Emission Control
Cars run on fuels and to make that work, a combustion process or burning of fuel takes place. When burning happens, there’s bound to be smoke and in vehicles, an emission control system needs to be efficiently working to ensure that harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon are filtered before they go out and mix with the air we breathe.
In the late 70’s, many government states have passed up legislation to limit the smoke emission from different types of vehicles in different industries. This moved auto makers to come up with an effective emission control system in their vehicles.
Soon, new technologies have allowed car makers to develop engines that can adjust themselves according to the emission output. Most vehicles now have an oxygen sensor where the exhaust passes when going out the engine. This sensor monitors the level of fuel and this information is used by the power train control module to adjust the amount of fuel to be used by the cylinders. Developments in today’s automobiles made them more robust and advanced; they can monitor problems and possibly, correct them.
What Comprises an Effective Emission Control System?
Your car’s emission control system is made up of essential part – the catalytic converter, PCV and EGR Valves and the Canister for Gasoline Vapors.
Catalytic converters are probably the most important breakthrough in emission control systems. Exhaust from your car’s engine goes through the pipes and into these converters. It is then filtered and mixed with special materials which turn carbon monoxide into water and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide. This results in cleaner and safer emission that goes out of your tail pipes.
Your car’s emission control is also made to send of some of the gases back into the engine and burned along with some air-fuel mixture. The PCV or positive crankshaft ventilation is the one responsible for this process. On the other hand, Exhaust gas recirculation or EGR valves is the one that monitors emissions going back to the intake system and then adjust the levels of production of oxides. However the more exhaust is allowed, the lower the temperature for combustion become and this affect the air-fuel mixture that PCV control.
An efficient emission control system will not be complete without the canister that catches gas vapors before they can escape to the atmosphere. These canisters keep the vapors within and release them only when the car is started and is pulled to the engine for the air-fuel mixture.
Any fault with these major parts will automatically place your vehicle in a powertrain control fault code and the engine light on your dashboard alert you of the issue. These kinds of problems should be addressed quickly to prevent health risks to you or your passengers and damage to the environment.
