From 1991, car manufacturers began to install, in all gasoline vehicles sold in the Mexican Republic, for example, a component of simple operation and that is very easy to maintain; we refer to the famous catalyst, or also called catalytic converter. This greatly reduces the emission of harmful gases produced in the combustion of gasoline; it achieves this by chemically converting nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC), into water (H2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The catalyst is a component very similar to the muffler (or silencer), although it is smaller. It is installed in the exhaust pipe, almost always exactly below the passenger cabin. There are two types of catalysts: the monolithic or oxidant and, the most widely used today, the three-way catalyst.

Monolithic or Oxidizing Catalyst

This catalytic converter consists of a monolithic ceramic honeycomb coated with a noble or inert metal; this can be platinum, palladium, rhodium or a combination of the three. This catalyst needs large quantities of fresh oxygen to be injected into the exhaust at the same time that they exit the exhaust manifold or the catalyst itself. For this purpose, an air injection system called AIR (Air Injection Reaction) or Air Injection Reaction is used. This catalyst reduces the emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO), but is practically ineffective in reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx), since to convert this element it is necessary that there is no oxygen at all. It seems incongruous to convert all three gases at once.

Three-way Catalyst

This catalyst is the most used in new vehicles because it is more modern and efficient. As mentioned, this catalyst reduces the three mentioned pollutants even though, unlike CO and HC, nitrogen oxides (NOx) require no air to be transformed. This is achieved with a very precise system of air control and with the help of an oxygen sensor. The three-way catalyst includes a small tube for air intake from the Thermactor. It includes three chambers: the first one is a honeycomb that catalyzes the NOx, the second is the one that receives the fresh air, and the third one catalyzes the CO and the HC.

Maintenance

Catalytic converters require little maintenance. The recommendations for them to work correctly are:

• Use only unleaded gasoline. The lead covers the catalytic materials until they are useless and completely covers the catalyst; also interrupts the operation of the engine because the gases have no outlet.
• Avoid prolonged minimum running. If the engine runs like this for more than 20 minutes or for 10 minutes with the engine accelerated, the catalyst material (pellets or honeycomb) will be coated with unburned hydrocarbons.
• While the engine is running, do not disconnect more than one spark plug wire and only do so for a very short time, for testing purposes. This prevents the mixture with the fuel from escaping without being burned.
• Periodically check that the catalyst housing has no severe dents.
• Keep the air injection system (pump, pump belt, and catalyst hose) and oxygen sensor running?