In simple terms the Catalytic Converter is a device that reduces harmful exhaust gases into less toxic or harmless components. In today’s vehicles there is at least one, however most have multiple units depending on the size of the engine and number of cylinders. Prior to 2000, most vehicles had only one converter, and it was located well after the engine, normally under the vehicle. As regulations increased, it necessitated the need for additional converters to reduce emissions at startup; i.e. the first minute or so prior to the main converter reaching operating temperature. A good comparison would be a GMC work van, the type you see hundreds on the road in any given week. One from the late 1980’s would have had one converter. A brand-new GMC work van has a total of 4! Advancements in both engine technology, electronics, and converter technology has resulted in today’s automobiles producing very little harmful exhaust gases. br> As the vehicles become more complex, the emission control systems will have to as well. Many vehicles today have START-STOP engine technology, where the engine shuts off while at a stop sign or a red light. Others have Hybrid technologies where the motor is constantly starting and stopping as well, or cylinder de-activation, which shuts down combustion in some cylinders to increase fuel economy. As all these technologies become more common, the converter technology must as well, such as fast light-off conditions in which the converters come up to operating temperature quickly. In theory, all these advancements are great, but when something goes wrong with the components it can easily damage the Catalytic Converter. Too much fuel, misfires, etc. can wreak havoc on a converter and quickly damage it. We will go into more in-depth discussion in the articles to follow, but this gives a good summary on the basics of a Catalytic Converter.
We strive to bring you a part that closely resembles the design and performance of original manufacturer’s catalytic converter. As Muffler Express, you will find a wide range of aftermarket catalytic converters for sale that deliver the value you are looking for.
The entire objective of a Catalytic Converter is to reduce the three main harmful pollutants of a modern internal combustion engine, namely Hydrocarbons (HC) , carbon monoxide (CO) , and nitrogen oxides ( NOx ). HC and CO are formed from the incomplete combustion of gasoline, and NOx is formed under the extreme pressure and temperature found in the combustion chamber. NOx is formed from the direct result of the Nitrogen present in air. Both HC and CO are major contributors to smog, and NOx is dangerous to any living organism. The development and goal of Catalytic Converters is to convert these into CO2, H2O, and N2.
Catalytic converters have an internal structure of either ceramic or metallic substrate, with the metallic found in more specialized and performance applications. The substrate has a special formulation of precious metals coated evenly throughout. If you can remember back to High School chemistry class, this is where the definition of Catalyst makes its real world appearance. A Catalyst, by definition, is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used itself in that chemical reaction. The precious metals that are used in converters today can cost upwards of thousands of dollars per ounce. As a result, it is extremely important for the manufacturer to not only control costs by not wasting these materials, but at the same time put enough in the product for it to work properly for many years.
Quite simply the benefits are low tailpipe emissions. Without a catalytic converter on today’s automobiles the end result would be increased air pollution, smog, and an increase in the health of the population, especially the formation of NOx emissions which is extremely dangerous to any living organism.
This is the million-dollar question. That depends on what brand you buy! Unfortunately, today there are many fly-by-night “manufacturers” of catalytic converters that weld cheap universal converters to some pipe and call it an OEM replacement unit, eBay and Amazon are flooded with such sellers. And this is why the industry gets a bad reputation when customers have issues with them not working. Just think for a moment of the old saying, “you get what you pay for”. This is especially true with replacement catalytic converters. We offer 3 different grades of our product with varying warranty, this is explained in every converter listing. We will not, however, sacrifice quality and operational performance, and sell a converter that would not last. Even our lowest price units will last many thousand miles/kms and year. The life of a converter all depends on how the vehicle is operating, and there are many sensors on today’s vehicles that can directly affect the life of a unit.
This can include many things, including; increased smells, poor performance, bad fuel economy, lack of power, and increased exhaust noise. Most of the vehicles today will trigger the Check Engine light as soon as a sensor or component has an issue or has failed, including the catalytic converter. However, in some cases it is not so straight forward, this is where a properly trained technician or a knowledgeable DIYer is needed. The most common issue we see over and over again is when a technician just replaces a converter because it triggered a Check Engine light without understanding why it happened. This will only result in one thing; a converter being damaged and you having to make another purchase out of pocket. Remember a converter does NOT die, it is always KILLED!
Canada is sort of a gray area; however, the USA requires all converters to be EPA approved units, which ALL our converters are. The converter cores come from either AP / Catco or Eastern and are designed to be sold in all States except California. Some converters are not New York state approved as they have adopted the California emissions program, it is best to check with your installer in NY state to see if they want a CARB (California air resources board) approved unit. Either way we have some CARB units, message us to find out more information.
There are many reasons to buy a unit from us. We do our very best to provide the ultimate aftermarket replacement unit for the customer. All of our products have been designed and reverse engineered from the original, or OEM, sample. This means no guesswork on how someone else copied the item. Everything from the flexes to flanges to tubing diameter is as close to the OEM unit as possible. Additionally, all items are test fit and tested on the vehicle to ensure proper performance and operation prior to releasing for sale on the market. This ensures the item will fit and perform right the first time. Not only do we have a great product, but our knowledgeable sales and technical team is second to none. After all, ALL we have done is exhaust since 1999!
