Beyond The Tailpipe: The importance of understanding emissions technology

BM Catalysts, Europe’s leading manufacturer of aftermarket hot end emissions products, recognise the importance in emissions technology education amidst the recent forecasting seen from the DVSA, predicting an expected hike in MOT expiries this December.

It is anticipated that almost 2.1 million MOTs will expire next month, a 29% increase in volume from the same period five years ago and 7.7% on last year’s figures. During this busy MOT period BM Catalysts wants to shed light on the emissions control issues that can be faced during an MOT and help further educate garages and technicians on what BM Catalysts products do, how they work and what can lead to a failure if existing or other aftermarket parts aren’t sufficient.

BM Catalysts boasts an extensive product range of over 3,000 catalytic converters (CATs), 419 diesel particulate filters (DPFs). 22 gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) and 18 selective reduction catalyst (SCR) units, catering to 90% of the European vehicle car parc.

The sole purpose of BM Catalysts emissions control products is to reduce the level of harmful exhaust gases entering the atmosphere. This works by allowing harmful emissions gases made up of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to pass through the complex precious metal ladened internal monolith. A chemical reaction takes place converting the harmful gases into a mixture of water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and Nitrogen (N).

During an MOT inspection, a vehicle undergoes a routine emissions test, if the vehicle fails this test the blame usually lies with the CAT or other emissions control device. However, it is important to note that the device can only convert the gases that are passed through it. Therefore, if the vehicle in question is running poorly, the device becomes contaminated with unburned fuel and become unable to convert harmful gases efficiently.

It is common at this point, after a vehicle has failed its emissions test, for the emissions control device to be replaced without fixing the vehicle fault, which often results in repeated MOT failure later down the line.

BM Catalysts stress the importance in diagnosing the vehicle fault and preventing another failed MOT. Therefore, highlight the different faults that can cause the emissions control device to be deemed the problem, as well as ways for maintaining the device.

The official reasons for failure are high amounts of HC (unburned fuel), faulty lambda readings and abnormal CO levels. There are a number of different ways these results can come about.

Firstly, unburned fuel entering the device is caused by a number of factors, such as; faulty spark plugs, fault fuel injection system and misaligned distributor timing. Faulty lambda sensor readings are caused by a faulty lambda sensor itself or faulty MAP (Manifold absolute pressure) sensor. Another common malpractice is the use of exhaust paste, due to the extreme heat of the device the paste becomes brittle when dry and can break off. If this dry paste hits the internal monolith, it can cause breakages and fractures, leading to incorrect amounts of harmful gases exiting the emissions control device such as CO.

If indeed, the emissions control device is found to be at fault, BM Catalysts strongly recommended using a new fitting kit when replacing exhaust components. It is a small investment that prevents big problems. Worn gaskets, perished rubbers, and rusty fittings can all cause leaks, excessive movement, or even damage to new units. Which can risk warranty issues and lead to costly repeated replacements. BM Catalysts encourages technicians to fit new gaskets and other components every time to ensure a secure, long-lasting installation.

BM Catalysts strengthens its stance as an aftermarket leader through their free online learning platform, Garage Pro. Available to distributors, garages and technicians, Garage Pro offers easy-to-follow educational courses on the fundamentals of all their emission control products, emissions standards and more. With tailored learning available, businesses can choose the courses relevant to their interests or requirement s to further their knowledge ready for a busy MOT season in December.

To find out more information on our product range and how they reduce harmful gases from entering the atmosphere visit here: https://bit.ly/bmcatsproducts