Emission Control Systems

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 Vehicle Pollution Sources

• 3 areas of a vehicle that can pollute…

 tailpipe emissions
 fuel tank vapors (and carburetor vapors)
 crankcase blow-by gases

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 Major Engine Pollutants
1) hydrocarbons: produced when some or all of the fuel does not get burned during
combustion, or from raw gasoline vapors
 tailpipe emission
 fuel tank & carburetor emission

2) carbon monoxide: produced when there is insufficient oxygen to support combustion

 tailpipe emission

3) oxides of nitrogen: produced when combustion temperatures exceed 1400°C / 2500°F

 tailpipe emission

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 Blow-by Emission Control

• crankcase ventilation system handles blow-by gases

 hydrocarbon emissions

• road-draft tube used until 1962

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 Blow-by Emission Control
• Positive Crankcase Ventilation system (PCV system) in use since 1963

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 Checking PCV System

• replace the Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve and check its hose (inexpensive)…

• Tech Tip:
 pull the PCV valve out of the engine while it’s running
 place your finger under the valve
 you should feel and hear suction & the valve should click

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 Fixed Orifice Tube PCV Systems
• a precisely determined hole size acts as the valve
• no need for a spring and valve assembly

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 Evaporative Emission Control System
• prevents raw HC’s (from gasoline) from being vented into the atmosphere
 (in use since 1971)

• charcoal canister absorbs fuel vapors when the engine is off & sends them to the intake manifold so
they can be burned when the engine is running

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 Evaporative Emission Control Systems
• on 1996 & newer vehicles, PCM…
 purges canister vapors via a purge solenoid
 monitors vapor flow
 monitors the system for leaks
 vehicle may use a separate pump to pressurize system to see if pressure can be
maintained
 if PCM detects a leak, check engine light will illuminate

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 Reducing NOx Tailpipe Emissions

• Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve (EGR) allows some exhaust gas back into the intake air
stream
 used on most engines since mid-1970’s but not all

• EGR dilutes/displaces fresh, incoming AFM which drops combustion temperature = < NOx

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• EGR typically operates under light throttle, cruising conditions on a warmed up
engine

• during warm up, WOT & at idle, it does not operate

EGR Valve

EGR Pipe

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 EGR Valve Styles
• 1) mechanical EGR operated by engine vacuum
 vacuum acts on a diaphragm to open the valve (fig. a)
 some EGR valves use a computer controlled solenoid to modulate the vacuum
signal to the diaphragm (fig. b)
 others use an exhaust pressure sensor to help determine rate of exhaust gas
flow (fig. c)

fig. c

fig. b
fig. a 15
 EGR Valve Styles
• 2) digital or electronic EGR valve
 PCM controls 1 or more solenoids to modulate EGR flow
 no vacuum diaphragm is used
 each solenoid has an integral pintle position sensor
 this sensor “tells” the PCM the position of the pintle valve
 the solenoids are pulsed on & off by the PCM many times/second when needed

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 EGR Service
• Inoperative EGR systems can lead to…
 excessive NoX emissions (possible failure at AirCare)
 detonation (knocking & pinging)

• caused by…
 defective diaphragm
 weak vacuum signal
defective or incorrectly routed vacuum hoses
 shorted or open solenoid
 exhaust passage blocked with carbon

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 EGR Service
• Excessive EGR operation can lead to…
 rough idle
 stalling

• caused by…
 improperly routed vacuum hoses
 carbon on pintle valve seat
 faulty EGR valve

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 Reducing Tailpipe Emissions
• catalytic converters reduce HC, CO & possibly NOx
 used on all vehicles since mid-1970’s

• HC & CO in the exhaust is oxidized by the catalyst which can contains platinum,
palladium & rhodium

• HC + O2 = CO2 & H20

• CO + 02 = CO2

• this is a two-way catalyst

• needs ≈ 315°C / 600°F to operate

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 Three Way Catalysts
• reduces HC, CO and NOx levels

• NOx is converted to nitrogen & CO2

• front ½ controls NOx & back ½ reduces HC & CO

 contains cerium – has the ability to store oxygen
 the oxygen is used to oxidize HC & CO

• in use in Canada since 1988

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 Reducing Tailpipe Emissions
• air injection systems
 used on some engines, but not all

• cold engine: air is injected into the exhaust manifold to oxidize HC & CO

• warm engine: air is injected into the converter to oxidize HC & CO

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Air Injection Systems

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Causes of excessive hydrocarbons…

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 Causes of Excessive Carbon Monoxide…

• plugged air filter

• high float level
• choke not opening
• faulty fuel injector
• higher than normal fuel pressure
• faulty EFI sensor

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 Causes of Excessive NOx…
• carbon deposits
• inoperative EGR valve
 some valves are vacuum operated
 others are electronically activated
• higher than normal coolant temperatures

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 Pollution Sources & What Controls Them – a Recap…
• 3 areas of a vehicle that can pollute…
 tailpipe emissions
 fuel tank vapors (and carburetor vapors)
 crankcase blow-by gases

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