Chapter 34

Emission Systems
 Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System
• Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) –
recirculates blowby gases from the crankcase
back to the combustion chamber. Reduces
sludge buildup and caustic by-products
• PCV valve
• Crankcase breather/filter
• Hoses
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
• Exhaust gas recirculation valve (EGRV) –
reduces combustion temperatures by
introducing inert exhaust gas into the
combustion chamber, lowering Nox formation
• EGR valve – positive or negative pressure
• Ported vacuum source
• Thermal vacuum switch (TVS)
• Vacuum hoses
• Electronic EGRV
 Exhaust Gas Recirculation
(con’t.)
• Backpressure EGR valve (BPEGR) –
prevents EGR application until a specified
amount of exhaust
• Backpressure transducer
• External valve
• Internal valve
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
(con’t.)
• Computerized EGR – vacuum solenoids
• Vent solenoids
• Control solenoids
• Digital pulsed EGR valves
 Air Injection System
• Air injection reaction (AIR) – reduces HC and
CO emissions by introducing additional air
into the exhaust stream to oxidize or burn raw
fuel leaving the combustion chamber. Aids in
catalytic converter efficiency
• Vane-type air pump
• Diverter valve/air switching valve – upstream,
downstream, and bypass
• One-way check valve
 Air Injection System (con’t.)
• Air distribution manifold
• Catalytic converter
• Hoses and tubing
• Pulse air system
• Aspirator valve – one-way check valve lets air
into the exhaust stream during negative
exhaust pressure pulses
• Pre-filter or air cleaner
 Evaporative Emission
Controls
• Evaporative controls – used to reduce HC
emissions due to gasoline evaporation from
the fuel system
• 20 percent of HC emissions come from fuel
evaporation
• Charcoal canister – primary component used
to absorb fuel vapors until they can be purged
and burned in the engine
 Evaporative Emission
Controls (con’t)
• Sealed fuel cap
• Fuel expansion tank
• Purge control valves/solenoids
• Hoses and tubing
• Rollover check valve
• OBD II – enhanced EVAP system
• PCM-controlled purge solenoid
 Catalytic Converter
• Catalyst – causes a chemical reaction to
occur without undergoing a change to itself
• Catalytic converter – uses a catalyst to
chemically combine HC, CO, and Nox, leaving
the exhaust to form CO2 and water
• Operating temperature above 500°F
• AIR system assists in efficiency
• Approximately 50 percent reduction in
emissions
 Catalytic Converter (con’t)
• Monolithic – honeycomb design coated with
platinum and palladium
• Pellet design – aluminum pellets coated with
platinum and palladium
• Stainless steel housing – resists corrosion
• Monolithic converters – most widely used
– Less backpressure
– Reaches operating temperature quickly
– More expensive
 Catalytic Converters (con’t)
• Two-way converter – reduces HC and CO
• Three-way converter – oxidizes HC and CO and
reduces Nox
• Reduction catalyst – uses rhodium to reduce Nox
• Three-way dual-bed converter – divided into two
chambers, oxidation and reduction
• AIR – diverts air to a dual bed when entering
closed-loop operation
• Stoichiometric AF/M – required for maximum
efficiency