The Role Catalytic Converters Play In Automotive Emissions: A Serious Concern

Catalytic converters have come a long way since the power-sapping pellet catalysts of the 1970s. The modern honeycomb styled catalytic converters allow comparatively free flow of exhaust through your car's exhaust system, while at the same time cleaning up harmful pollutants emitted from your engine. Catalytic converters do not last forever, but you are not going to pass an emissions test without a working catalytic converter. Therefore, you do not have a choice but to install or replace one.

Significance of Catalytic Converters

While an engine burns fuel, it produces harmful gases that damage the environment. These gases are hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen. Catalytic converters are installed between the exhaust line and the muffler to prevent the irreversible damage to the earth's environment. A catalytic converter uses chemicals that act as a catalyst to convert the poisonous gases to harmless inert gases. A catalyst is a chemical that causes and speeds up a reaction between two chemicals without changing its own chemical properties.

OEM catalytic converters, which come with the vehicle from the manufacturer, sometimes stop functioning efficiently. All converters have to be replaced at some time or the other, but because original catalytic converters are expensive, people prefer to go for replacement converters manufactured by OEMs.

Function of the Catalytic Converter

The harmful exhaust gases enter the catalytic converter from the engine side into a sort of stainless steel container. The inside of the container has a honeycomb mesh, which is lined with catalysts such as aluminum oxide, platinum, and palladium. These catalysts change the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to water vapor and carbon dioxide. Some converters have a third lining of chemicals such as platinum and rhodium to reduce nitrogen oxides. Catalytic converters are also known as three-way or dual bed converters.

Do not use leaded fuel with a converter

You should use unleaded fuel when you have a catalytic converter installed regardless of whether it is an OEM catalytic converter or not. Because the lead in the fuel is emitted as lead oxide and coats the catalyst chemicals rendering them ineffective. Lead is included in the fuel for lubricating purposes and because catalytic converters have become mandatory by law, the vehicle manufacturers have had to come up with special engine parts to withstand the harsh corrosive temperatures and chemicals in the engine components.

Conclusion

The best part about installing catalytic converters in vehicles is that emission of pollutants is reduced by about 96 percent from pre-control vehicles.

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This Jeep catalytic converter information submitted by Chad McDonald for those trying to remove a jeep catalytic converter.