Emissions System

An automobile’s exhaust and emissions system muffles the noise of the engine, works to reduce the amount of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere, keeps your automobile running efficiently, and helps you meet all legal emissions control regulations; let the expert mechanics at Ewell Auto Service in Fort Worth help you keep these systems in good working condition.

The automobile’s fuel system must be operating properly to prevent pollution.

The fuel injection system makes sure the right ratio of gasoline to air is mixed in the engine so that the fuel burns efficiently leaving fewer pollutants in the exhaust. If any part of the fuel system is not working properly, the fuel may not be burned up completely in the engine and the residual emissions may contain pollutants.

The exhaust system works to clean up the emissions and muffle the noise.

The exhaust system further treats the emitted gases before they leave the car to make sure that as much as possible of the pollution is removed. The system consists primarily of the catalytic converter, the muffler, the tailpipes.

The catalytic converter must be working properly or it can be disastrous.

The catalytic converter consists of a chamber containing pellets of catalyst through which the exhaust gases pass. The exhaust's toxic emissions are converted to water vapor and carbon dioxide.
The catalytic converter not only helps to clean up the emissions, but it also checks the oxygen level in the exhaust fumes and reports back to the engine’s computer so that it can regulate and change if necessary the amount of air in the air/gas mix that actually combusts in the first place to run the car.
But maintaining effective catalytic functioning is difficult. In both oxidation and three-way catalyst systems, the unintended production of undesirable pollutants, such as sulfates and ammonia, must be avoided. The catalytic system can be “poisoned” by contaminants such as lead and phosphorus and by exposure to excessively high temperatures. So, the automobile with a catalytic converter can only use lead-free fuel. Most importantly, any malfunctioning condition of the catalyst can cause it to overheat and melt down, possibly creating a fire under the car. Oil-burning engines, overly rich fuel mixtures, and misfires can create such conditions. So it is important that your automobile receive regular maintenance check-ups.

The muffler reduces the noise emitted from the engine.

The muffler, of course, muffles or dampens the sound of the engine. Without the muffler you would hear a might roar every time the engine was running. If the muffler has to be replaced, it is essential that the new muffler be just the right size and meet the exacting specifications of the car’s manufacturer. There is no one muffler that fits all. If the muffler is damaged or falls loose, it can fall against and damage other, more expensive parts of the vehicle. Be sure the muffler is in good condition and well anchored.

The exhaust pipes further dampen the sound and treat the emissions.

Exhaust pipes take the remaining gas fumes out the back of the car. Exhaust systems rust from the inside out, so it’s hard to see when they need replacement. It’s important to check for leaks, holes, breaks. If you have to replace one part of the tail pipe, it’s probably time to replace it all, since it probably all rusts at about the same rate. The tail pipes too should be replaced with the exact size and specifications of your vehicle.

Watch for signs that your exhaust and emission system needs repair. Black smoke coming from the tail pipe, unusual noise on startup, loud noise are all signs of breakage in the system, so let Ewell Auto Services in Fort Worth check your automobile’s emission system routinely.

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