| Before 1975 no U.S. vehicle came equipped with a | | | | exit the tailpipe and go out into the open air. As you |
| catalytic converter. Changes in environmental policy -- | | | | might guess, a properly functioning catalytic converter |
| started with the formation of the Environmental | | | | is essential toward preserving air quality standards. |
| Protection Agency [EPA] by the Nixon Administration - | | | | There are four telltale signs that indicate a catalytic |
| soon changed all of that. Now, with very few | | | | converter will soon fail: |
| exceptions, all vehicles must come outfitted with a | | | | · Rusted or broken converter body or end tubes. |
| catalytic converter. So, what does a catalytic | | | | · Bits of substrate in other sections of the exhaust |
| converter do exactly? Good question...we will answer | | | | system. |
| that query in this article. | | | | · No rattle detected in a pellitized converter (If the |
| When your engine burns fuel it produces gases that | | | | converter doesn't rattle, the pellets may have melted |
| are harmful to the environment. If not handled properly, | | | | together or fallen out). |
| these same gases will exit through your vehicle's | | | | · A rattle detected in a monolithic converter (A |
| exhaust and work to do harm on the environment. The | | | | rattle in this kind of converter indicates the substrate |
| EPA, which was established in 1970, mandated that | | | | has separated.) |
| starting in 1975 vehicles were to come equipped with | | | | If you see evidence of any of these signs, then you |
| an apparatus to reduce dangerous emissions. The | | | | must replace your catalytic converter right away. If |
| particular piece of equipment created to accomplish | | | | you don't, you risk receiving a ticket from a police |
| this task was the catalytic converter. | | | | officer and you may automatically fail your next motor |
| The catalytic converter in your vehicle is installed in the | | | | vehicle inspection. |
| exhaust line between the exhaust manifold and the | | | | You can install a new catalytic converter yourself and |
| muffler. Pellets inside the converter work to transform | | | | save money on parts and labor. Shop online for the |
| detrimental gases into harmless gases before they | | | | best deals going. |