Okay, so the other day the CEL light came on and was flashing, a misfire right? So I take the car to my mechanic and we cannot find any codes and he says that it is probably bad gas. So I go on my way and burn off the rest of the gas, after that I filled it back up with Chevron, and the problem is only getting worse. The car will not even rev over 6k in neutral sometimes. Last night after driving it hard and thinking that gas was the only problem, I got back to the house to find the cat glowing red and I could smell a burning oil/electricaly smell.

So is the cat shot? Should they glow like molten metal?

Thanks

 

Shot

 

It will glow like that if it is partially plugged...assume it is fubarred and act accordingly

 

Thanks, I appreciate the help. What causes this, I guess I should do a search, but I just got my reflash, do you think the extra oil did it?

 

Oil had nothing to do with it...

Is it an AP flash..or the new Mazda one??

 

^new mazda one, this problem shows up about 5 days after.

 

hmm i hope the new mazda flash doesnt screw with the cat, i have an aftermarket cat so it wouldnt be covered by them if the flash indeed has something to do with it..

 

I dropped it off at the mechanic and he is looking for what the cause could be. I havent heard him confirm the cat was ruined yet.

 

Couldn't figure it out yet, it's going back tomorrow. I think he is trying to figure out what caused the problem, I don't know all he did, but he said he cleaned the injectors and got the cat temp to drop 100 degrees. He thinks it's electrical though...

Seems like trial and error with this guy.