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Now you can replace Catalytic converter and direct fit converters at affordable prices at partsavatar

Is car’s exhaust system emitting harmful gases? Parts avatar brings a good range of Catalytic converters and exhaust system auto parts at cheap prices across Canada.

All cars have exhaust system to transfer combustible gases away from the engine. Exhaust system of car not only reduces the emission of gases to the atmosphere but also helps the engine to run more efficiently. With the increase in number of cars on the road, air pollution level has also increased rapidly. Fortunately, nowadays cars come with a device called “catalytic converter” that helps in reducing air pollution and harmful gases emitted by car’s engine.  A catalytic converter is an emission control device that decreases the toxicity of gases and diesel engines by basically catalyzing a redox reaction.

For deeply understanding catalytic converters let us understand the term catalyst. Catalyst is a compound that can start a chemical reaction without affecting itself. It just makes a chemical reaction run faster. It speeds up the process of removing the pollution.

A controlled combustion reaction needs to occur inside car engine for operating the internal combustion in car's engine. But it also produces harmful gases in the air. So as to decrease the harmful gases in the air modern automobiles are equipped with catalytic converters. Today, catalytic converters are mandatorily used in trucks, cars, motor bikes, mining equipments and even stoves.

A catalytic converter reduces the following compounds found in car exhaust:

1. Carbon monoxide

2.  Nitrogen oxide

3. Hydrocarbons

Catalytic converter is a metal box underside your car and has two pipes coming out of it. The task of catalytic converter is to convert these harmful compounds into less harmful compounds before leaving the exhaust. One of its two pipes is input pipe and its function is to bring in hot and polluted fumes from engine’s cylinders. Second pipe is called output pipe which is connected to the tailpipe of car's exhaust or exhaust. A chemical reaction triggers whenever the gases from engine fumes blow over the catalyst, separating pollutant gases and converting them into less harmful gases.

A combination of platinum, palladium and rhodium is used as catalyst in catalytic converter. The metals coat the ceramic beads within metal casing of exhaust pipe. The catalytic ceramic beads provide maximum surface area for the reaction to take place by using less amount of catalyst.

REACTIONS INSIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Reduction and oxidation reactions take place inside the converter. Gases flow through honeycomb like structure that is coated with catalysts and made of ceramic. Honeycomb structure gives them enough space for reaction.

First with the help of reduction catalyst such as platinum and rhodium, catalytic converter reduces nitrogen oxide into nitrogen and oxygen gases.

In the second stage of oxidation reaction, catalyst as platinum and palladium turn carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide.  Another oxidation turns unburned hydrocarbons into water and carbon dioxide.

As we can see, there are three reactions going on in total. Therefore, these are called three way catalytic converters.

In the end, the exhaust produces gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water (steam form).

In gasoline engines, about 90 % of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are converted into less harmful compounds. So these are much efficient in gasoline run engines.

As catalytic converters work at high temperatures, its efficiency is very less in diesel run engines.

CHOOSING A GOOD CATALYTIC CONVERTER

1. The best way to search a good catalytic converter is to find the converters that fit with your vehicle’s year, model and design.

2. In the engine compartment, you can see a vehicle emission control information tag. This emission certification helps you to choose a better converter for your vehicle.

3.  You can opt for direct fit or universal fir design. Direct fit will give you a hassle free fitment while universal will require cutting, welding or fabrication. As compared to direct fit, universal fit is a cheaper option to opt for. Keeping in mind your requirements and specification you can easily make your choice.

DAMAGE AND PRECAUTIONS         

 Excessive oil or carbon could clog a catalytic converter. When this happens, the engine will not accelerate and may stall after a few minutes. An engine with a clogged converter may send error code from car Oxygen sensors to computer. A clogged converter should be replaced by professional.

Due to additive run in the engine, they can also become poisonous. This causes the converter to work less efficiently.

Catalytic converter deteriorates when leaded gasoline or rich fuel mixture is used.  A rich fuel mixture produces high temperature that causes the parts in converter to melt.

The lead in leaded gasoline adheres to and coats the catalyst, which then can’t do its conversion job on polluting gases. A thick coat of lead builds on catalyst. The end result of this is that the exhaust gases are kept from coming into contact with the catalyst.

Other harmful substances that can damage a catalyst converter are sulfur, manganese and silicon. They can enter the exhaust stream through the leak in the engine.

Depending on the contaminant, sometimes a poison can be reduced by running the engine for a long time under heavy load. The increased temperature may vaporize the contaminant from its surface. But it is very difficult to remove lead deposits because lead has high boiling point. So it is advised to always use unleaded gasoline in your vehicle.

The OBD diagnostic systems are designed to alert a driver to a misfire condition as misfire conditions could severely damage catalytic converters.

Because catalytic converters are made up of expensive metals like platinum, rhodium, palladium and even gold, they are target for thieves. Bolt on converters can easily be cut or removed of the late model vehicles or SUVs. It can cost more than $1000 to replace.

DIRECT FIT CONVERTER VS UNIVERSAL CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Direct fit and universal catalytic converters are aftermarket options available. car's Direct fit catalyticconverter exactly matches the design or model of your car. If you are considering a high performance engine then go for direct fit converter. Direct fit converter components are specially designed using specific length and pipe width to take advantage of vacuum that hot gases produce when they leave the exhaust manifold. Not only they increase engine performance but also they reduce noise. But they are costlier as compared to universal converters.

Universal converters are designed to fit for various trucks, cars or vans. They can hinder the effectiveness of a direct fit converter thus decreasing engine’s performance. They are generally cheaper than the direct fit converters. But its installing is quite complicated as compared to direct fit.

