What is a Catalytic Converter?

Most people know what an engine does and how important a car's brakes are. However, most people don't know how vital a catalytic converter is to their car. It doesn't just help make sure their car stays clean and efficient — it also protects the environment.

It naturally transforms harmful emissions into safe alternatives, right as it leaves your car. With it, your car can pass emission checks and cruise down the road without polluting the environment.

Keep reading below to learn more about how they work!

The Basics of How a Catalytic Converter Works

You don't need a degree in chemistry and engineering to understand how a catalytic converter works. If you know the basics of chemistry and how different elements bind to each other, you know everything you need to. It's simple, but it plays a vital role in every car.

When a car runs, it sends dangerous and harmful chemicals through the exhaust. These can include chemicals like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxide. If cars simply emitted these chemicals without regulating them, it would be incredibly harmful to the environment.

Catalytic converters catch these chemicals before they go out into the atmosphere. It adds or removes molecules through basic reactions to make the chemicals less harmful.

For example, it transforms hydrocarbons into safe water vapor by adding oxygen to the atoms. It can also remove oxygen atoms from nitrogen oxide, changing it into safe and clean nitrogen.

Catalytic Converters Speed Up Natural Reactions

The kinds of reactions that take place in catalytic converters are totally natural and safe. They happen over time in nature, and the converter simply speeds them up. By speeding them up, cars can safely generate more emissions without damaging components or the environment.

Despite seemingly achieving the impossible, they are actually simply designed. Inside of a catalytic converter is a honeycomb that air passes through. The honeycomb is covered with special chemicals that cause the reactions.

The Honeycomb Design Is Covered With Reactive Materials

The honeycomb design inside of most catalytic converters is covered with rare metals like platinum, rhodium, and palladium. These cause reactions that transform emissions into safer chemicals. The honeycomb itself is usually ceramic designed to retain heat.

As the honeycomb heats up, it induces reactions between the rare metals and the emissions. If they aren't heated to hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit, the reactions likely wouldn't happen. However, cars naturally get hot.

The heat is simply directed towards the ceramic along with the dangerous emissions. That way, they can efficiently catch and transform harmful chemicals.

They Are a Common Target of Thieves

Catalytic converters are a common target of thieves looking to make a quick buck. Most people would wonder why a person would go through the hassle to remove a car part instead of just stealing the car. However, the answer is actually simple.

Since catalytic converters are made with small amounts of rare metals, thieves can sell them for a high price. If they steal enough, some may be able to make hundreds of dollars. There is another advantage to thieves when it comes to stealing them — anonymity.

By stealing catalytic converters, thieves usually can't be tracked unless they are caught on camera. If they steal the whole car then the car can be tracked and they can be found. But by stealing just one part of the car, the thief can stay anonymous.

Organized Crime Often Targets Catalytic Converters

Since thieves usually need to steal tons of catalytic converters to make their crimes worth it, organized crime usually targets them. Roving bands of thieves often hit different cities at a time, targeting the converters of cars parked on streets.

To learn if there is a possibility of your converter being stolen, make sure to stay tuned to your local news. Chances are that they will let the community know if there is a problem with thieves in the area.

There Are Ways to Protect Your Property

Many companies and dealers understand that catalytic converters can be a hot-ticket item for thieves. So, they may go the extra mile to protect them. The way they do this is also super simple — putting them in a cage.

Since catalytic converters rarely need to be repaired or replaced, they can be placed inside a cage to be protected. To access them, thieves would need to get through thick metal. And since thieves rarely want to spend time working to get one, they will likely overlook your car.

Hydrocarbons Are Dangerous For the Environment

Catalytic converters are an important part of cars because they make it possible to drive them. Without them, cars would send out incredible amounts of harmful emissions and damage the environment. It would lead to extremely harmful climate change, worse than it already is.

It's hard to drive on a road if it's underwater. By adding catalytic converters onto cars, manufacturers can guarantee that there will be a market and people will be able to continue buying cars.

Some States Have Emission Requirements

Some states even require that cars have functional catalytic converters. States like Nevada and New York require cars to meet certain emission requirements, keeping their output of dangerous chemicals low. A damaged or removed converter could endanger your ability to pass these checks.

And if you don't pass these checks, your car may not be allowed on the road. If you're caught driving it, you could face fines or even have your car impounded. Keeping your catalytic converter working helps prevent you from run-ins with the law.

Old Catalytic Converters Should Be Recycled

Most of the time, a catalytic converter will last as long as the car does. However, just like any other kind of equipment, parts can sometimes fail and need to be replaced. When that happens, they should be replaced safely and securely.

If they aren't safely recycled, then the platinum group metal could fall into the wrong hands. You could even make money off of scrap catalytic parts, selling to a company that promises recycling services.

And for that, we're here. Reach out to us if you want to safely recycle some of your old parts, and we'll help you get rid of your old equipment.