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In a perfect world an automobile engine would burn up its gasoline and produce only the basic byproducts of combustion-carbon dioxide, and a little bit of water, or good old H2O. Even though modern engines have become far more efficient than their gas chuffing predecessors, the stop and start world of an automobile engine the internal combustion process is far from perfect.
Variables in the internal combustion process produce some unruly molecules that don't fit into the tidy categories of carbon dioxide and water. These molecules fly out the tailpipe, into the atmosphere, and join up with some other molecules to form the nastiest of pollution-eye watering, cough producing, sky darkening smog.
As suburbs grew in the '60s so did the number of automobiles and commute distances. Air quality became such a concern that the government stepped in and called for action. With leaded gasoline out of the way and improvements to automobile fuel delivery and engine management systems came introduction of the catalytic converter.
Year of the Cat | Back To Top
The catalytic converter sits downstream of the engine's exhaust. Think of the catalytic converter as an extra combustion chamber that more completely burns exhaust gases before they exit the tailpipe. Inside the catalytic converter is a ceramic or stainless steel screen or matrix. On the screen is a catalyst made of either platinum or other precious metals. The catalyst goes to work once exhaust heat reaches operating temperature.
The catalyst takes smog-forming molecules and turns them into different molecules. Poisonous carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide, or Co2. Nitrogen oxides, or NOX, is converted to inert nitrogen. Hydrocarbons are converted to plain old water. In this way the modern catalytic converter goes far to reduce the harmful emissions exiting the tailpipe.
The old myth of a catalytic converter hurting engine performance is exactly that. Early pellet-style converters clogged easily and restricted exhaust flow. These constrictive pellet-style converters from the seventies have long since been replaced by modern free-flowing ceramic matrix or screen style designs.
Cause for Concern | Back To Top
Anything that operates in an environment of intense heating and cooling along with jarring shocks will eventually wear out. A catalytic converter is no exception. While most catalytic converters will last a very long time there are a number of conditions that can cause premature failure.
- Excessive unburned fuel in the exhaust, caused by a malfunctioning O2 sensor, faulty spark plugs or wires, or leaking fuel injectors can overwhelm and clog the converter.
- Burnt engine oil from poor sealing piston rings or valve seals can clog the converter matrix with oily soot.
- Engine coolant leaking past a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head can also clog a converter with burnt residue in short order.
- Incorrect, or retarded ignition timing can place too much combustion heat into the exhaust, and exceed the converter's operating temperatures.
- Broken exhaust hangers or catalytic converter mounts, can cause the catalyst matrix inside the converter to rattle around and fracture.
Easy Swap | Back To Top
A spent catalytic converter can manifest its demise in a number of ways ranging from poor engine performance to a failed emissions check-or the dreaded check engine light. While it is of the utmost importance to address problems besides normal wear or high mileage that caused the catalytic converter to fail in the first place, it's never been easier to swap a clogged or broken catalytic converter out with a direct fit replacement that meets or exceeds original factory specifications.
Source | Back To Top
MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters by CARSOUND
http://www.car-sound.com
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