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Cars generate a great deal of fumes and gases, also known as emissions, when they’re running. Emissions contribute to air pollution, which is why the Clean Air Act was passed in the United States in 1963 to help reduce the amount of pollution produced by a range of industries.
The National Emissions Standards Act, an amendment made in 1965 to the Clean Air Act, set the first federal vehicle emissions standards. Each state has regulations that adhere to federal standards, with many states requiring that all registered cars be tested to evaluate the output of emissions.
The modern exhaust system on vehicles features a range of parts that helps control emissions and make them more environmentally friendly. Among these parts is a catalytic converter, which helped many car manufacturers meet the standards set by the National Emissions Standards Act.
A catalytic converter is an important part of the exhaust system and by now you're probably wondering what does a catalytic converter do? Keep reading to find out more about the role it plays in your car.
As mentioned above, a catalytic converter is an essential part of a vehicle's exhaust system. It helps lower the number of toxic pollutants emitted into the air by converting hazardous combustion gases into less harmful substances, like water vapor and carbon dioxide.
This is done by exposing these fumes to chemicals and metals inside the converter to prompt chemical reactions that transform otherwise toxic pollutants into relatively harmless ones. Let’s break down how a catalytic converter functions a bit further.
A catalytic converter uses a chamber called a catalyst to change the harmful compounds from an engine’s emissions into safe gases, like steam. It works to split up the unsafe molecules in the gases that a car produces before they get released into the air.
The catalytic converter is located on the underside of a vehicle and looks like a large metal box. There are two pipes coming out of it. The convertor utilizes these two pipes and the catalyst during the process of making the gases safe to be expelled.
Gases are brought in from the “input” pipe connected to the engine of a vehicle. These are blown over the catalyst, which causes a chemical reaction that breaks apart the pollutants. The less-harmful gases now travel through the second pipe, or the “output,” that is connected to a car’s tailpipe.
So what is a catalytic converter made of? The catalyst inside a catalytic converter is made typically from platinum or a similar metal, such as rhodium or palladium. Gases flow through a ceramic honeycomb structure located within the cat housing. This is lined with metals that have specific jobs that play a role in reducing emissions. There are two main types of catalysts that might be featured in a car:
Also located near the catalytic converter is an oxygen (O2) sensor, which works to tell a car’s electronic control unit (ECU) how much oxygen is found in the exhaust gases. This helps a vehicle run on a more efficient air/fuel ratio, allowing the engine to supply the converter with enough oxygen to complete the oxidation process.
As mentioned before, there are two primary catalysts – reduction and oxidation – that can be used within an exhaust system to handle specific gases.
Depending on the year of the vehicle and the type of catalytic converter it has, there might not be a reduction catalyst in place. There are two primary kinds of catalytic converters:
Diesel engines employ the use of two-way catalysts, and the converters are also specifically designed to work with diesel exhausts. The converters for these types of engines try and target particulates known as soluble organic fractions. These are made from hydrocarbons bound to soot.
The history of the catalytic converter dates to the end of the 19th century, when some prototypes were developed in France. In the mid-1950s Eugene Houdry, a French mechanical engineer, received a patent for his research to develop catalytic converters for gasoline engines.
Houdry’s development of the catalytic converter came from his concerns about the toll smokestack and automobile exhaust was having on air pollution. He had seen results of studies in Los Angeles and started working on converters for smokestacks.
Catalytic converters were further developed after the emissions control regulations that began in the early 1960s. The first production catalytic converter was created in 1973 at Engelhard Corporation, and widespread use of the part began around 1975.
Catalytic converters are often the target of thieves because the part contains valuable precious metals. Catalytic converter thefts often happen on vehicles with more ground clearance, since it’s easier to access the part.
Regardless of the type of vehicle you have, there are some steps you can take to help prevent theft:
So what happens when a catalytic converter goes bad? Considering the role the part plays in a vehicle’s exhaust system, a range of symptoms can arise when it starts to experience wear and tear.
Some examples to watch out for include:
If you’re interested in what’s going on under the hood of a car, then you might consider exploring a future in the automotive industry.
You can train to become an automotive technician in as little as 51 weeks in the Automotive Technology program at Universal Technical Institute.7 You’ll take courses that will prepare you for the role that gives insight into the inner workings of exhaust systems and beyond.1
Learn more by requesting more information here on our site or by calling 1-800-834-7308. Take steps toward your future today!
The number of catalytic converters reported as stolen has increased in 2022, partly due to the rising prices of different precious metals. The converter typically contains platinum, palladium and rhodium that can be sold to metal dealers.
Typically, there are 3 to 7 grams of platinum in a standard catalytic converter. A standard converter also contains 2 to 7 grams of palladium and 1 to 2 grams of rhodium.
A recycler will pay between $50 and $250 for a catalytic converter, with some going for $800 to $1,500 if they come from hybrid vehicles.
Keep in mind that if your catalytic converter gets stolen, it could cost around $2,000 to replace it — all the more reason to take steps to prevent it from being stolen!
Thinking about becoming an auto tech? Learn about how long it takes to become an automotive technician, salary, job outlook and more.
Is there a difference between a mechanic and an automotive technician? We try to settle the debate.
What do automotive technicians get paid? Learn more about the annual automotive technician salary in the United States by state.
1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
7) Some programs may require longer than one year to complete.
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