Which Car Parts Contain Gold?
2 Answers
The particulate filter in cars contains gold. Here is relevant information about automotive particulate filters: Meaning of particulate filter: A particulate filter is a ceramic filter installed in the diesel engine exhaust system, capable of reducing over 90% of the soot produced by diesel engines. Working principle of particulate filter: The particulate filter works by trapping soot particles on the filter, and when the accumulation reaches a certain level, the trapped soot particles are burned off. Hazards of a clogged particulate filter: If the particles on the particulate filter gradually increase, it can lead to clogging of the particulate filter, obstructing engine exhaust, which may result in reduced engine power.
There aren't actually many parts in a car that contain gold, but some electronic components do use small amounts of gold. Last time I took apart a car's airbag control module, the circuit board contacts inside were plated with a thin layer of gold because gold conducts electricity well and doesn't rust easily. Also, the pins on those precision chips in the engine control unit are often gold-plated to ensure stable signal transmission. But honestly, the total amount of gold in each car is probably less than 0.2 grams, which isn't worth much. Friends hoping to strike it rich by dismantling car parts for gold might be disappointed—you'd be better off putting that effort into some legitimate business instead.
