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Actions on Automobile Emissions
Name: N/A
Status: Student
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
I would like to know what mechanical items on a automotive vehicle effect
emission gases, such as: causes high hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and carbon
monoxide.
Replies:
Perfect combustion of gasoline (or diesel) and oxygen should result in CO2
and H2O. However, there is rarely perfect combustion, not to mention that
air (which contains mainly nitrogen and hence generates NOx's) is used, not
pure oxygen. Some factors that bring about the pollution you mention is
incomplete combustion of the fuel (which usually means not enough air in the
fuel mixture), too much air in the fuel mixture, dirty fuel (due to bad
distillation or oil in the fuel), misfiring of the spark plug (in gas
engines) before complete compression of the fuel, and incomplete compression
of the fuel mixture. These are just a few of the major causes.
The mechanical item that cause these conditions may include dirty fuel or
air filters (less fuel or less air getting in, plus the chance of dirty fuel
or air getting in), dirty carburetors (bad air fuel mixtures), dirty spark
plugs (misfiring), bad piston rings (incomplete compression and oil
seepage), and the timing is off (misfiring before complete compression). A
majority of these problems are fixed during a tune up (spark plugs and
wires, distributor caps, timing, etc.) and with routine maintenance (oil
change, fuel and air filter change, etc.). Things such as pistons rings and
carburetors may require more intensive maintenance. Rule of thumb to reduce
emissions: Keep you car in good running condition by maintain it per the
automotive company's schedule.
Vanhoeck
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Update: February 2012
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