Here are 4 Things You Did Not Know About Catalytic Converters

Are you on the market for a new catalytic converter? One typically does not research facts about catalytic converters until their own begins to act up. Whether you are replacing or repairing a catalytic converter, some information about them can help you understand your best options for both.

Below are the top 4 facts about catalytic converters that most people do not know. These facts can give you some insight about their value, availability, importance, troubles, and more.

Catalytic Converter Repair Indianapolis Indiana 317-475-1846
Catalytic Converter Repair Indianapolis Indiana 317-475-1846

Top 4 Catalytic Converter Facts

Catalytic Converters Reduce Toxic and Harmful Emissions

Catalytic converters are vital auto parts because they are designed to abate the toxic emissions generated by burning fuel, which in turn, also helps to reduce air pollution. There are many harmful discharges a vehicle can produce, all of which can be detrimental to our health and the surrounding environment; but the primary are nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

Vehicles can also generate smaller, yet still very harmful emissions and gases, like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Catalytic converters work against these emissions, reducing their spread into our atmosphere or destroying them altogether.

Catalytic Converters Contain Rare and Precious Metal

Have you been wondering why the cost to replace a catalytic converter is so high? Well, as you already know, catalytic converters play an important role in our vehicles. This level of emission control requires a material composition that can handle extreme temperatures, high pressure, and toxic discharges. For these reasons, catalytic converters are made from a variety of strong metals and metal alloys, some of which are precious metals.

Platinum, titanium, and rhodium are common precious metals used to manufacturer catalytic converters. Precious metals are rare, naturally-occurring elements with high economic value; so, if catalytic converters are expensive to make, they must be expensive to buy. On average, catalytic converter replacement costs between $975 and $2,500.  

Catalytic Converters Were Not Always an Industry Standard

Because we now know the importance of catalytic converters, they are an industry standard in the automotive manufacturing industry. All vehicles, whether car, truck, sports utility, or van, come equipped with a catalytic converter. But this wasn’t always the case. Before 1975, catalytic converters were not a regularly incorporated into automobile design. In the seventies, laws and regulations began to arise in regard to the link between vehicles and air pollution.

Catalytic Converters Do Not Work Well in Cold Temperatures

Have you noticed that your car or truck doesn’t like to start up right away when it’s really cold outside? Well, that could be due to the fact that catalytic converters work best in high temperatures. When your car is cold, the catalytic converter will not kick in all the way until the engine has heated up. Fortunately, your trusted Indianapolis mechanic will have some solutions on how to improve your catalytic converter performance if this is a regular issue for you.

Are you experiencing performance or safety issues with your catalytic converter? Contact Northeast Auto Service at 317-475-1846 for licensed and insured car radiator and exhaust repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Request a free estimate, or schedule service, today.

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Top 3 Signs You Need Catalytic Converter Repair
The Process of Automotive Catalytic Conversion
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Indianapolis Auto Repair Service
Indianapolis Auto Repair Service 317-475-1846

The Process of Automotive Catalytic Conversion

Did you know that your car’s catalytic converter is made from a highly valuable precious metal, platinum? But that’s not the only attribute that makes this automotive component so valuable. When it comes to vehicular safety and performance, a catalytic converter is more of a precious asset rather than a precious metal.

Continue reading to learn more about catalytic converters, including how they work.

Indianapolis Auto Repair and Service 317-475-1846
Indianapolis Auto Repair and Service 317-475-1846

Harmful Automotive Emissions

Vehicles use fuel, usually gasoline or diesel, to operate. These fuel sources are made from petroleum, and contain more than 150 different chemicals, including hydrocarbons and additives. When burned in the engine of a car, they create harmful gases and emissions that are threatening to our environment, and planet as a whole. These include carbon monoxide, which is a highly poisonous gas, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and nitrogen oxides (which cause smog).

History of Catalytic Converters

Catalytic converters weren’t always an automotive standard. In fact, they weren’t made a standard in the automotive manufacturing industry until 1975, after laws changed regarding cars and air pollution. Today, catalytic converters are on all automotive assembly lines, as they play a vital role in meeting national emissions control standards since many states actively govern the amount of emissions permitted for a car to be registered.

