Small device. Big impact

Catalytic Converter

Taking care of your car is time taking but it’s worth the investment. So what is one of the most important service that you cannot put off for long? Well to give you a hint, it is responsible for a cleaner and better environment and is considered a small device with a big impact. Well, you guessed it right! It is the catalytic converter that makes your car more fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly. 

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Since cars generate a lot of fume and gas, also known as emissions. These emissions cause pollution and escalate global warming. This is where the catalytic converter comes in and saves your car from turning into a black fume blower. For this reason, all new vehicles, especially new models by Toyota, Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia, Honda, etc., are now designed on emission control technologies. On top of which is the “Catalytic Converter”, converting all harmful gases into clean environmentally friendly ones.

Kia Motors, the automobile giant and a front runner in auto tech, has launched all its variants and trims with a catalytic converter. The catalytic converter price varies for each car model and is one of the most sustainable product.

Be it Kia Sportage, Kia Rio 1.5, Kia Niro Hybrid, Kia Cerato, Kia Picanto, Kia Sorento, Kia Stonic, or Kia Carnival every single Kia car has it. All Kia cars including Kia Sportage NQ5, Kia Sorento models, Niro EV, and Kia K5 GT has built-in catalytic convertor designed for the specific engines separately. And just to make it clear, car colors have nothing to do with catalytic convertors, Kia Sportage orange will have the same convertor as Kia Sportage panthera metal.

Catalytic Converter- How it started 

Catalytic converters first started appearing in the mid-1970s, invented by Engelhard Corporation, and rapidly gained popularity due to their universal appeal. The carbon footprint of your vehicle is minimized with this fantastic device and makes your vehicle works flawlessly, what more can you ask for?

So now the question is what a catalytic converter does and why it is such an important part of all modern-day vehicles. To answer this, first, get into a little bit of detail about how cars release emissions. The car exhaust system is responsible for converting harmful engine pollutants into less harmful gases through a chemical reaction. These “bad” fumes include hydrocarbons, monoxide, and nitrogen oxide are then converted into “less bad” emissions through the catalytic converter.  

A catalytic convertor uses a chamber called a catalyst and splits the unsafe molecules within the bad fumes before they are released into the environment. It is located under the vehicle and has two pipes coming out of it. This large metal case utilizes these two pipes to process and expel pollutants.

Gases enter through one end of the pipe from the engine known as the “input” pipe. These are then broken down through a chemical reaction in the catalyst. Bad gases flow through a honeycomb structure lined with metals that play an important role in reducing the efficiency of diesel engines. The gases after turning into less-harmful ones travel through the second pipe, known as the “output” which is connected to the car’s tailpipe. 

Types of Catalytic Converter

The typical catalytic converter is made up of platinum or similar metals like rhodium or palladium. Since all these metals are costly and therefore, make your precious catalytic convertor at high risk of theft. There are two main types of catalysts:

• Reduction Catalysts- This reduces nitrogen oxide pollution by splitting nitrogen and oxygen which alone are harmless. 
• Oxidation Catalyst- This reduces carbon monoxide by adding oxygen and turning it into carbon dioxide which alone is less harmful.

Located near the catalytic converter is the oxygen sensor (O2) which indicates how much oxygen is present in the exhaust gases through car’s electronic control unit ECU. This provides the car with an excellent air/ fuel ratio, which helps the engine to dispense the catalytic device with enough oxygen and finish the oxidation process.

Catalytic converters can be categorized into two primary types, two-way and three-way. Diesel engines deploy two-way catalytic converters. Such catalytic are made of hydrocarbons that are bound to soot.

Over time these catalytic converters become clogged and cause car problems like overheating, carbon buildup, contamination, and a worked-up exhaust system. Some contaminants like oil and coolants can even leak into the engine and cause physical damage. These fluids can also restrict the fuel emissions to flow out properly by clogging the catalytic convertor. With the exhaust flow blocked, the car doesn’t perform as efficiently as it should leading to more car problems in the future.

It can also mess up the lambda sensors that are responsible for monitoring oxygen levels in your car’s exhaust. The outer cover of the catalytic converter can also get damaged due to overheating, debris from roads, speed bumps, or running over curbs.

When your Catalytic Converter needs service? 

So how would you know that your catalytic converter is damaged or need a service checkup?

Well for starters, there are a few indicators such as:

• Code P0420 engine light on the dashboard
• Sluggish engine performance
• Reduced acceleration
• Dark exhaust smoke
• Smell of sulfur
• Excessive heat under the car

The P0420 code is triggered by a bad catalytic converter resulting in low efficiency of the emission system. Thanks to automobile manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, Kia, Suzuki, etc. the inbuilt- oxygen sensors will indicate right away whether your car is in need of a catalytic converter service or not. A red light will flash on your car dashboard if the catalytic converter isn’t working properly.

If you come across any of the above indicators, and you suspect that it’s the catalytic converter. Simply check in at Kia Motor Site for a catalytic convertor service checkup and get it serviced as soon as possible before it causes more damage to your car. The technicians’ team is highly skilled and Kia certified to service your car according to global Kia standards.

Get a Catalytic Converter Service 

The Kia Motors service team is well trained to assist you while your car gets serviced and you will be provided with much-needed car care advice in order to take care of your car the way it’s meant to.

You will feel the difference in your fuel mileage immediately. The Kia Sportage petrol average is around 10-12 Km/L, Kia Picanto petrol average is around 12-15 Km/L, Honda City petrol average is about 17 Km/L whereas, Fortuner petrol average ranges between 10-14 Km/L. Your vehicle mileage improves with a periodic catalytic service. 

Take the proactive approach in this regard and use a branded premium catalytic cleaner to drive on long trips with some much-needed speed. So save money on fuel, prevent emissions and enjoy better fuel mileage by getting your catalytic convertor cleaned every few months at Kia Motors Site. Simply book your appointment and drive away with a healthy happy car.