What Is a Catalytic Converter & Why Do People Steal Catalytic Converter

If you are searching for what is a catalytic converter & why do people steal catalytic converter? Then the answer is catalytic converter is an important part of your car’s exhaust system which actually converts harmful engine exhaust pollutants and dangerous gases into a less harmful to the environment by a chemical reaction. In general, most “bad” hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are converted into “less bad” carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor in the exhaust. Catalytic converters began appearing in many cars in the mid-1970’s and soon began to be used almost globally.

Although they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, catalytic converters are usually the size of a loaf of bread (sometimes flattened bread) and are placed in the exhaust system between the engine and the muffler. The converter needs more heat to work, so keep it as close to the engine as possible. More than one converter is being used sometime.

What Does The Catalytic Converter Do?

A catalytic converter uses a chamber called catalyst to convert harmful compounds from engine emissions into safe gases, such as steam. It distributes the unsafe molecules in the gases that the vehicle produces before it is released into the air.

The catalytic converter is located on the underside of the vehicle and looks like a large metal box. Two pipes are coming out of it. The converter uses these two pipes and the catalyst to secure the exhaust gas during the process.

Gases are brought from the “input” pipe connected to the car’s engine. They are blown over the catalyst, which causes a chemical reaction that breaks down the contaminants. Less harmful gases now travel through other pipes, or “outputs” that are connected to the car’s tail pipe.

Why Do People Steal Catalytic Converter?

Catalytic converters price are often the main reason for theft. They contain three metals that aid in chemical reactions that make emissions less harmful: platinum, palladium and rhodium. The prices of these metals have risen dramatically in the early 21st century.

How Much Is a Catalytic Converter Worth?

Priced in ounces, platinum rose from an average of 30 530 per ounce in 2001 to about 1 1,100 in 2021, when it peaked at $ 1,700 in 2011. The average price of palladium rose from $ 600 per ounce in 2001 to a high of about $ 2,400. In 2021.

But it is rhodium that has been the most unstable. After averaging about ً 1,600 an ounce in 2001, it averaged ً 18,000 in 2021, up from about ً 26,000 this year. In contrast, gold rose from about ً 300 an ounce in 2001 to about ً 1,800 in 2021, multiplication by six.

The increase in the price of the three precious metals in the converter results in higher cost of the converter itself – and higher values ​​as scrap for converters, as the metals can be recovered and sold.

As a result, junkyards are more actively assembling catalytic converters, and some companies have emerged to buy converters shipped to them. While the value of a given converter varies greatly, some of the statistics that appear in “Mail Us” advertisements range from about $ 140 to about 500 1,500. Rising prices have led thieves to steal catalytic converters, often cutting them off from under a parked car on the road.

How Much Is A Catalytic Converter Scrap Price?

A recycler can offer you between $ 50 to $ 250 for a Catalytic converter, with some going from $ 800 to $ 1,500 if they come from hybrid vehicles.

Keep in mind that if your catalytic converter is stolen, it may be cost you about $ 2,000 to replace – or even more expensive so you must take care of your catalytic converter and need to take some more steps to prevent it from being stolen!

Types of Catalytic Converters

As mentioned earlier, there are two main catalysts – reduction and oxidation – that can be used inside an exhaust system to handle specific gases.

Depending on the age of the vehicle and the type of catalytic converter in it, there may not be a catalyst for reduction. There are two main types of catalytic converters:

• Two-way: Two-way Catalytic converter was available on vehicles in the United States until 1981. They contain only oxidation catalysts, which help convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. Hydrocarbons (which are non-combustible and partially combustible fuels) are converted into carbon dioxide and water.
• Three-way: Since 1981, a three-way catalytic converter has been used. It performs like a two-way converter with the addition of a reduction catalyst. As mentioned earlier, it is used to convert nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen gases.

Diesel engines use two-way catalysts, and converters are also specially designed to work with diesel emissions. The converters of these types of engines test and target particles known as soluble organic fractions. They are made of mascara bound hydrocarbons.