What is a Car Exhaust Catalytic Converter? Its Functions & Types

In recent years, air pollution has always been a focal point for countries around the world, including Indonesia. There are many factors that cause air pollution, one of the biggest being vehicle emissions. To reduce this pollution, catalytic components for cars have been developed.

This component is usually already available in new car models. Hearing about catalytic components may not be unfamiliar to some people. For those who are not familiar with this component, here is a complete review.

What is a Car Exhaust Catalyst?

A car exhaust catalyst, more commonly known as a CC (Catalytic Converter), is a component installed in the car's exhaust system. Nowadays, this component is used by all car manufacturers to reduce pollutants from vehicles.

Functions of a Car Exhaust Catalyst

After understanding the definition of a catalyst, here are some functions of a car exhaust catalyst:

1. Reducing Exhaust Emissions from Cars

The first function of this component is to reduce exhaust emissions from the combustion of fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber. Thus, the gases released by the exhaust become cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

2. Filtering All Pollutants

Essentially, exhaust gases contain several pollutants such as Hydrocarbons (HC), Nitrogen Oxides (Nox), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and other substances.

The exhaust catalyst usually has a honeycomb structure and is made of palladium or platinum. A chemical reaction occurs when the exhaust gases touch the metal part of the catalyst, during which all these pollutants are processed into cleaner substances.

3. Smoother Exhaust Sound

Cars that do not use a catalyst usually have loud exhaust sounds and become noisier because the flow of exhaust gases is smoother. This creates a noisy sound. However, with the presence of a catalyst, the exhaust sound is smoother, as the sound is somewhat muffled by the catalyst metal.

4. More Fuel Efficient

Removing the catalyst can lead to increased fuel consumption in cars. With the catalyst, the combustion process of the car's fuel becomes more effective and fuel-efficient.

Types of Car Exhaust Catalysts

Currently, car exhaust catalysts are divided into 3 types. Here are the types of catalysts:

1. Oxidant Catalyst (OC)

This type of catalyst is commonly referred to as CCO (Catalytic Converter for Oxidant). Oxygen in this type of catalyst reacts with CO and HC substances, producing exhaust gases with CO2 and HO2 content. Therefore, pure oxygen or air is needed in the exhaust manifold to filter pollutants.

2. Three Way Catalyst (TWC)

This type of catalyst is the most widely used. This type of catalyst can convert harmful exhaust gases (HC, CO, N0x) into environmentally friendly gases. However, for this component to work optimally, the gasoline and air must have nearly equal values to achieve a high purification rate.

3. Three Way Catalyst & Oxidant Catalyst (TWC-OC)

This type of catalyst is a combination of OC and TWC types. Thus, it is very effective in reducing high levels of pollutants.

That is the review of what a car exhaust catalyst is along with its functions and types. To reduce air pollution, it is essential to maintain the performance of this catalyst.

You can maintain it by using fuel with an octane rating of 90 or higher, as high-octane fuel has minimal lead content. This way, the catalyst metal will last longer.

However, if this component is damaged, it is advisable to visit the nearest Daihatsu dealer or service at an official workshop to address the issue. If left unchecked, it can lead to excessive fuel consumption, rough and noisy exhaust sounds, and suboptimal exhaust emissions.

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