Your car’s emissions system determines whether your engine will meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards for emissions and pollutants. To help you recognize and understand this system and its associated common problems, we’ve put together this brief guide on car emissions systems and their everyday problems.
What is Your Car’s Emissions System?
Your car’s emissions system is responsible for reducing harmful gases before they’re released into the atmosphere. Your car’s emissions system comprises the fuel tank, crankcase, EGR valve, catalytic converter, and charcoal canister.
How Does Your Car’s Emissions System Work?
Your car’s emissions system works to remove harmful toxins from your exhaust fumes, improving air quality while reducing your vehicle’s impact on pollution. Its main function is to ensure that combustion gases that would be toxic to you and other drivers pass through a filter before being released into the atmosphere. This prevents carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, unburned fuel, and other harmful byproducts of combustion from escaping into your environment. Modern car emissions systems help control emissions in several ways:
- Excessive emissions are reintroduced back into the engine to be burned more completely.
- Engine design allows for complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture inside the combustion chamber.
- The catalytic converter helps oxidate and separate unsafe molecules before being released into the atmosphere.
Common Emissions System Problems
- If your check engine light is on, it could be due to a problem with your car’s emissions system.
- Reduced Fuel economy. If your car’s emissions system is not working correctly, you will notice a reduction in fuel economy due to the incomplete fuel burning inside the engine.
- Bad exhaust smells. This typically occurs when there is a problem with the catalytic converter.
- Dark exhaust fumes coming from the car.
- Sluggish engine performance.
- Poor Acceleration
- Excessive heat coming from underneath the vehicle.
What to Do About Emission Systems Problems
If you suspect your car has a failing emissions system, the first step is to bring your vehicle to your trusted mechanic. Your mechanic will be able to diagnose the problem and suggest the best way to fix it. Typically, most emissions components that are failing will need to be replaced. Depending on which part is failing, you could be faced with a relatively minor repair or something more extensive, as with a catalytic converter replacement.
It’s vital to resolve your car’s emissions system issues as quickly as possible to keep your vehicle in good working condition and within legal requirements for emissions. See your auto care professional get your car’s emissions system diagnosed and fixed.
