09-14-2010, 09:44 AM
As the catalytic converter debate rages on, I have decided to take a hard look at the research from an unbiased position. Many claim that removing the Cat will increase horsepower substantially, and others suggest that it will lead to increased pollution. Some even suggest that it does nothing for pollution. After looking at the research I found a lot of surprising facts about the little catalytic converter. I have created this article to share with you what I found in my research.
What is a catalytic converter and what does it do?
I am not going to get technical in describing the intricacies of a catalytic converter; I am only going to give you a quick overview of what it is and what it does. If you already know this information, skip this section and move on to the next one.
A catalytic converter looks like a small muffler. Modern catalytic converters have a honey comb shaped core (called a monolith) that the hot gasses pass through. As the gasses pass through the honeycomb core, the hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide are combined with the noble metals platinum, palladium, and rhodium. This process changes the chemical structure of the polluting gasses into a non-polluting form and therefore reduces these pollutants.
Does removing the catalytic converter increase horsepower substantially?
The main complaint auto enthusiasts have regarding the catalytic converter is that it increases back pressure and decreases the horsepower. But, is this concern warranted? You may be surprised to learn that modern catalytic converters flow very efficiently.
After researching this topic a little, I found that a catalytic converter reduces horsepower on a stock LT1 350 by only 4 to 5 horsepower. This is according to extensive dyno testing done by John Lingenfelter. Well, what about high performance engines, isn’t this what they complain about? Doesn’t it just kill the horsepower on a high performance engine? Again, according to the same source, a 500 horsepower engine will lose about 12 to 14 horsepower from a catalytic converter. In addition, dyno testing performed by David Vizard, the author of “How To Build Horsepower”, also backs up this research. So is it worth taking off a catalytic for a few horsepower. I think not. As you can see, it does not reduce horsepower substantially and has a negligible effect on HP.
Does the catalytic converter decrease pollution?
Again, you may be surprised by what I have uncovered when researching this topic. The answer is yes and no. You are probably wondering how that can be. The answer is that it reduces one kind of pollution while at the same time it is contributing to another type of pollution.
According to the research(1), the catalytic converter does a very good job at eliminating the pollutants it was designed to eliminate. But, there is an untold side effect of the catalytic converter. According to the research (2,3,4,5), those same Noble metals (platinum, palladium, and rhodium) that are used to convert the HC, Co, and NOx are now showing up in our environment and the effects on health are not yet known. Once again we see that there are two sides to every coin.
Conclusion:
From this article there are a few conclusions we can draw. First of all, I don’t think it is worth removing the catalytic converter for only a few horsepower. In addition, it is a federal violation of the law to do so, and for that reason alone it should be left in place. It will not increase the horsepower to any noticeable degree. It does a good job a removing the pollutants it is designed to remove, but it increases other pollutants to which we do not know the consequences.
So the debate rages on, but I think the debate should change its focus. Since it does not hurt HP by any noticeable degree, we should ask what type of pollution is more dangerous for the earth and living creatures on earth, and if there is a better way we can remove pollution from automobile exhaust.
Footnotes:
1. National vehicle emissions policies and practices and declining US carbon monoxide-related mortality. Mott JA, Wolfe MI, Alverson CJ, Macdonald SC, Bailey CR, Ball LB, Moorman JE, Somers JH, Mannino DM, Redd SC. Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS E-17, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
2. Greenland snow evidence of large scale atmospheric contamination for platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
Barbante C, Veysseyre A, Ferrari C, van de Velde K, Morel C, Capodaglio G, Cescon P, Scarponi G, Boutron C.
Department of Environmental Sciences and Centre for Studies on Environmental Chemistry and Technology-CNR, University of Venice, Ca' Foscari, I-30123 Venice, Italy.
3. Anthropogenic platinum group element (Pt, Pd and Rh) concentrations in road dusts and roadside soils from Perth, Western Australia.
Whiteley JD, Murray F.
School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia. whiteley@essun1.murdoch.edu.au
4. Implications of platinum-group element accumulation along U.S. roads from catalytic-converter attrition.
Ely JC, Neal CR, Kulpa CF, Schneegurt MA, Seidler JA, Jain JC.
