CHAPTER 3

EMISSION CONTROL
SYSTEM
EXHAUST EMISSION

The combustion process result in emission of Volatile Organic Compound

(VOC), Oxide of Nitrogen (NOX), particulate matter (PM), and Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which released from the tailpipe a vehicle is operating.

Exhaust emission occur during two modes :

 Cold Start
- Starting and driving a vehicle the first few minutes result in higher
emissions because the emissions control equipment has not yet reached
its optimal operating temperature.

 Running Exhaust Emissions

- Pollutant are emitted from the vehicle’s tailpipe during driving and idling
after the vehicle is warmed up.
 FUEL EVAPORATION EMISSION

 DIURNAL : Gasoline evaporation increases as the temperature

rises during the day, heating the fuel tank and venting gasoline
vapors.

 RUNNING LOSSES: The hot engine and exhaust system can vaporize
gasoline when the car is running.

 HOT SOAK : The engine remains hot for a period of time after the
car is turned off, and gasoline evaporation continues when the car is
parked.

 REFUELING : Gasoline vapors are always present in fuel tanks.

These vapors are forced out when the tank is filled with liquid fuel.
EXHAUST EMISSION POLLUTANTS

Hydrocarbons

 Hydrocarbon emissions result when fuel molecules in the engine do not

burn or burn only partially
 Hydrocarbons react in the presence of nitrogen oxides and sunlight to
form ground-level ozone, major component of smog

Effect

 Ozone irritates the eyes, damage the lungs, and aggravates respiratory
problem. It is our most widespread and intractable urban air pollution
problem.
 A number of exhaust hydrocarbons are also toxic, with the potential to
cause cancer.
NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx)

 Under the high pressure and temperature condition in an engine,

Nitrogen & Oxygen atoms in the air react to form various Nitrogen
Oxides, collectively known as NOx.

Effect

 Nitrogen Oxides, like hydrocarbon are precursors to then formation of

ozone. They also contribute to the formation of acid rain
CARBON MONOXIDE

 Carbon Monoxide (CO) is product of incomplete combustion

and occur when carbon in the fuel is partially oxidized rather
then fully oxidized to Carbon Dioxide (CO)

Effect

 Carbon Monoxide reduces the flow of oxygen in the

bloodstream and is particularly dangerous to persons with
heart disease.
CARBON DIOXIDE

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has started to

view Carbon Dioxide, a product of ‘perfect’ combustion, as
pollution concern.

Effect

 Carbon Dioxide does not directly impact human health, but it a

‘greenhouse gas’ that traps the earth’s heat and contributes to
the potential for global warming.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS

-Positive Crankcase Ventilation

-Catalytic Converter
-Evaporative Control System
-Exhaust Gas Recirculation
POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV)

 Purpose
 Eliminate crankcase pressure created by blow by past the
cylinder rings (HC’s)

 Possible symptoms of a faulty valve

 Poor idle
 Excessive oil consumption
 Oil leaks (oil pan, valve covers etc.)

* If a rich condition is being diagnosed check the crankcase for fuel-

saturation. If it is saturated with fuel the PCV system will pull
these vapors into the intake and cause a rich condition
PCV SYSTEM
PCV SYSTEM

 Operation

 When the engine is off the valve is seated by the internal spring

 When the engine is at idle the valve is pulled open to allow a small
amount of flow

 When the engine is under load the low vacuum allows the valve to
move to a position that allows a high flow rate
INTAKE AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROLS

 At low engine temperature fuel has a tendency to puddle in the intake

manifold causing poor drivability and warm-up

 During certain atmospheric conditions water vapor may freeze in the

venturi of a carburetor or on the throttle blades of a throttle body

 Intake air temperature control systems are used to better vaporize the
fuel and prevent throttle blade icing

 Various types of controls are used

 Thermostatic air cleaner
 Early fuel evaporation (EFE)
 Electrical

 Heat risers

 Heated throttle bodies

THERMOSTATIC AIR CLEANER

 A thermostat located in the air cleaner directs manifold vacuum to a

hot air door vacuum motor when the incoming air is below a preset
temperature

 During cold weather operation, hot air is pulled from around the
exhaust manifold into the engine
 Air door is hinged on the white
dot and rotates in the direction
of the heavy red arrow when the
Hot Air Vacuum Motor vacuum motor is activated

Door Thermostat

Air Cleaner

Manifold
Engine
Hot Air Vacuum
Tube

Heat Throttle
Body
Shield
Exhaust
Manifold
CATALYTIC CONVERTER

 Purpose

 2-way Converter (oxidizing)