How Do They Work

Catalytic converters are exhaust emission control devices that serve the sole purpose of transforming harmful emissions produced by a car engine, into less harmful pollutants. They “convert” toxic gases and pollutants before they leave a car’s exhaust system by using two types of catalysts. A catalyst is a chemical that causes a particular chemical reaction to speed up without itself changing in the process. In the case of a catalytic converter, the chemical reaction to speed up is the removal of the harmful emissions.

As mentioned, catalytic converters are made primarily from platinum, but they can also contain palladium or rhodium. These metals make up the two catalysts used to convert harmful gases and emissions produce by the engine. The first catalyst uses a chemical process called reduction, which just means oxygen removal, to attack nitrogen oxide pollution. It does this by breaking down the nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen gases, which are less harmful.

The second catalyst uses an opposite chemical process called oxidation, which adds oxygen, thus turning carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. Although two catalysts are used to make safe conversions, there are actually three chemical processes going on to accomplish the entire job. The third is another type of oxidation that turns unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust into water and carbon dioxide.

Two-Way and Three-Way Converters

Some cars will have two-way catalytic converters, which use the first two chemical processes of reduction and oxidation. Then there are other vehicles that have a three-way catalytic converter, which means they use all three chemical processes to change harmful gases and emissions into less harmful ones.

Catalytic Converter Maintenance and Repair

The responsibility of ensuring your catalytic converter is in optimal condition at all times is a vital one. Be sure you are taking good care of your vehicle, and taking it in for regular inspections and factory scheduled maintenance. Refer to your owners’ manual for instructions on your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule. Talk to a trusted Indianapolis auto mechanic about your questions and concerns.

Affordable Indianapolis Auto Service You Can Trust

Call Northeast Auto Service at 317-475-1846 for the best prices on professional auto services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We’re ASE certified car mechanics who provide a wide range of car repairs and scheduled maintenance services for both foreign and domestic vehicles. We also provide several amenities, such as free written estimates, flexible drop off and pickup hours, and more.

Top 3 Signs You Need Catalytic Converter Repair

Your vehicle is arguably one of your top-most important assets. Without it, you sacrifice freedoms of all kinds; not to mention the challenge of finding transportation to work, school, and other vital responsibilities. So when your car or truck begins to show signs of trouble, it is critical that you pay attention to the message it is trying to convey. As for a catalytic converter, the same theory applies.

Continue reading to learn the top three signs of a bad catalytic converter, and what you need to do to get your vehicle back to a safe and operational condition.

Catalytic Converter Repair

Indianapolis Catalytic Converter Repair 317-475-1846

In most cases, your vehicle will tell you when it is having trouble with a primary component, such as the engine, brakes, or catalytic converter. In fact, it the catalytic converter is acting up, one of three signs will surely become evident to you. Here is what to look out for:

Check Engine Light

The check engine light is one of those components that gives you anxiety every time it illuminates. Although most often, it is something simple, like a loose gap cap, it can also be a sign that your catalytic converter is malfunctioning. You see, the oxygen and air-fuel ratio sensors monitor the efficiency of your vehicle’s catalytic converter by watching the gas levels in the exhaust. So when your catalytic converter is improperly catalyzing the exhaust gases, it can prompt your vehicle’s computer system to catch on and warn you of the defect.

Reduced Engine Performance

Your catalytic converter is a big partner to your vehicle’s engine since it is a part of the exhaust system. So it is expected to have poor engine performance if your vehicle’s experiencing catalytic converter problems. Signs to look out for include engine stalling, overheating, reduced acceleration, poor fuel economy, and power issues. Common defects that causes these problems are mostly due to a clogged, obstructed, or cracked catalytic converter.

Rattling Noises

Car’s make noise. However, when the noise becomes concerning, it could be a sign that your catalytic converter is on the outs. Rattling sounds should be the most alarming to you. Old catalytic converters, or ones damaged by rich fuel mixtures, can experience collapsed or fragmented meshes, which can cause rattling sounds while driving or in the parked position.

Indianapolis Automotive Service and Repair

Northeast Auto Service

Northeast Auto Service 317-475-1846

Call Northeast Auto at 317-475-1846 for affordable Indianapolis catalytic converter repair you can trust. We provide domestic and foreign car repair for all make and model vehicles. On top of competitive prices, we also offer car repair coupons and discounts. We can even assist with tows! Call 317-475-1846 to request a free estimate, today.