You may live in a community where you’re required to bring your car, truck or SUV in for an emissions test or you may live where that’s not required. Whatever the case, there is a device under your car that is designed to help your vehicle reduce emissions. It’s called a catalytic converter.

The catalytic converter is part of your vehicle’s exhaust system. The exhaust system takes hot gasses created in the engine’s combustion chamber and safely carries them out the back of the vehicle. This protects the passengers from the heat and the fumes that would make the passengers sick.

The exhaust system does more than that, though. It also reduces the amount of noise produced by the engine in your car, Truck or SUV. It reduces the noise significantly. Mufflers on vehicles have done this for years. Now, however, they have a partner in the noise-reduction process. Once again, it’s called a catalytic converter.

The exhaust system actually does more than carry away heat and gasses, and reduce engine noise; it also keeps the engine running properly. Engines are designed with their exhaust systems in mind. The exhaust systems create a certain amount of back pressure. A reduction in the amount of back pressure can adversely affect the performance of the engine. Catalytic converters are also figured into this equation.

More than that, a catalytic converter also reduces the emissions that the vehicle releases into the atmosphere. How does it do that?

The catalytic converter actually converts three harmful elements that are found in a car, truck or SUV’s exhaust fumes. These are:

• Hydrocarbons
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen oxides

The first is based on unburned gasoline. The second is formed in the process of combustion and the latter is a product of heat’s effect on oxygen whereby it is mixed with nitrogen. All three of these elements are harmful to people and other living things.

The catalytic converter uses a ceramic coated honeycomb, or ceramic beads, to convert hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and moisture. It also reduces the nitrogen in the oxygen. As a result, the exhaust fumes are far-less harmful to the atmosphere, plants, humans and animals. In other words, the exhaust is far more environmentally friendly.

If you don’t have to bring your vehicle in for an emissions test, this is still nice to know. If you do have to bring the car in for an emissions test, this is an essential part of your car. Some might say it’s essential either way.