Exhaust Running Aftermarket Cats Without A Smog Pump

5.0specialist

Active Member
Jul 10, 2016
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pembroke pines, fl
I've noticed a few pics of foxbody owners installing these flowmaster high flow cats without running a smog pump. Is this a good idea? I am thinking of installing high flow cats on my X pipe to eliminate the stench (convertible), but I am currently running an offroad X pipe without a smog pump. I wonder if some aftermarket cats are made to run without the help of the smog/air pump. https://lmr.com/item/FLO-2230125K/Mustang-Flowmaster-25-Mini-Catalytic-Converters
 
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Newer tech, but these 5.0s don't exactly burn the cleanest and can use some extra help. I'm running one with my bassani catted x pipe even though their tech person told me it wasn't necessary
 
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@5.0specialist

What happens when there is no extra air from the smog pump...
As engines age, the quality of tune decreases and wear causes them to burn oil. We have all seem cars that go down the road puffing blue or black smoke from the tailpipe. Oil consumption and poor tune increase the amount of HC the oxidation catalyst has to deal with. The excess HC that the converters cannot oxidize due to lack of extra air becomes a crusty coating inside the honeycomb structure. This effectively reduces the size of the honeycomb passageways and builds up thicker over time and mileage. Continuous usage under such conditions will cause the converter to fail and clog. The extra air provided by the Thermactor Air System (smog pump) is essential for the oxidation process. It oxidizes the added HC from oil consumption and poor tune and keeps the HC levels within acceptable limits.

Newer catalytic converters do not use the Thermactor Air System (smog pump) because they are designed to work with an improved computer system that runs leaner and cleaner
They add an extra set of O2 sensors after the catalytic converters to monitor the oxygen and HC levels. Using this additional information, the improved computer system monitors the health and efficiency of the catalytic converters. If the computer cannot compensate for the added load of emissions due to wear and poor tune, the catalytic converters will eventually fail and clog. The periodic checks (smog inspections) are supposed to help owners keep track of problems and get them repaired. Use them on an 86-95 Mustang and you will slowly kill them with the pollutants that they are not designed to deal with.

Theory of operation:
Catalytic converters consist of two different types of catalysts: Reduction and Oxidation.
The Reduction catalyst is the first converter in a 5.0 Mustang, and the Oxidation converter is the second converter. The Oxidation converter uses the extra air from the smog pump to burn the excess HC. Aftermarket converters that use the smog pump often combine both types of catalysts in one housing. Since all catalytic reactions depend on heat to happen, catalytic converters do not work as efficiently with long tube headers. The extra length of the long tubes reduces the heat available to operate the O2 sensors and the catalytic converters. That will cause emissions problems, and reduce the chances of passing an actual smog test.


Now for the Chemistry...
"The reduction catalyst is the first stage of the catalytic converter. It uses platinum and rhodium to help reduce the NOx emissions. When an NO or NO2 molecule contacts the catalyst, the catalyst rips the nitrogen atom out of the molecule and holds on to it, freeing the oxygen in the form of O2. The nitrogen atoms bond with other nitrogen atoms that are also stuck to the catalyst, forming N2. For example:

2NO => N2 + O2 or 2NO2 => N2 + 2O2

The oxidation catalyst is the second stage of the catalytic converter. It reduces the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning (oxidizing) them over a platinum and palladium catalyst. This catalyst aids the reaction of the CO and hydrocarbons with the remaining oxygen in the exhaust gas. The "lean burn" technology of newer cars means there is more O2 for the oxidation process to work with.

For example:

2CO + O2 => 2CO2

There are two main types of structures used in catalytic converters -- honeycomb and ceramic beads. Most cars today use a honeycomb structure." Quote courtesy of How Stuff Works (HowStuffWorks "Catalysts")
 
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Thanks for your all of your help! ^ :) I'm just gonna leave it as is for now. Further down the road, I'll modify my current mid pipe or install a catted mid-pipe after hooking up my smog system again. I have the smog pump and all of the associated plumbing in my shed from my 91'. My current X pipe had the smog cross over tube, but I had it removed and the holes welded shut a few years ago since it didn't have cats. Doh.. lol One of the previous owners had the cats removed from the X pipe and the old catback I had replaced had a chunk of catalytic brick lodged in passenger muffler inlet. So I'm guessing the old cats blew apart for some reason and they removed them.