What are the symptoms of a problematic three-way catalytic converter?
1 Answers
The symptoms of a problematic three-way catalytic converter include: 1. Unpleasant exhaust odor; 2. Engine overheating and premature excessive wear; 3. Engine power loss and abnormal noises. The causes of three-way catalytic converter damage are: 1. Blockage due to sintering of deposits from ethanol gasoline gum, sulfur-phosphorus chemical complexes, lead-manganese metal deposits, or melting of ceramic carriers caused by engine exhaust flames; 2. Loss of activity of surface precious metals, rendering them ineffective for catalysis; 3. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures leading to thermal deactivation. The three-way catalytic converter is an external purification device installed in the automotive exhaust system, which converts harmful carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides from vehicle exhaust into harmless carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction reactions.