Internal combustion engines are not always good at burning gasoline or diesel completely. The catalytic converter is designed to remove hydrocarbons (unburned fuel) from your exhaust before it reaches your muffler. Impurities exist in our engines and also in the fuel we buy at the local gas station. The presence of these impurities create byproducts that when burned, result in air pollution. The polluting gases produced by most burning fuels contain a poisonous gas called carbon monoxide (CO), as well as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
Hydrocarbon emissions can contribute to or be the cause of several illnesses including throat, lung and eye irritation and in an effort to reduce hydrocarbon emissions, the Clean Air Act of 1970 (1970 CAA) was enacted and resulted in a major shift in the federal government's role in controlling air pollution. It imposed strict vehicle emission standards on nearly every vehicle that burns fuel. As a result of these standards set by Congress and enforced by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), catalytic converters for automobiles were developed.
Since 1975, catalytic converters have been the centerpiece of vehicle emission control throughout the world and they have been recognized as one of the greatest automotive engineering achievements to date. This technology is utilized on most vehicles and equipment fueled with gasoline, diesel, natural gas and propane.
The first automotive catalytic converters which were referred to as "2-way converters", only controlled carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions. In the early 1980's, catalytic converters were introduced that could also control nitric oxide and nitrogen oxides. Every car and light truck sold in the United States today is equipped with what is referred to as a 3-way catalytic converter.
There are no moving parts in a catalytic converter. It is a stainless steel muffler like canister containing a ceramic honeycomb or ceramic beads that have been wash coated with small amounts of catalytic metal - usually rhodium, platinum and palladium. The catalytic metals convert carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water. They also convert nitrogen oxides back into nitrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen and oxygen are all relatively harmless to the environment.
As a result of catalytic converter technology, today's cars and trucks are meeting emission standards that require HC, CO, and NOx reductions of up to 99+ percent compared to the 1960's where there were no standards in place at all.
Many catalytic converters are good for the average life of most vehicles but, occasionally, they do become clogged or damaged and then they fail. The best thing you can do is be alert and pay attention to signs that indicate that something may be wrong with your catalytic converter.
Catalytic converters are considered part of the emission system on most every vehicle manufactured on or after 1984. During the State vehicle inspection, the catalytic converter(s) will be visually inspected to make sure it is present, that there are no cracks or leaks. Vehicles 1996 and up have OBD-II that report trouble codes for the emission system. That codes may also be checked.
It is a violation of the federally mandated Clean Air Act to permanently remove the catalytic converter from your vehicle and may also be in violation of state law as well. If you remove the catalytic converter, you will fail the emissions test during the annual state inspection. If you drive a vehicle that has on board diagnostics, removing the catalytic converter will cause your "Check Engine" light to come on.
If you think your catalytic converter might be failing, bring your vehicle to Viper Motorsports at 902 Fort Worth Hwy in Weatherford Texas and our experienced exhaust technicians will inspect your catalytic converter for FREE to determine if it is failing and if need be, we will replace it for you quickly and at a reasonable price. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your catalytic converter or any other car, truck or SUV exhaust issues (817) 609-8001 www.vipermotorsports.com
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