Catalytic Converter

Catalytic converters are more than just filters, they reduce the toxicity of emissions from a vehicle's combustion engine. The first models of these catalytic converters came in 1975 on series-production automobiles in response to the tightening EPA regulations on automobile exhaust. These first used pellet-style catalysts. But now, catalytic converters are made with a honeycomb design that makes these more effective in changing gases to more environment-friendly gases.
Since its earliest conception, catalytic converters have done an important job of preventing noxious gases from continually polluting the air. But, catalytic converters don't last that long. Every moment you drive your car, the catalytic converter seeps all the gas that the engine produces. Imagine all the fumes that the it has to endure. These really need to be replaced if they're worn out. If you won't, your local police might get you. These need to be replaced to be able to pass your local emissions test.
If you are in the situation that your catcon has broken down, it is better that you take a new replacement but not from your local dealership parts counter or they'll really milk you dry. OEM catalytic converters are so expensive. It is much more advisable to find a OE-fit catalytic converter replacement which are much cheaper that OEM replacements but function just as the same.

• The catalytic converter is one of the major components of the exhaust system. 
• It converts the harmful chemicals in the exhaust coming out of the vehicle by using catalysts.
• Harmful compounds react with the catalysts to change their molecular makeup. For example, carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide after passing through a catalytic converter. 
• There are two types of catalytic converters: Three-way and Dual-bed catalytic converters
• The cost of catalytic converters range from $600 to $2000, depending on the model and make of your vehicle. 
• Symptoms of a faulty converter include rattling noises, sulfur-like smells from engine, decreased engine performance, and failed emission tests.

 

Vehicles are a major source of air pollutants in the world. To help solve this problem, cities and states have authored clean-air laws. These laws help ensure that car manufacturers restrict the amount of pollutant cars produce. In 1975, a new device called a catalytic converter was introduced to help solve this problem. 

 

A catalytic converter is an integral part of your engine’s exhaust system. It converts the harmful chemicals in the exhaust using catalysts. Catalysts inside a catalytic converter turn harmful gases into a more environmentally friendly state. Most modern cars are equipped with a three-way catalytic converter. 

 

The first and second stage of conversion involves a reduction and an oxidation catalyst. A reduction catalyst  is coated with platinum and radium while an oxidation catalyst is made of platinum and palladium. Thanks to science, these harmful compounds react with the catalysts to change their molecular makeup. For example, carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide after passing through a catalytic converter. 

 

The third stage of conversion involves the engine’s control system. An oxygen sensor is mounted in the catalytic converter. Oxygen sensors work by monitoring oxygen levels in the exhaust pipes. It sends a signal to the engine computer to regulate the fuel it injects into the gas chambers. This process also helps minimize the pollutants that cars emit. The imbalance of air-fuel ratio inside the gas chambers produces more pollutants from the exhaust. 

 

Apart from the usual three-way catalytic converter, there is another type of catalytic converter called dual-bed catalytic converters. This type of converter uses a two-stagecess. The first stage reduces the amount of nitrogen oxide emissions. The second stage deals with hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from unburned fuels. 

 

A catalytic converter or ‘cats’ interior and appearance will depend on the age of the device itself. Most modern models look like passageways of closely formed mesh made of honeycomb interior. Older car models are different because they use ceramic beads instead of honeycomb. Either way, the honeycomb or beads’ purpose is to slow down the flow of exhaust gases through the converter allowing more time for the catalysts to interact with the emission gases. 

 

A modern version of a catalytic converter makes use of gold mixed with other traditional catalysts. What is good about this development is that gold is cheaper than other materials and  increases oxidation, reducing pollutants by up to 40 percent.

 

Replacing a catalytic converter is not cheap. The cost of catalytic converters range from $600 to $2000, depending on the model and make of your car. The cost will also depend on whether you need a dual or three-way catalytic converter. These are typically sold individually. On older cars, this part maybe less expensive compared to newer models. However, cars that are rare may have a higher repair cost. 

