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Originally Posted by mwebb
a smaller engine or same engine and lower rpm are the only way you can reduce either C02 or H20 outputs of a IC engine the outputs ratios are fixed by the input ratios no rocket science involved
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(Bold Added.)
Incorrect.
It is not about the ratio of out gasses from a quantity of fuel ... it is about how much work one can do with a certain amount ... ie energy ... of input fuel ... or output toxins.
I can reduce all emissions while to accomplishing the same task ( ie energy / capacity to do work ) ... without reducing engine size ... and without lowering engine RPM ... and as you wrote , it isn't rocket science ... you just need to make the conversion to from fuel energy to mechanical energy more efficient.
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Although it would not be a healthy options ... One can also have an engine that produces more CO ... which would reduce the ratio of CO2 in the exhaust... or more carbon based soot solid particles, would also reduce the CO2 output ... etc... etc.
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Back along the lines of the OP:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sven7
Are there any relatively simple mods one could do to reduce a car's CO2, NOx, etc. emissions? Maybe replacing an old cat or adding a new one?
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Trying to run your ICE a greater % of the time in it's more energy efficiency states would reduce the exhaust to accomplish the same commute , trip, etc.
The limit of course is that speed fluctuations are less aerodynamically energy efficient than a stead speed is ... so there is a bit of a balance between ICE efficiency and aerodynamic efficiency.
This is not as much of a mod to the vehicle as it is a mod to you the driver ... knowing your engine's BSFC and applying it in a balanced approach to your driving style.
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Better performing CAT will reduce some targeted emissions like NOx ... but a CAT does this by intentionally not burning some fuel in the ICE ... in order to give that unburned fuel to the CAT to use as a energy source for it's function ... so CATs are not themselves a means of reducing CO2 or improving MPG ... they are about smog emissions like NOx.
As such if it bothers you enough to want to change it before an inspection mechanic says you have to , that is up to you ... but that step to reduce smog emissions like NOx, comes at a cost $$$
Also keep in mind if the ECU for your ICE controls the system to always give that extra unburned / unused fuel to the CAT for it to do it's job , you won't save that fuel , just by not having a CAT ... you would have to prevent the control computer from operating in that method ... which is not usually as simple of a mod on most cars ... so if your car is going to throw away some small amounts of fuel anyway , you might as well have a good CAT there to reduce those targeted emissions like NOx.
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Warming up a cold ICE can improve it's operating efficiency ... so there is a benefit in that sense to reducing the colder / less efficient operating times ... be it with engine insulation , grill blocks , heater plugs, etc.
Exactly how much benefit will vary greatly ... vehicle to vehicle , project to project, conditions to conditions , etc ... if you are the DIY type who likes a project ... then have at it ... it's a project that gives back ... and you can enjoy doing it at the same time.
And there are simple / low cost types of these projects to start with ... the easiest and least expensive is probably a partial cold weather grill block... plenty of other threads here on thus like that.