What Causes the Engine Noise to Increase After Removing the Three-Way Catalytic Converter?

[OElizabeth]

Removing the three-way catalytic converter increases engine noise because the converter, typically made of honeycomb ceramic or metal mesh, serves a certain sound-dampening function. The Role of the Three-Way Catalytic Converter: With increasingly stringent environmental protection requirements, more vehicles are equipped with exhaust catalytic converters and oxygen sensors. These devices convert harmful gases such as CO, HC, and NOx in vehicle exhaust into harmless carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction reactions. Since this catalytic converter can simultaneously transform various major harmful substances in exhaust into harmless ones, it is called a three-way converter. Hazards of a Damaged Three-Way Catalytic Converter: When the three-way catalytic converter fails, it does not immediately affect the normal operation of the vehicle. However, it can lead to difficulties in combustion, reduced driving power, engine backfiring, increased fuel consumption, incomplete combustion, carbon buildup in cylinders and spark plugs, and other issues. Over time, these problems can negatively impact the vehicle.