 

Make sure that your catalytic converter comes with a warranty. Under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) warranty, catalytic converters must be covered for up to eight years or equivalent to 80,000 miles. The law also prohibits the use of aftermarket catalytic converters that did not pass EPA standards and second-hand converters that have not been tested or labeled properly. 

 

A car can run with a faulty catalytic converter but ignoring these things could lead to long-term engine damage . It’s easy to detect a faulty catalytic converter. If you notice rattling noises coming from your engine or  sulfur-like smells from your vent, you might need to have your exhaust system checked. A decrease in engine performance could also be a sign that something is wrong with your converter. 

 

A catalytic converter plays an important role in the whole combustion process. Without it, your car will produce excessive amounts of harmful gasses. Not to mention, your vehicle would fail the yearly emission testing if you don’t replace a faulty converter. Although there are self-help guides available online on how to install this part, it is best to have your trusted mechanic do it for you.
 

Reduce emissions and help the environment by making sure your catalytic converter is damage-free. Once damaged, replace it immediately.
Some automotive upgrades improve performance. Others improve safety. There are also those that improve driving appeal. How do you know which is the best upgrade? Well, the best upgrade is something that gives not only one, but a lot, of benefits. A good catalytic converter (cat con) is among the ideal.
Catalytic converters are primarily used in vehicles to ensure clean and safe emissions. Mounted along the exhaust system, these components work via a chemical reaction that converts the engine's harmful emissions-carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides-into less toxic gases, safe for people and for the environment. And while these components are primarily engineered for cleaner emissions, do you know that the right catalytic converter can also improve driving performance? Stock cat cons are often restrictive, not allowing all the exhaust gases to pass through them at once. This suffocates the engine, reducing its ability to generate horsepower. By getting a high-performance cat con, you actually free up more power from your machine.
Need the right automotive upgrade now? Consider a catalytic converter replacement. With a high-performance catalytic converter in your auto, you get double benefits in horsepower and emissions. And paired with other upgraded exhaust parts like mufflers and headers, you can now rev up safely and legally.

Even the sleekest, hippest, and coolest car in the world can become a major turn-off if its rear keeps on churning out black smoke. Make sure your internal combustion engine works smoothly with a reliable catalytic converter. This component converts harmful pollutants into less toxic substances before they make their way out of your car's exhaust pipe. Some of these pollutants include nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. The catcon plays an important role in reducing vehicle emissions to avoid getting your license revoked and ensure your vehicle meets state requirements.

The catalytic converter also plays an important role in saving the environment. Vehicle emissions contribute to global warming, creation of smog and acid rain, and polluting the air all around us. By installing this component, you can reduce your vehicle's emissions by as much as 25%, which can have a great impact on the environment especially if all other vehicle owners follow suit. This is why most of the states in the US require automobile manufacturers to install catalytic converters; it is part of America's goal of ensuring clean air for future generations.

So if you notice that your engine starts losing power, your emission levels have become higher, you hear excessive rattling underneath the car and smell foul odor from outsidemake sure you get your catalytic converter replaced. When shopping for a replacement, choose a converter that meets your vehicle and your state requirements (there is a special California catalytic converter for sale in certain online stores). Once you get a replacement, get your ramps and wrench, lift your car, and uninstall the oxygen sensors and the stock catcon by taking out the bolts, nuts, and seals. Bolt the new catcon into place and reattach the pipes and the oxygen sensor.

It's not enough that your vehicle performs well on the road; as a driver, you also have to keep your vehicle as environment-friendly as possible. And one way to ensure that is to use a functional, street-legal catalytic converter. A catalytic converter is a vital exhaust system device that converts pollutants into less harmful emissions before they leave the exhaust system. Specifically, a catalytic converter reduces the toxicity level of noxious gases that could do damage to the environment and to pedestrians. By using this exhaust device, your vehicle emits less-poisonous gases and you get to do your share in taking care of the environment. Once your stock catalytic converter fails to perform its job, the best solution is a replacement. To ensure you get the best catalytic converter replacement, shop only right here at CarParts.com.


