An academic member of the Faculty of Energy and Mechanical Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University elucidated the pivotal role of catalytic converters in curbing pollution from passenger vehicles. He highlighted that even a single instance of refueling with substandard fuel can result in severe damage or a significant decrease in the efficiency of the catalytic converter. In instances where fuel quality leads to damage to the catalytic converter, the responsibility rests with the fuel supplier, not the vehicle owner.
In a project report titled “Monitoring the Quality of Fuel in Tehran in the Summer of 2017,” various responses were published concerning the revelation that sulfur and benzene levels in fuel surpassed the standard limits. While obtaining precise data on the quality of distributed fuel in major cities, especially the eight major cities of Tehran, Alborz, Arak, Tabriz, Mashhad, Ahvaz, Shiraz, and Isfahan, which supply Euro 4 gasoline, is crucial, this requires further investigation. The report emphasized the “effect of fuel quality on the pollution control component in passenger vehicles, namely the catalytic converter,” without passing judgment on the accuracy of claims regarding fuel quality in Tehran over the past three months.
Before delving into the main subject, it is important to clarify what a catalytic converter is and why its installation in passenger vehicles holds immense importance. A catalytic converter stands as a highly sensitive and critical component that, when integrated into the exhaust system, mitigates the impact of passenger vehicles on air pollution. It acts as a chemical reactor, converting toxic exhaust gases into harmless gases with specific efficiency. This vital component is a mandatory installation in all vehicles meeting at least Euro 2 standards in Iran.
The catalytic converter proves to be highly sensitive to fuel quality, and the presence of sulfur in gasoline can lead to its degradation. Mohammad Ali Ehteram, a member of the Faculty of Energy and Mechanical Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University, stressed that just a single instance of refueling with substandard fuel can potentially damage or significantly reduce the efficiency of the catalytic converter. He further emphasized that an excessive presence of sulfur in gasoline results in the creation of an acidic compound, which poisons the catalytic converter. Consequently, these conditions lead to a decline in the catalytic converter’s overall performance.
One refueling with non-standard gasoline can damage the catalytic converter.
The professor of mechanical engineering at Shahid Beheshti University emphasized the positive impact of Euro 4 fuel availability in the eight major cities, emphasizing its role in reducing air pollution. However, he also highlighted a critical point that even a single instance of using non-standard Euro 4 fuel can potentially harm the catalytic converter. For instance, if a resident of Tehran is compelled to refuel with non-standard fuel during travel or in cities without suitable fuel distribution, the catalytic converter can become non-functional.
Ehteram further stressed the repercussions of catalytic converter damage or loss, particularly during technical inspections. Vehicle owners facing such issues during inspections may incur fines according to recent laws. Vehicles without valid inspections are fined 50,000 Tomans every 24 hours, encouraging citizens to maintain a valid inspection certificate. If a faulty catalytic converter is detected during an inspection, the vehicle owner is obligated to replace it. However, if the catalytic converter is damaged due to the use of inappropriate fuel, the vehicle owner is not held responsible and should not bear the replacement cost.