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA. ely.1@nd.edu
5. A first look at platinum in road-deposited sediments and roadside soils, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
Sutherland RA.
Geomorphology Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Hawaii, 2424 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA. Sutherla@Hawaii.edu
What is a catalytic converter and what does it do?
I am not going to get technical in describing the intricacies of a catalytic converter; I am only going to give you a quick overview of what it is and what it does. If you already know this information, skip this section and move on to the next one.
A catalytic converter looks like a small muffler. Modern catalytic converters have a honey comb shaped core (called a monolith) that the hot gasses pass through. As the gasses pass through the honeycomb core, the hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide are combined with the noble metals platinum, palladium, and rhodium. This process changes the chemical structure of the polluting gasses into a non-polluting form and therefore reduces these pollutants.
Does removing the catalytic converter increase horsepower substantially?
The main complaint auto enthusiasts have regarding the catalytic converter is that it increases back pressure and decreases the horsepower. But, is this concern warranted? You may be surprised to learn that modern catalytic converters flow very efficiently.
After researching this topic a little, I found that a catalytic converter reduces horsepower on a stock LT1 350 by only 4 to 5 horsepower. This is according to extensive dyno testing done by John Lingenfelter. Well, what about high performance engines, isn’t this what they complain about? Doesn’t it just kill the horsepower on a high performance engine? Again, according to the same source, a 500 horsepower engine will lose about 12 to 14 horsepower from a catalytic converter. In addition, dyno testing performed by David Vizard, the author of “How To Build Horsepower”, also backs up this research. So is it worth taking off a catalytic for a few horsepower. I think not. As you can see, it does not reduce horsepower substantially and has a negligible effect on HP.
Does the catalytic converter decrease pollution?
Again, you may be surprised by what I have uncovered when researching this topic. The answer is yes and no. You are probably wondering how that can be. The answer is that it reduces one kind of pollution while at the same time it is contributing to another type of pollution.
According to the research(1), the catalytic converter does a very good job at eliminating the pollutants it was designed to eliminate. But, there is an untold side effect of the catalytic converter. According to the research (2,3,4,5), those same Noble metals (platinum, palladium, and rhodium) that are used to convert the HC, Co, and NOx are now showing up in our environment and the effects on health are not yet known. Once again we see that there are two sides to every coin.
Conclusion:
From this article there are a few conclusions we can draw. First of all, I don’t think it is worth removing the catalytic converter for only a few horsepower. In addition, it is a federal violation of the law to do so, and for that reason alone it should be left in place. It will not increase the horsepower to any noticeable degree. It does a good job a removing the pollutants it is designed to remove, but it increases other pollutants to which we do not know the consequences.
So the debate rages on, but I think the debate should change its focus. Since it does not hurt HP by any noticeable degree, we should ask what type of pollution is more dangerous for the earth and living creatures on earth, and if there is a better way we can remove pollution from automobile exhaust.
Footnotes:
1. National vehicle emissions policies and practices and declining US carbon monoxide-related mortality. Mott JA, Wolfe MI, Alverson CJ, Macdonald SC, Bailey CR, Ball LB, Moorman JE, Somers JH, Mannino DM, Redd SC. Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS E-17, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
2. Greenland snow evidence of large scale atmospheric contamination for platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
Barbante C, Veysseyre A, Ferrari C, van de Velde K, Morel C, Capodaglio G, Cescon P, Scarponi G, Boutron C.
Department of Environmental Sciences and Centre for Studies on Environmental Chemistry and Technology-CNR, University of Venice, Ca' Foscari, I-30123 Venice, Italy.
3. Anthropogenic platinum group element (Pt, Pd and Rh) concentrations in road dusts and roadside soils from Perth, Western Australia.
Whiteley JD, Murray F.
School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia. whiteley@essun1.murdoch.edu.au
4. Implications of platinum-group element accumulation along U.S. roads from catalytic-converter attrition.
Ely JC, Neal CR, Kulpa CF, Schneegurt MA, Seidler JA, Jain JC.
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA. ely.1@nd.edu
5. A first look at platinum in road-deposited sediments and roadside soils, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
Sutherland RA.
Geomorphology Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Hawaii, 2424 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA. Sutherla@Hawaii.edu
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