The Most Underrated Automotive Component of All Time

Рет қаралды 162,032

2 ай бұрын

Discover the incredible story of the catalytic converter: a feat of chemical engineering and politics compared to the Apollo Program. Uncover its origins, evolution, and its ongoing impact on cleaner air.
Love content? Check out our other KZfaq Channels:
Higher Learning: / @higherlearningflight
Flick Facts: / @flickfacts
Fact Quikie: / @factquickie
Ancient Marvels: / @ancient-marvels
Origins: / @originsofeverything
Warographics: / @warographics643
MegaProjects: / @megaprojects9649
SideProjects: / @sideprojects
Into The Shadows: / intotheshadows
Highlight History: / @highlighthistory
Brain Blaze: / @brainblaze6526
Casual Criminalist: / thecasualcriminalist
Decoding the Unknown: / @decodingtheunknown2373
Places: / @places302
Astrographics: / @astrographics-ve4yq
→Some of our favorites: • Featured
→Subscribe for new videos every day!
kzfaq.info...

Пікірлер: 675

@TodayIFoundOut

This video brought to you in part by our Patrons over on Patreon. If you’d like to support our efforts here directly, and our continued efforts to improve our videos, as well as do more ultra in-depth long form videos that built in ads and even sponsors don’t always cover fully, check out our Patreon page and perks here:

@TheRealE.B.

It's weird to hear about a time when the U.S. automotive industry responded to regulatory requirements by hiring engineers instead of lawyers.

@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket

My man almost every photo of cats you've shown are actually the muffler.

@kensmith5694

You missed out an important reason the EPA held fast. Toyota and Honda both announced they had cars that met the requirements while GM was trying to convince people it couldn't be done. This was also the era of Nixon's wage and price controls and the high inflation. These things made it hard for car makers to recoup the extra costs. The need for smog equipment was also used as an excuse for any shoddy build quality. They sold some truly awful cars and the Japanese took away market fast.

@Outworlder

It's funny that they said that less emissions would equate to lesser efficiency. Emissions are, by definition, inefficiencies in combustion.

@raymondmartin6737

It's a shame that people have died over the theft of catalic converters. 😮

@fanatic26

So many of the pictures that were used in this are mufflers and not converters, as a car guy it hurts my soul a lil bit.

@victorfranca85

The head gasket is the most underrated auto part

@rogermoore8977

Southern California used to have the most beautiful air pollution you’ve ever seen. At dusk it look like the aurora borealis with vivid oranges yellows red and blues for sunset it was amazing.

@theBlankScroll

Amazing watching the american auto industry fighting literally every innovation

@rubiconnn

Huh, who would have thought GM would sabotage any regulation that would cost them a dime even if it meant saving millions of lives.

@TeamOT

Wow, this guy is an unsung hero of history. Pollution linked to lung cancer? He was well ahead of his time.

@millbean13

Had mine stolen twice of 2 different cars. After that I put very sensitive alarm system in car and has a safety wire drilled down through the floor board and wrapped around the converter then attached to the frame. Acted kind of like a ground so if it got disconnected alarm went off. Also put metal straps around it and riveted to frame. Love to catch someone slid underneath my car again trying to get it. Getting kicked as hard as I can muster right in the soft bits, continuously.

@TheZProtocol

American Automakers in the 70s: It can't be done! Not by 1975

@QueensGTO_Viper

"...aaaaaand it's gone."

@61rampy65

Back in 1960 my dad worked for Universal Oil Products (now a division of Honeywell). UOP was working on catalytic converters back then. My dad's job was to drive around non-stop for 8 hrs/day (except for gas and potty stops). I was only 6, but I remember that he drove a 57 Chevy that had a machine of some sort in the back seat, its job being to register what the exhaust was doing. What I remember most is the smell of...sulfur. Not sure how much of their research made it into cars, but their website says that they provide the petroleum industry with a variety of products.

@RageDavis

Catalysts DO take part in the reaction, however they are still present in an unchanged form after the reaction has taken place.

@SpecialEDy

All of my cars are old enough to be exempt from emissions standards, so they don't have catalytic converters.

@surg9029

Just hearing catalyst gives me chills. I missed an A in organic chemistry because I couldn’t remember the specific catalyst for a reaction on the final. Only 18 students finished that class out of 80 who started it and only 9 passed.

@kiefershanks4172

The Prius (and other Toyota hybrids) use a coolant loop from the engine block to the exhaust which helps warm the engine (and thus the catalytic converter) up to their operating temperatures faster. Its a pretty good idea, assuming the loop doesn't become compromised and start pissing coolant into the exhaust. Lol Do I wish cars were simpler? Yup. Do I like clean air? Also yup. Guess we just have to learn to like cats everybody.