The catalytic converter sits between the engine and the tailpipe, but it doesn't work like a simple filter: it changes the chemical composition of the exhaust gases by rearranging the atoms from which they're made: Molecules of polluting gases are pumped from the engine past the honeycomb catalyst, made from platinum, palladium, or rhodium.
How does a catalytic converter work?
Designed to control exhaust emissions, a catalytic converter forms part of standard regulation exhaust systems on any vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE). An ICE is basically just one big chemical process of releasing energy all the way from the combustion chamber to the exhaust.
How many catalytic converters does my car have?
The exact configuration depends on the make and model of your vehicle and the exhaust system setup. Many vehicles today have multiple catalytic converts, as do any vehicles with dual exhaust, or partial dual exhaust as most V6 and V8 engines are. As your internal combustion engine propels your car forward, it emits three main gases as a byproduct.
What happened before catalytic converters?
Before catalytic converters were developed, waste gases made by a car engine blew straight down the exhaust tailpipe and into the atmosphere.
How do catalytic converters reduce car pollution?
Fortunately, most vehicles are now fitted with pollution-reducing units called catalytic converters (sometimes known as "cats" or "cat-cons"), which turn the harmful chemicals in vehicle exhausts into harmless gases such as steam. Let's take a closer look at these brilliant gadgets and how they work!
Can a car run without a catalytic converter?
As part of a car's exhaust system, the catalytic converter helps to reduce air pollution. You will not harm your engine or your car in any way by driving without a catalytic converter.
What 3 roles does a catalytic converter in a car have?
A three-way catalytic converter has three simultaneous functions: Reduction of nitrogen oxides into elemental nitrogen and oxygen: NOx→Nx+Ox. Oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: CO+O2→CO2.
Does catalytic converter connect to exhaust?
The second pipe (the converter's "output") is connected to the tailpipe (exhaust). As the gases from the engine fumes blow over the catalyst, chemical reactions take place on its surface, breaking apart the pollutant gases and converting them into other gases that are safe enough to blow harmlessly out into the air.
What happens to a car when the catalytic converter is removed?
Your catalytic converter is named as such because it converts toxins into less harmful byproducts, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide. Without this component, your vehicle will no longer be filtering and reducing harmful emissions, including hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide.
What are the 3 most leading failures of a catalytic converter?
Most catalytic converter failures fall under one of three categories: Overheated, melted or broken converters.
What vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters?
According to data from 2020, the most expensive catalytic converter belonged to the Ferrari F430, with a mind-popping $3,770.00 price tag. Moreover, the F430 needed two of them, so a full replacement would run car owners $7,540 before labor costs.
Can you remove the catalytic converter?
What is this? Federal law in the United States prohibits the removal of a catalytic converter which is functioning properly. A replacement converter is permitted if there is a documented failure of the original one. Serious fines may result if your vehicle is found to be without this device.
How long do catalytic converters last?
10 yearsThe catalytic converter, which converts harmful emissions into harmless gas, often lasts 10 years or longer and should be replaced only when needed. It can become clogged, physically damaged, or contaminated by oil or engine coolant. It can also overheat.
How do you know if your catalytic converter is on the muffler?
0:111:05Catalytic Conveter vs. Muffler & Knowing The Difference - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAbout ten times the weight of a muffler similar in shape I guess you could say but it is not andMoreAbout ten times the weight of a muffler similar in shape I guess you could say but it is not and over here are more common variations of catalytic converters. And the shape.
How much is a stolen catalytic converter worth?
Thieves can make anywhere from $25 to $300 for a standard catalytic converter, and ones from hybrid vehicles can sell for up to $1,400. These parts are also relatively easy to access from under the vehicle.
How far can you drive without a catalytic converter?
Since people remove catalytic converters all the time, you can essentially drive indefinitely without one. However, if the converter was stolen, you should contact your insurance company immediately because your policy might cover the cost of a new one.
Will my check engine light come on if I remove my catalytic converter?
Thirdly, removing the catalytic converter may trigger a fault code which will illuminate the check engine light (assuming you have one). You can get around this by fitting a spacer on the downstream lambda (O2) sensor.
What is the importance of catalytic converter?
The primary function of a catalytic converter is converting harmful engine emissions like carbon monoxide and various nitric oxides into less toxic gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor via powerful chemical reactions.
What is the function of a catalytic converter quizlet?
What is the function of a catalytic converter? To remove pollutants from vehicle exhausts by a chemical reaction.
Does removing catalytic converter affect fuel consumption?
Catalytic converters do not affect gas mileage unless they are not working correctly, so removing one will not make a difference unless it wasn't working correctly, to begin with. In fact, in some cases, removing the catalytic converter could cause an increase in fuel consumption.
What are the advantages of catalytic converter?
