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Buick Catalytic Converter

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During combustion process, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide are produced. These gases are dangerous when released to the atmosphere, so back in the 70s, a Clean Air Act was passed to limit amount of pollutants being emitted from vehicles. In response to this, auto manufacturers including the Buick added pollution control devices in their automobiles and started to use self adjusting engines.

One of the devices used to control harmful emissions is the catalytic converter. This device looks like a muffler and is a part of the exhaust system of your Buick vehicle. The use of catalytic converters has been required in US since the 1980s; however only gasoline-powered autos have catalytic converters, so diesel-powered Buicks don't have cats. It is called a "catalytic converter" because it has pellets that serve as catalyst that speed up chemical process to convert the exhaust into carbon dioxide and water, which are environment friendly.

In the engine, the air and fuel mixture are burned in order to produce power that would drive the wheels to turn. The excess burned gas is then expelled to the exhaust system, particularly in the Buick catalytic converter, so it can be turned into non-harmful emissions before they are sent out in the air. Your Buick catalytic converter is actually an extra place for the oxidation or combustion. Here, the exhaust gas is chemically oxidized with the help of the platinum-made honeycomb.

As the catalytic converter cleans the exhaust by converting it into carbon dioxide or water, it produces heat. Thus, the more harmful exhaust, the more heat it is able to produce. You probably have heard of or have seen a catalytic converter glowing, this is due to the excessive amount of heat it produces. If your Buick catalytic converter reaches this point, it is now more prone to damages. If you are using leaded fuel, your catalytic converter might fail to work because led produces coating on the platinum.

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  • Closer Look at Buick Catalytic Converter 11 October 2012

    In order to comply with current regulations governing the release of pollution from your Buick, the vehicle has several components installed that are responsible for monitoring and reducing the amount of emissions released from the exhaust stream. One of the most important parts in the system is the Buick catalytic converter. When the engine is running, it does not use all of the energy in the fuel, due to the inefficient nature of the internal combustion process. If the unburned fuel exits untreated, it can cause harm to the environment, and the Buick catalytic converter is designed to prevent this. Using a small bit of platinum, the Buick catalytic converter initiates a chemical process that burns the rest of the fuel, before it can escape into the air. At the end of the unit, an oxygen sensor is installed to determine if the process completed successfully. After many years, the Buick catalytic converter may suffer from the effects of corrosion, reducing its efficiency. At this point, the oxygen sensor will alert the engine's computer to the problem, and the computer will try to fix it by adjusting the amount of fuel and air in the combustion chamber. If the problem cannot be fixed, the computer will alert you with a warning light, and when the codes are read, you will soon realize that the Buick catalytic converter must be replaced. Our online catalog will have the perfect replacement part for most vehicles, at a very low price. The new Buick catalytic converter can be ordered from our secure web site, or by phone, with a toll-free call to one of our friendly associates, at any time.

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