What to Do When Car Exhaust CO Levels Exceed Standards?
2 Answers
Solutions for excessive CO levels in car exhaust: 1. Clean the three-way catalytic converter: Use an IV drip method similar to human intravenous therapy to introduce cleaning solution into the vacuum tube of a running engine. The ingested solution burns away carbon deposits in the combustion chamber, enhancing engine power, then cleans the contaminated three-way catalytic converter in the exhaust pipe, restoring its original energy-saving and emission-reducing functions. 2. Repair aged or failed three-way catalytic converters: When the precious metals platinum, rhodium, and palladium inside have deteriorated and cleaning doesn't restore exhaust purification effectiveness, spray nano-precious metal (Pt-Rh-Pd) liquid into the removed converter. This achieves performance nearly equivalent to original equipment. 3. Install replacement catalytic material: Insert commercially available Fire Lotus three-way catalytic metal soft carriers into the exhaust pipe to serve as substitutes for the original converter's substrate, thereby improving exhaust purification.
If my car's CO emissions exceed the standard, I usually first check if the air filter is clogged, causing insufficient air intake and incomplete fuel combustion, which produces excessive carbon monoxide. Replacing it yourself is easy and costs just a few dozen yuan—usually, the issue improves after replacement. If that doesn’t work, it might be a faulty oxygen sensor, which can send incorrect data and cause the engine to inject too much fuel, leading to excessive CO. I’ve encountered this before—replacing the sensor for around 200 yuan solved the problem. Additionally, a failing catalytic converter can also increase CO emissions. This component converts harmful gases, but if it’s worn out, it requires professional inspection and replacement. Otherwise, not only will the car fail emissions tests, but it will also pollute the environment and harm health. I recommend not delaying—if you notice an issue, get it diagnosed at a repair shop as soon as possible to ensure safe driving.
