Technical Specifications:

• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Hydrocarbon (HC)
• nitrogen oxide (NOx)

In diesel engines, sulfur dioxide (SO²) and soot particles (PM) are added. The vehicle catalytic converter now cleans the exhaust gases and filters out the pollutants or helps convert them into harmless gases such as water, nitrogen and CO². Since a car catalyst in a gasoline vehicle can convert 3 pollutants into harmless gases, it is also called a three-way catalyst.

In diesel vehicles, an oxidation catalyst is predominantly used and is supplemented by at least a soot particle filter. This converts carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into harmless gases. Modern diesel also has a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst. Thus, the third pollutant can be effectively reduced.

For the vehicle catalytic converter to be fully effective, it requires a specific exhaust gas composition and an engine temperature of at least 500 ° C. To obtain the required mixture, a lambda probe placed between the engine and the autocatalyst measures the residual oxygen content in the exhaust gas. The engine control processes the measurement result and issues control pulses for the formation of a perfect mixture.

Like many other components in the vehicle, the catalytic converter in a car is subject to a natural aging process. Constant high temperatures above 500 ° C and mechanical stress caused by vibration cause the carrier's precious metal-containing coating (platinum, rhodium or palladium) to lose its properties over time. Similarly, additives can accumulate in the catalyst and clog it if the engine burns too much oil. Then the exhaust gases no longer reach the precious metals and the autocatalytic converter loses its function, which leads to an error in the onboard computer.

This error also occurs when a vehicle is used only for short distances. Since it takes 3-5 minutes for the engine to reach operating temperature, the catalytic converter can only work effectively. On shorter journeys, pollutant residues remain in the catalytic converter and cause clogging in the long term. The same thing happens when refuelling with leaded fuel instead of unleaded petrol. Therefore, you should always pay attention to the correct fuel when refuelling, especially abroad.

In the event of a blockage, the catalyst in the car can be regenerated during a longer highway drive, this is called "free flow". Of course, a fault in the ignition or mixture processing plant can cause an unburned fuel-air mixture to enter the catalyst and burn inside. Therefore, faults in ignition or mixture preparation should be corrected immediately in a specialist workshop.

High-quality catalytic converters in the car are important not only for environmental protection but also for passing the TÜV test. Therefore, high quality should always be emphasized. However, it does not always have to be the original component. Many leading parts manufacturers offer identical catalysts that fully meet the requirements of the original parts. This makes these brand identifiers a good value alternative without compromising on quality. We are happy to advise you on choosing the right catalytic converter for your vehicle.