best thing you can do is sell it. OEM converters still cost some money even though they are used, clogged, damaged, or worn out. You can easily sell the converter to different buyers and get some compensation for your expenses.

The average price for the Mazda RX8 OEM converter should be about $220. But the eventual price offer may differ because of many factors.

Here are some of the most important factors that may change the price:

• the prices for precious metals, exactly platinum, palladium, and rhodium;
• the average price offers that other companies can provide you with;
• eBay prices for used catalytic converters from the Mazda RX8;
• the buyer you choose for selling your old cat;
• other minor factors that also change the price.

You can't change much among these factors. But what you can do is choose the right buyer. And this will definitely change the amount of money you'll get for the converter.

For example, your local scrapyard may offer about $80 whereas another buyer you can find online will buy the same converter for $220. Interested? Then read further to find out how exactly you may sell the old converter from the Mazda RX8 to get more money.

Who will buy your RX8 catalytic converter?

We know a lot of companies and private buyers who want to buy your converter: scrapyards, resellers, mechanics, exhaust shops, recycling companies, etc. But we would only deal with official recycling companies. These are the only buyers who actually use these converters to recycle them and to get the precious metals out of them. Other ones are just middlemen and resellers who want to earn from your converters.

Here's how you can find the best possible price among all big recycling companies:

• First of all, you'll need to take off the converter and prepare it for being sold - clean the dirt and some rust.
• Then, take pictures of your catalytic converter and make sure you can clearly see the condition of the part in those pictures.
• After that, go online and find websites of the companies that buy catalytic converters for recycling.
• Your next step is to send those pictures you've taken earlier to those companies using their websites.
• After approximately one day, you'll get all the answers from those companies with the price offers.
• Just compare them and choose the best offer to get the highest possible price.

Also, pay attention to shipping costs. Some companies will even pay for shipping making your sale even more lucrative. Of course, a thorough comparison will be needed in the last step. There aren't too many recycling companies, so the whole campaign will take you about one hour. Even if you don't like the offered prices, you will have the right to reject those offers and not sell your catalytic converter.

Will you need a replacement cat converter for the Mazda RX8?

Yes, you will need something to get through the emission control test. Otherwise, inspectors will not even use their measuring equipment - your car needs to physically have the catalytic converters installed in the exhaust system. So, you will have to pay for the new (or used) cat that is able to pass the fog test.

Your best options are a new OEM or new aftermarket converter. The first option will cost about $1,700 while the second one can vary in price from $200 to $800 depending on the quality and durability. Buying a used converter isn't usually worth the money because they are clogged and broken, just a little better than the one you've just sold to a recycling company.

Final words

If you have a clogged converter from the Mazda RX8 in your hands, you should consider selling it to a recycling company. In this article, we've outlined some important steps you should take to get the best price offer. If you follow this guideline, you can learn the best price for your converter and also sell this cat without any problems.

Make sure you have the OEM catalytic converter before offering it to any recycling company. Because the clogged aftermarket converter will likely cost no more than $30.