Catalytic Converter: How It Works | Science Garage

Exhaust has a lot to do with performance. Catbacks, Mufflers and resonators get all the attention, but the Catalytic Converter is super cool too! It’s an amazing design that changed the way we think about driving. Catalytic Converters have helped gas engines a viable means of transport while drastically reducing emissions. Bart cuts one open to see what's inside, and he explains the reactions they facilitate to turn exhaust from nasty to nice.

Bart teaches us how cars work by blowing stuff up and cutting things in half. It’s a science show for the car lover who’s easily bored. Join Bart as he explains the science behind everything automotive. This is cars down to the atom. This is Science Garage.

Some of our best videos ever are coming out soon, stay tuned so you won't miss a thing!

Donut Media is at the center of digital media for the next generation of automotive and motorsports enthusiasts. We are drivers, drifters, and car enthusiasts who love to tell stories.

[arnaldojansencarino]

An addiction to Donut that wont result to diabetes.

[haninditohaidarsatrio]

'Catbacks. Resonator. Straight Pipe. Today we're not talking about any of those things.'
What a twist XD

[randy]

To be honest, this is my favorite part of Donut, sorry James

[quillmaurer]

"Designers knew what they were doing, and unless you REALLY know what you're doing any modifying will make it worse" "The environment matters because we don't want to poison everyone, make smog, and cause acid rain." Two truths you'll rarely hear from car guys. These guys make amazing videos while being knowledgeable, down-to-earth, and wise. Not the usual "Get rid of your cat to get +15hp, bro!" This makes me a hypocrite though as I drive a '73 VW Bug with terrible emissions (no cat obviously, they didn't put them on back then) and I've modified the crap out of it, including electronic fuel injection. I've had thoughts of, once I get that fuel injection system working well and actually tuned right, maybe after putting a turbo on it, trying to incorporate a catalytic converter into the exhaust, just to see if I could do it and make it work right. Would be a crowded exhaust system, having turbo, cat, and muffler all packed in under the back end of the car as the engine is in the back. Don't have the money or fabrication skills to do something like that ... yet...

[lexus_offroad_adventures]

Some teacher was probably showing these videos in class until 0:41 happened 😂

[ParadoxdesignsOrg]

The Catalytic Converter in my 240sx overheated and grenaded itself out the back of my 3" exhaust. That was kinda cool.

[theF]

1:55 the catalytic converter in a car indeed has rhodium. The element in the picture however is rubidium (Rb). Should be Rh. Rubidium would however look spectacular when put in an exhaust pipe, as it reacts violently with water and oxygen.

[barber]

I love these vids SO much because I learn something new with every one of them.



But I’m still waiting for that Supercharger-down-to-the-atom vid •_•



xD

[romainj]

damn good thing you finally made a video on those catholic converters, they're all over the place ringing my door every tuesday with their bible and stuff smh

[narlycharley]

This is such a great series of videos. Funny, witty, easy to understand, and FULL of GREAT and useful information. Keep it up guys!

[SunSunSunn]

This is literally the best series out on YouTube! I study at Stanford University and this is probably more useful than anything I’ve learned from there.

[VehicleVirals]

Killer episode, can't wait for the next one

[DoomFinger]

God I love this series. This new show and Up To Speed will keep me a long time active subscriber.

[Kevinb]

Catalytic Converters really are one of the best improvements for cars ever. Other great advancements that nobody talks about thought is variable valve timing. Without it we’d be stuck still driving seriously underpowered cars to this day like in the 80s. Thanks to variable valve timing. We get great fuel efficiency when we’re just putting around then when we want to stomp on it. We also get awesome power. Another great advancement is fuel injectors. People say it’s more complex but I think it’s easier to work on than a carb. The computer does all the work. All you gotta do is pop the old fuel injector out and plop in a new one. Also I think coil packs are way easier to work on even if it’s more complex to make. Also an idiot can’t wire a coil pack the wrong way like my friend did with his distributor cap. He just put the spark plug wire back any which way and ducking up his car.

[ricewolf]

This entire youtube channel helped me pass my ASVAB for the army with flying colors, specifically the mechanic section of the exam.

[lleytonalbertini]

guess what guys
its Thursday tomorrow and you know what that means UP TO

[dougarnold]

I wish they did a video comparison of stock cats vs. high flow cats vs. straight pipe. Maybe even cut open a hfc to see the cells.

[GrkNinja]

This show is great. I’m okay if you guys get into more technical stuff dealing with the engine because I want to start working on my car soon. I really like this format.

[ryanclaffey]

Thanks for doing this im so sick of everyone thinking being catless is cool!

[DericCribbs]

People need to learn how obd2 works!
This will help people understand why they don't "need" a special dealership computer to work on their car😲