Eco-Friendly Driving: Maintaining Your Honda’s Emission System

The emission system and exhaust system are crucial parts of your Honda. These systems work together to convert dangerous chemicals into less harmful ones before they’re expelled from your vehicle. A problem in either system can cause toxic gases to leak, increasing pollution and potentially damaging your vehicle. As your Honda dealer, we want to give you a few signs you need to visit us for a repair of one of these systems.

Blocked Catalytic Converter

The converter receives dangerous chemicals, like carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide, produced by combustion. It uses chemical reactions, crushing pressure, and intense heat to convert them into water and harmless chemicals like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Once the conversion is complete, the new gases flow into the exhaust and leave via the tailpipe.

Carbon is produced as a byproduct of this conversion process, and it gradually builds up in the converter and can block the exit to the exhaust. This forces the gases into your engine, causing engine pressure to increase. The increased pressure can cause misfiring, stalling, or force the engine to shut down. We can quickly remove any blockage to fix this issue.

Smell of Gas

The fuel, exhaust, and combustion systems form a closed loop, so you should never smell gas in the cabin. If you do smell gas, it’s usually caused by damage to the exhaust, specifically the exhaust manifold. When combustion in a cylinder is complete, the exhaust valve opens and dumps the gases into the exhaust manifold that leads to the converter, where the gases are changed.

Rust or damage from stones or other hard objects thrown up from the surface can punch a hole in the manifold, and the gases will escape. This not only causes pollution, but air enters through the hole and passes into the engine, reducing engine performance. Our technicians will find and seal the hole, and the gas smell will disappear.

Strange Noises

If you hear a noise under your vehicle that sounds like metal on metal, part of your exhaust could be loose. A rattling sound, on the other hand, could mean your converter is damaged. The exhaust pipe is secured to the body by rubber hangers. A worn or damaged hanger will loosen the exhaust, which then bangs against the underside of your Honda. We’ll fix this problem by replacing the hanger.

The converter has a honeycomb interior structure to provide the largest area for conversion. If the converter overheats, the intense heat can crack the honeycomb, and pieces will break off. These pieces then move around as you drive. The honeycomb can’t be repaired, but we can install a new converter.

If you suspect any problem with these systems, contact Superior Honda to schedule a service appointment as soon as possible.

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