what is a catalytic converter in an automobile and what is its purpose?

Answer 1

A catalytic converter is sort of like a small oven that is in your exhaust system. Its job is to burn any unburnt fuel that comes out of your engine. If you ever have sat behind an older (pre 1975) car at a red light and smelt that raw gas smell, those cars didn't have convertors. Newer cars do and that eliminates most of those gases...

Answer 2

To control pollution.

In a 'perfectly' tuned gas engine, running at proper temperature, with the gas-air mixture adjusted, spark ignition properly timed and valves open at the right time for the proper duration, the engine will theoretically emit only water vapor and carbon dioxide.

If any of the variables fall out of the optimum range, then you can get incomplete combustion, resulting in unburned gas in the exhaust stream.

A catalytic converter burns off unburned hydrocarbons (gas) that might be in the engine's exhaust, particularly in a cold engine or an out-of-tune engine that is running with a rich fuel-air mixture.

A CC contains a ceramic material coated with a rare-metal catalyst (eg platinum or palladium.) Heat from the exhaust warms up the ceramic and the catalyst helps to oxidize unburned fuel in the exhaust before it exits the tailpipe.

Answer 3

the converter is strictly there to limit air pollution...it also is a feed for one of the oxygen sensors to enable it to find a ratio for the air vs fuel. for some cars it is expensive to replace the catalytic converter. Usually the parts that fail around this are the pipes, "the muffler", or the bend-pipe at the front. In extereme cases like mine, i had to replace the catalytic converter, both oxygen sensors, bunch of other expensive sensors because a stupid cousin of mine put diesel in the car... and ever since then i have had issues with emissions every single year with failed emission components. (i wish some of you were not so sarcastic... she is most probably thought easier just to ask than look for answers on google you know)

Answer 4

In a catalytic converter, the catalyst (in the form of platinum and palladium) is coated onto a ceramic honeycomb or ceramic beads that are housed in a muffler-like package attached to the exhaust pipe. The catalyst helps to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. It converts the hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water. It also converts the nitrogen oxides back into nitrogen and oxygen

Good Luck

Answer 5

If you follow the muffler tubing all the way towards the front of the car you'll see a big oversized pipe with some aluminum heat shields around it.....it burns unused gases to make your car exhaust much cleaner. They usually need replacing at about 75,000 miles. Catalytic converters usually start breakin internally and will make your car feel really sluggish is one way to find out you need to replace it. (THINK) its like lighting a match in a restroom after someone did their business lol.

Answer 6

Decreases exhaust pollution. One test for it is to measure the inlet and outlet temperatures to see if it is restricted.

Answer 7

It converts catalysts.

Answer 8

It makes your exaust clean. And smell funny.