Advantages & Disadvantages Catalytic converters reduce 87% of hydrocarbon emissions, 85% carbon monoxide & 62% nitrous oxide throughout the expected car life. The catalytic converter is an essential device in gas-fueled cars. ... It reduces harmful emissions from the cars.
What is a Catalytic Converter?
Your catalytic converter, sometimes called the cat, uses a catalyst to convert the more harmful compounds of your engine’s emissions. Typically, a combustion engine emits numerous harmful compounds. In order to protect the environment and prevent you and your family from being exposed to poisonous gases, every vehicle is required to have a catalytic converter in the emissions system.
How much does a catalytic converter convert?
Typically, your catalytic converter converts approximately 90% of emissions, but there are a number of factors that can increase or decrease the efficiency. Converters are less efficient at converting cooler temperature emissions, so a diesel fuel or short driving distances may reduce the efficiency of your converter.
What is the most important part of a car's exhaust system?
One of the most important parts for emissions reduction is a catalytic converter. Discover what is a catalytic converter, what it does, and signs that you may need your catalytic converter serviced or replaced.
What are the gases that are released by combustion engines?
As your internal combustion engine propels your car forward, it emits three main gases as a byproduct. Each of these gases are harmful either to your health, the environment or both. These are the three main compounds typically emitted by your engine: 1 Nitrogen oxides 2 Carbon monoxide 3 Hydrocarbons
Why add a particulate filter to a catalytic converter?
A particulate filter can be added to catalytic converters to increase the efficiency to 99% by catching ultra-fine particles. Some OEM converters use a particulate filter, and many aftermarket options include this additional component.
What are the three compounds that are typically emitted by an engine?
These are the three main compounds typically emitted by your engine: Nitrogen oxides. Carbon monoxide. Hydro carbons. So, what does a catalytic converter do? Your catalytic converter converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide, and water and nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen.
What are the gases that are released by an engine?
Each of these gases are harmful either to your health, the environment or both. These are the three main compounds typically emitted by your engine: Nitrogen oxides. Carbon monoxide.
Catalytic Converter Basics
The catalytic converter is designed to convert harmful emissions produced by an internal combustion engine to less-harmful elements: H2O (water), CO2 (carbon dioxide) and N2 (nitrogen).
Anatomy of a Catalytic Converter
Engineered for long life and durability. The ribbed body minimizes expansion and distortion, as well as forming pockets that protect the cushioning mat from direct exposure to exhaust gases.
What Does a Catalytic Converter Do?
A catalytic converter is the main cleaning component of an exhaust system. It converts dangerous compounds into less harmful substances before they are released into the atmosphere.
What is a performance catalytic converter?
What's a Performance Catalytic Converter? A catalytic converter is an emissions control device that helps remove harmful greenhouse gases from a vehicle’s exhaust. The catalytic converter (or "cat") is the second component in a vehicle’s exhaust system (behind the exhaust manifold). It’s followed by the mid-pipes, resonator, muffler, and tailpipe.
What is the oxygen sensor used for in a catalytic converter?
The process is assisted by oxygen sensors. The first oxygen sensor is used to determine how much oxygen is making it to the catalytic converter. If not enough oxygen is entering, that means too many hydrocarbons are making it through the system. The computer will then automatically adjust the engine’s fuel-air mixture.
How many reactions are there in a catalytic converter?
There are three primary reactions that occur inside a catalytic converter. In modern systems, all three are used. Older cats may only use the two oxidation catalyst reactions.
What temperature does a catalytic converter heat?
When heated to around 600 degrees F , a catalytic converter begins its conversion process. It speeds up chemical reactions that would otherwise take a long time. Rare earth metals are used to induce the necessary reactions.
Why are catalytic converters important?
Catalytic converters greatly help with both of these environmental issues.
What is the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen?
Hydrocarbons (HC) and oxygen (O2) are converted to become water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). These two reactions are used in two-way catalytic converters, which are more common in diesel vehicles and cars made before 1981.
What is the purpose of a catalytic converter?
One of these changes came about in 1975 with an interesting device called a catalytic converter. The job of the catalytic converter is to convert harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions before they ever leave the car's exhaust system.
How does the oxygen sensor work in a catalytic converter?
This sensor tells the engine computer how much oxygen is in the exhaust. The engine computer can increase or decrease the amount of oxygen in the exhaust by adjusting the air-to-fuel ratio. This control scheme allows the engine computer to make sure that the engine is running at close to the stoichiometric point, and also to make sure that there is enough oxygen in the exhaust to allow the oxidization catalyst to burn the unburned hydrocarbons and CO.
How do catalysts reduce pollution?
How Catalytic Converters Reduce Pollution. In chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected. Catalysts participate in the reactions, but are neither reactants nor products of the reaction they catalyze.
