Catalytic converters glowing red?

They are getting so hot because there is so much unburned fuel getting into the exhaust. Does the vehicle run like it is misfiring? Does it run rough?

If not, then if you are willing to try something we can try to pin this down. Run the vehicle practically empty and then put 5 gallons or so of the highest test fuel you can get access too (93 or higher). Then buy a bottle of one of those octane boosters (any brand) and add that to the 5 gallons. Then run the vehicle like normal and see if the converters still glow. If not, then you have what is called detonation.

If it still does it, then we need to monitor the o2 sensor data with a scan tool and see if it is in fact running rich. If it is then we can dig further into causes of a rich condition.

Let me know what you find and we can go from there. Thanks

You will want to look at the short term fuel trim. Maybe abbreviated like SHRFT bank 1 and 2.

If the engine is running rich the % will be negative. Remember the o2 sensor only measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. If the number is negative, that means there is a lower amount of oxygen. This is because there is more fuel in the exhaust taking the place of the oxygen. So the ECM will command the injectors to shorten their pulse width which will spray fuel for a less amount of time. This is how it lessens the amount of fuel in the engine.

Which side was positive? There should be two different fuel trims, long term and short term. You want to watch both. You may also be burning oil as well as gas. Both will cook a converter in short order.

Positive means it's adding extra fuel. What are the long term and short term numbers for both banks? Has anything been done to the engine with add on parts? Like a chip? I see you have a CAI.

Okay. Here is a test you can try, if your scan tool reads live data bring up the fuel trims, both long and short term. Rev the engine to 2,000 rpm's and post the starting fuel trims and the 2,000 rpm's trim numbers. Also look at the O2 sensors both upstream and down and post those numbers.
If you have a scan tool that can read the mode 6 misfire counters that would be a good thing to watch as well. Misfires can dump a lot of fuel into the converter and cause them to burn out very fast.

What is the actual number for the short term? Remember the short term is telling us what is happening with the exhaust at this moment so if it is positive then the sensor is telling us that there is a lean condition and as Steve said it is commanding more fuel. However more fuel is causing the exhaust to glow so we need to find out why it is saying there is a lean exhaust when it appears to be rich due to the glowing cat.

This could be faulty o2 sensors. If only one side is glowing and the short term is positive on that side, what does the other bank say? What is the short term on that bank? If the number is lower or even negative, swap the o2 side to side and see if the glowing exhaust switches sides.

Then get the MAP/MAF sensor reading. Also the intake air temp reading and engine coolant temp. Lastly test the fuel pressure and let us know what it is.

Lots of info but please let us know each reading and we can figure this out. Thanks.

It won't throw a code unless it actually thinks something is wrong. In this case it thinks everything is still okay.

What is the outside temperature where you are located? Did you take these readings when the engine was cold? Clearly they are in Celsius but you coolant temperature is no where near operating temperature. Operating temperature should be around 90 degrees Celsius. Then your intake temperature is low as well unless it is currently cold there.

There is nothing alarming with those numbers. The 4.7 short term fuel trims is that big of a deal. So that tells me the glowing exhaust is from a misfire.

Even though you don't have codes for misfires, I suspect that is the issue. The running rough is what we need to chase.

Lastly, is it possible to get a picture or quick video of the catalytic converter glowing? Maybe at night so we can get an idea as to how severe it is.