• The catalytic converters at our catalogs feature cores made only of the strongest stainless steel or ceramic, to ensure sturdy support for converters.

• Platinum, rhodium, or palladium catalysts guarantee that our catalytic converters help your vehicle emit harmless gases.

• Choose the catalytic converter you want from CarParts.com, and you can be sure that the product ready for immediate shipment.
 

Emission gases are naturally harmful not only to the environment but more importantly, human health. Because of that, vehicles are equipped with various emission components that are designed to lessen the toxicity of exhaust gases. One very popular and important exhaust system component is the catalytic converter.

Though catalytic converters use expensive materials in order to function and be effective, the catalytic converters themselves are pretty cheap components considering how much they do in lessening the toxicity of exhaust gases.

If your car still doesn't have a catalytic converter, then it's about time that you a new one right away. With a catalytic converter, harmful emission gases are converted to "less toxic" gases. To be more specific, a catalytic converter can do three things to your vehicle: breakdown nitrogen oxide to nitrogen and oxygen, carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons to water and carbon dioxide.

This happens because cats have enzymes or "catalysts" that break down the harmful elements of the emission gases a lot quicker. Catalysts are enzymes that hasten a chemical reaction and that's the reason why cats are pretty effective with what they do.

Meanwhile, most catalytic converters these days use a metal catalyst such as platinum, rhodium, or palladium; and they're coated in a ceramic structure that gets exposed to a stream of exhaust gas all the time. Once exhaust gases passes through the ceramic structure, that's when the catalytic converters begin to do their jobs.

With everything that a catalytic converter can do, it's not surprising that many people would love to install it to their respective vehicles. Here are some tips that you can follow when looking for a new or replacement catalytic converter.

Measuring the cost of a catalytic converter depends on your car's performance. If you're currently driving a high-performance car, then a performance catalytic converter is what you should choose. In case you're driving a regular car on the other hand, a regular catalytic converter would do.

Meanwhile, there are three brands that most people approve of when it comes to cats: Magnaflow, Pacesetter, and Easter Catalytic. The prices of the cats that these brands offer vary depending on the type of vehicle where they're going to be installed. Then again, Magnaflow, Pacesetter, and Easter Catalytic are recognized names that people have trusted for a long time.

When choosing to buy a catalytic converter, make sure that it's a direct-fit component so you won't have any trouble installing it. Also, the three biggest brands in the catalytic converter business offer purchase warranties that you might want to consider.

Because catalytic converters are important components when it comes to reducing the toxicity of emission gases, it's important that you get a replacement as quickly as possible when they're already damaged.

Now in case you've already bought a new one, you don't really need to call a mechanic because you can install it on your own. Here are the tips that you can follow and tools that you can use when installing a brand-new catalytic converter.

1. Car Jacks
2. Jack Stands
3. Penetrating Lubricant
4. Socket wrench
5. Break bar
6. Several two-inch bolts

Step 1: Using car jacks, lift your vehicle off the ground so you can have a good look at the damaged catalytic converter.

Step 2: Place a couple of jack stands under the heavy frames to further stabilize the vehicle.

Step 3: Use a penetrating lubricant to the bolts and then loosen them with either a socket wrench or a break bar. Since more exhaust system components are prone to rusting, you better use as much penetrating lubricant as possible to minimize the effort in removing the bolts.

Step 4: If there's a heat shield, you better remove it so you won't have any trouble detaching the old catalytic converter.

Step 5: Remove the old catalytic converter.

Step 6: Install the new catalytic converter. When doing this, it's possible that you might encounter some problems so it's better that you get help from another person.

Step 7: If it's still not yet damaged, you can now reinstall the heat shield that you have just removed.