 Oxidize HC and CO in the exhaust stream into H20 and CO2

 3-way Converter (reduction)

 Converts NOx into N2 and O2

 2NO => N2 + O2 or 2NO2 => N2 + 2O2

 Oxidize HC and CO in the Exhaust stream into H20 and CO2

CATALYTIC CONVERTER
 Components

 Oxidation converter
 Platinum

 Palladium

 Reduction Converter
 Rhodium

 Construction

 Pellet
 Contains ceramic pellets coated with the catalyst

 Monolith
 Looks like a honeycomb
 The inside of the honeycomb is coated with the catalyst
 GM Monolith Converter

Pellet Type
Converter

Pellet
Type
Converter
*Notice
the fill
plug
MONOLITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Flow

Flow

A-Reduction Catalyst
B-Oxidation Catalyst
EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM (EVAP)

 On a non-controlled vehicle, evaporative emissions are responsible

for 20% of the vehicles total emissions

 Evaporative emission systems are designed to control the HC

emissions from fuel evaporating from the fuel tank or carburetor float
bowl
EVAP SYSTEM

 Components

 Fuel tank
 Fuel fill cap
 Fuel separator
 Vapor lines
 Charcoal canister
 Purge solenoid
 Vacuum

 Electrical

 Float bowl vent

EVAP SYSTEM
EVAP SYSTEM

 Operation

 The fuel tank has a provision to trap some air at the top
 The fuel-vapor separator ensures only vapors and not liquid fuel
are pushed into the charcoal canister
 The charcoal canister stores fuel vapors
 The canister purge valve allows manifold vacuum to pull the fuel
vapors from the charcoal canister
 Engine warm and at part-throttle cruise
EVAP SYSTEM
EVAP SYSTEM
EVAP SYSTEM
EVAP SYSTEM

 Purge solenoid control

 May be vacuum or electrical
 Vacuum (activated at part throttle when the engine is warmed
up)
 Attached to ported vacuum

 Uses a thermostatic vacuum switch

VACUUM PURGE SOLENOID
THERMOSTATIC VACUUM SWITCH
 PORTED VACUUM

Ported
Vacuum
ELECTRICAL PURGE SOLENOID
ELECTRICAL PURGE SOLENOID
OBDII PURGE SOLENOID MONITORING

 May use a pressure sender in the purge line to

verify flow
 May look at MAP to see a slight change when
flow starts and ends
 May look at short term fuel trim to see that the
mixture was slightly enriched
EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR)

 Purpose
 When combustion temperatures reach between 1500 F and 2500
F NOx is produced
 The EGR system allows a small amount of exhaust gases to
enter the intake manifold
 This dilutes the incoming air/fuel mixture, effectively making it
less dense
 This slows the burn time down and reduces combustion
chamber temperatures

 EGR must remain closed during:

 Idle

 WOT

 Cold engine operation

TYPES OF EGR SYSTEMS

 Types
 Vacuum
 Backpressure
 Electrically controlled vacuum
 Digital
 Linear
VACUUM EGR
 EGR valve contains a vacuum diaphragm which, when vacuum is applied, lifts
the EGR valve off of its seat, allowing exhaust gas to enter the intake
VACUUM EGR CONTROL

 Ported vacuum is run through a thermostatic vacuum switch to ensure

engine is at part throttle and warmed up before the EGR valve opens
VACUUM EGR CONTROL
 BACKPRESSURE EGR

 Positive backpressure EGR

 Internal vacuum bleed valve
only allows the EGR valve
to open if backpressure is
above a certain level

 Negative backpressure
EGR
 At idle the negative
pressure pulses in the
exhaust system keep the
bleed valve open, which
doesn’t allow the valve to
open

EGR Diagrams
ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VACUUM

 An ECM controlled solenoid controls the vacuum signal to the EGR

valve

 ECM may monitor EGR operation

 EGR valve position sensor
 Pressure feedback sensor
 MAP voltage should increase slightly when EGR opens

EGR Diagrams
EGR VALVE POSITION SENSOR
PRESSURE FEEDBACK SENSOR
DIGITAL EGR

 EGR valve is controlled by the ECM and open directly by a

solenoid
 Single stage – one EGR valve
 Multi Stage – may contain 2 or 3 solenoids and valves
 (GM digital) three EGR solenoids are controlled by the
ECM
 ECM can open 1, 2, or 3 of the valves at any time
(7 combinations possible)
 One is a high flow valve

 One is a medium flow valve

 One is a low flow valve

Digital EGR
LINEAR EGR

 A stepper motor is used to meter the amount of exhaust gas being

recirculated
GM LINEAR EGR SCREEN