Catalytic Converter

[Drifter To Be]

What is a Catalytic Converter??
Sorry but I'm only 14 and a car enthusiast. (I want to get into Rally. maybe...)

Thanks

[Scooter Bug]

a cat converts the exhaust gases into nox. which is better than carbon dioxide

Becca

[Drifter To Be]

oh...
So that means that it makes the gases cleaner?
Less pollution??
Is that right?

[Scooter Bug]

yes sir

Becca

[Fly Rice Racer]

It's kind of like a filter. Consequently it slows down air flow when heading towards the muffler.

Most people take a hack saw to it and cut it out. Then they run a straight pipe in its place. This makes the car louder and gives you a few extra ponies in your pocket.

But in most states that is illegal so be careful if you decide to do it to your car when you get one.

PS what kind of car do you want?

[Drifter To Be]

Originally posted by Fly Rice Racer
PS what kind of car do you want? [/b]

I'm hoping RSX Type R but if not avaiable I'll just go with Type S

[Fly Rice Racer]

It's nice to dream isn't it. I wanted an RSX Type S so bad. But I had to settle for a Civic EX.

It's all good though. Cause I plan on doing an RSX motor swap. And I still would not have paid as much as if I bought an RSX anyways.

[rx racer]

A catalytic converter is not a filter. What basically happens ins that you car uses gas and air for combution(burning). But unfortunately 100% of the fuel isnt burnt. What your catalytic conver does is take air from an air pump and uses it to burn up the unused fuel so you are not pumping gas vapours out while driving which would be bad for the environment.

Of coarse the catalytic converter restricts the amount of air flowing out of the engine thus you can get as much into the engine. which means less power. This is why hi flo cats give you more power, and no catalytic converter gives you alot of power. Its bad for the environment but i guess im just a bad guy.

[ivymike1031]

From http://www.bba-reman.com/cats.htm

There are three basic types of automotive catalytic converters; Two-Way, Three-Way and Three-Way + Air. Each type uses a slightly different method and chemistry to reduce the harmful elements in exhaust emissions. Early model converters used a pelletised catalyst, but most modern converters are now designed with a free-flowing honeycomb ceramic catalyst. The type of converter required on a particular vehicle varies with model year, engine size and vehicle weight. Some vehicles even make use of more than one type of converter or a pre-converter to meet emission reduction standards.

A Two-Way converter, used on American cars between 1975 - 1980, oxidizes unburned harmful hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide into water and carbon dioxide. The first vehicles with catalytic converters had Two-Way reduction only capabilities.

A Three-Way converter is a triple purpose converter. It reduces nitrous oxides into nitrogen and oxygen. And, like the two-way converter, it oxidizes unburned harmful hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide into water and carbon dioxide.

A Three-Way + Air converter performs the same functions as the Three-Way converter. It oxidizes and reduces. The difference is the addition of secondary air between the two internal catalyst substrates that improves the oxidation capabilities of the converter. The secondary air is pumped into the middle of the converter between two separate catalyst coated ceramic substrates. The front ceramic performs the reduction and the back ceramic performs the oxidisation. Its like having two converters in one.