While making choice, vehicle’s design should be kept into consideration along with other factors that could affect the installation of converter. You could take a professional’s advice or follow standards specific to your vehicle’s state.

Direct fit converters are also available under affordable prices at partsavatar.ca. So if you are looking for aftermarket purchase of exhaust system auto parts and catalytic converter components then do visit partsavatar.ca.

Upgrade Clutch and Exhaust Parts at affordable prices only at Partsavatar

Is your clutch slipping out of gear? Smooth your ride by upgrading the clutch and exhaust parts available at parts avatar.

The clutch in an auto vehicle is one of the important components. They are workhouse of a modern car. Located between engine and transmission, clutch encounters ever increasing strain caused by power and high torques. The clutch is the first stage in the transmission of the car with manual gearbox. Most cars use friction clutch operated by hydraulic fluids or cables. When the car is moving under power, the clutch is engaged. A pressure plate bolted to flywheel exerts constant pressure on the driven plate by means of diaphragm spring. Earlier cars had series of coil springs instead of diaphragm springs at the back of pressure plate. When the clutch is disengaged or the pedal is depressed, the arm pushes a release bearing against the center of diaphragm spring which releases clamping pressure.

 Drivers are advised to immediately take their car to car garage, if they notice even minor problems with the clutch. At some point in your vehicle’s life, you are probably going to experience problems regarding clutch. Auto Clutches engage and disengage the motive force produced by the engine.

The increase in a vehicle’s weight, torques, and engine’s output by the passage of time has increased demands of a better clutch system. Pulling tons of loads behind by heavy vehicles makes it hard to drive on a clutch.

Therefore, damage to clutch is quite evident. Bucking when setting off can cost expensive repair. Heavy tow loads can damage a vehicle’s clutch very badly. Overload will cause friction between clutch disc and flywheel which will result in isolated hot spots. These hot spots will increase the cracks on the friction surface of clutch pressure plate and flywheel. This can cause complete failure of dual mass flywheel (DMF) of car because the special lubricant in the DMF would become harder if it is constantly exposed to the heat. This will eventually lead to replacement of the DMF.

Let’s take a look at some warning signs that your clutch may not be functioning up to par.

SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR

The most common warning is slipping of a clutch. If your clutch slips out of the gear during regular driving, then it needs replacement immediately. What this means is that when you accelerate, the extra gas won’t make the car move any faster. When the engine spins faster, clutch disc slips on the flywheel and none of the motion gets transferred. It will seem as though the car suddenly goes out of gear and then comes back in. The gears are still engaged but the engine motion is not producing enough motion in the transmission and the car's drive train i.e. input shaft, drive shaft, wheels etc. because it is slipping. This indicates that the clutch has worn out and the crankshaft is leaking the oil. Any worn out clutch can be replaced in a simple repairing procedure.

BURNING SMELL OF CLUTCH

Overheating of a clutch can produce burning smell, same as that of burning of a rubber. These are signs that your clutch plate is beginning to wear and tear. Too much incomplete contact with the flywheel may cause the clutches to suffer. This may happen as the pressure plate is maladjusted or damaged and put the clutch disc in partial contact with the flywheel. Riding the clutch can disengage the clutch disc from the flywheel, making the latter spin against the former.

This slow grinding of the clutch disc causes premature wear. This problem is most common in slow moving traffic. So in such cases get it checked by a professional.

DISENGAGING PROBLEMS OF CLUTCH

The hydraulic action that disengages the clutch disc from the flywheel can have problems. It may become difficult to disengage the clutch in this situation. In old model vehicles, mechanical actions that engage and disengage the clutch may cause problems due to this. A soft clutch is an early sign that your clutch is beginning to fail. If this happens, you will suddenly find yourself in a vehicle that cannot be taken out of gear except by force. You can still put on the brakes but they would be fighting the motion of the engine. This may cause dangerous situation which is better off avoiding.

Drive your car for short distance keep your attention on how far you let the clutch out before the gear catches. If you allow your clutch to come out, it is sign of a worn out clutch.

GREASE ON THE SEALS OF THE CRANKSHAFT OUTPUT AND TRANSMISSION INPUT

Too much grease on transmission input or pilot bearing as well as leaks in hydraulic actuation system lead to dirty facings. These can cause change in frictional behavior between clutch disc and flywheel.

Therefore it is necessary to thoroughly analyze the source of the problem and to fix it immediately.

TIPS TO PREVENT DAMAGE OF CLUTCHES

1. Absolute cleanliness is necessary. Touching clutch facing with greasy hands may result in impaired operations later. 

2. The clutch hub needs proper greasing. If too much grease is used, the centrifugal forces spread lubricant onto the clutch facings causing it to malfunction.

3. Check the clutch disc for axial run out prior to installation.

4. Do not use force to join clutch disc and transmission input shaft hubs as it may cause damage to the hub spine.

5. Tighten the clamping screws in accordance with the requirements using star pattern and applying specified torques.

6. Thoroughly inspect the release system and if necessary replace the worn parts.

7. The adjacent components should also be inspected during the clutch replacement as doing so will save up expensive follow up repairs.

8. You can run a small test about whether or not your clutch is ready for replacement. You can conduct a simple road test. When in first gear, rev your engine and change directly into fifth. If your engine continues to rev high, this means that gear has not caught on properly and clutch has some issues.

Make sure the clutch on your manual transmission vehicle stays in good condition by paying attention to the above discussed factors.

Partsavatar.ca offers clutches, flywheels and exhaust parts under established brands such as Wagner, walker. For detailed information do visit partsavatar.ca.