Exhaust Analyzers & Catalytic Converters
Exhaust gas analyzers are an obvious choice when selecting tools to solve engine emission problems. But exhaust analysis can also provide valuable information when troubleshooting driveability problems. This article discusses special considerations for vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter (CAT).
CAT-equipped vehicles have two combustion cycles; first in the engine, and secondary combustion in the CAT. This secondary combustion burns any remaining fuel and carbon monoxide, as well as converting NOx to NO and CO to CO2
The CAT's job is to clean up the exhaust, but in doing so it also destroys diagnostic clues in the exhaust gas. This makes troubleshooting driveability problems more difficult.
Misfires, exhaust leaks, and fuel return line restrictions will cause dramatic changes in exhaust content before the CAT, yet exhaust measured at the tailpipe may be normal or misleading. You must be aware of the effect of CAT combustion to use tailpipe exhaust analysis effectively. Toyota has published an excellent technical article to help in these situations.
Given these considerations, it seems simpler and more effective to take exhaust gas measurements before the catalytic converter. That's why Bridge Analyzers has designed a way to do just that. They've created a kit that lets technicians quickly install an inexpensive exhaust test port, so accurate exhaust gas measurements can be taken anywhere in the exhaust system. The Bridge Exhaust Port Kit will make it much easier to diagnose driveability problems in CAT-equipped cars.
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