Why are catalytic converters harmful?
Because the combustion process is never perfect, some smaller amounts of more harmful emissions are also produced in car engines. Catalytic converters are designed to reduce all three: Carbon mon oxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless.
What are the main emissions of a car engine?
The main emissions of a car engine are: Advertisement. Nitrogen gas (N2) - Air is 78-percent nitrogen gas, and most of this passes right through the car engine. Carbon dioxide (CO2) - This is one product of combustion. The carbon in the fuel bonds with the oxygen in the air. Water vapor (H2O) - This is another product of combustion.
What is a catalyst in chemistry?
In chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected. Catalysts participate in the reactions, but are neither reactants nor products of the reaction they catalyze. In the human body, enzymes are naturally occurring catalysts responsible for many essential biochemical reactions [source: Chemicool ].
What is the stoichiometric ratio of gasoline?
Theoretically, at this ratio, all of the fuel will be burned using all of the oxygen in the air. For gasoline, the stoichiometric ratio is about 14.7:1, meaning that for each pound of gasoline, 14.7 pounds of air will be burned. The fuel mixture actually varies from the ideal ratio quite a bit during driving.
How does a catalytic converter work?
One of them (the converter's "input") is connected to the engine and brings in hot, polluted fumes from the engine's cylinders (where the fuel burns and produces power). The second pipe (the converter's "output") is connected to the tailpipe (exhaust). As the gases from the engine fumes blow over the catalyst, chemical reactions take place on its surface, breaking apart the pollutant gases and converting them into other gases that are safe enough to blow harmlessly out into the air.
What is the job of a catalyst in a catalytic converter?
In a catalytic converter, the catalyst's job is to speed up the removal of pollution. The catalyst is made from platinum or a similar, platinum-like metal such as palladium or rhodium.
What happens inside the converter?
Photo: Engineers are constantly trying to improve the performance of catalytic converters, for example, by developing catalysts that work more effectively at lower temperatures. This is an example of a low-temperature oxidation catalyst made from tin oxide and platinum. Photo by CPL Bryant V courtesy of NASA Langley Research Center (NASA-LaRC).
How effective are catalytic converters?
Chart: Effectiveness of catalytic converters. Cats make a big difference to emissions, with three-way converters giving a significant extra benefit over two-way converters. Figures show pollutants in grams per kilometer at 80,000 kilometers. Chart drawn by Explain that Stuff.com using data for light-duty gasoline fueled vehicles from US EPA (1990), quoted in table 3.2 (page 75) of Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles: Standards and Technologies for Controlling Emissions, Faiz et al, World Bank, 1996.
What is the name of the unit that turns the exhaust gases into steam?
Fortunately, most vehicles are now fitted with pollution-reducing units called catalytic converters (sometimes known as "cats" or "cat-cons"), which turn the harmful chemicals in vehicle exhausts into harmless gases such as steam.
Why are catalytic converters important?
Catalytic converters are mainly designed to reduce immediate, local air pollution —dirty air where you're driving—and this chart certainly seems to suggest that they're effective. Even so, people sometimes question whether they're really as green as they seem. It's important to remember that they reduce emissions rather than eliminate them completely.
How long does it take for a catalytic converter to warm up?
Early types of catalytic converters typically took about 10–15 minutes to warm up, so they were completely ineffective for the first few kilometers/miles of a journey (or any part of a very short journey). Modern converters warm up in only 2–3 minutes; even so, significant emissions can still occur during this time.
What Is An Exhaust System?
A vehicle exhaust system works to collect and expel the gases produced in every internal combustion engine. Not only is it essential to get rid of harmful products, but it's also in line with global regulations to minimize harmful emissions.
Parts Of An Exhaust System
As an internal combustion engine (ICE) uses the ignition of fuel to drive pistons that produce energy, the byproducts formed in the process need to be expelled safely. This system takes care of that. Numerous components make up an exhaust system, including:
Potential Exhaust Problems To Look Out For
As with any complex mechanical system, problems are bound to crop up from time to time. They could be as simple as a build-up of rust or as severe as a complete exhaust system failure. Knowing how to spot them and what steps to take to remedy them is essential. Here are some of the most common problems:
Conclusion
A vehicle's exhaust system isn't there just to make it sound quieter; it serves an essential role in operations as well as ensuring the car meets roadworthiness and emissions regulations. Specialized systems can even improve the overall specs of a vehicle by increasing engine outputs or fuel efficiency.
FAQs
As with all automotive work, the exact price will vary from model to model and mechanic to mechanic. However, there are some average figures to help you estimate the total cost. The exhaust manifold itself will set you back around $500, while the mufflers usually cost approximately $150 each and the downpipes $50.
