Ok so right off the bat, temperature test for the cat does not look good.
The area after the cat stays about 1/2 the temp compared to before entering the cat. (Eg: last scan was 547 degrees before cat, 283 after, scanning the first and last 6 inches of piping with IR gun and reading max temp. Scan before that was 419 vs 218.)
I am taking this as to mean my cat is likely plugged up either due to build-up or melting from overheating? Would explain the engine struggling more under heavier loads when more exhaust needs to be pushed through, as well as why the problem worsened so noticably after it overheated.
Real bummer if so as it is about a $400 part, but at least I have some indication to what might be causing the issue.
Thoughts and opinions?
