Catalytic Converter on a MK2

[Inline Boarding Portugal]

Hi.

Does anyone ever tried to adapt a diesel catalytic converter (say from a newer Transit or other) to an MK1 or MK2 Transit?


In these days, every little action that we can do to prevent (more) emissions to the atmosphere would be great, so I wondered...

-Would it be possible?
-Will it work?


Please give me (all) your thoughts on this.

[madmark]

[sam l]

as far as emmissions go, the one that chuffs the environment most these days is CO2 (leading to climate change). A catalytic converter can't get rid of that. You could convert to waste veg oil but that'll just make you feel better yourself - nothing wrong with that it's what I do - there isn't enough around for all of us, or even 1% of us motorists. Biofuels are leading to the rainforest being chopped for monoculture so not much cop either.

Keeping these old vans on the road is a good thing for the planet cos apparrently it uses more fuel to create a new van than it will use in it's lifetime of driving . . . so I've been told of course it might be bollocks.

[rover]

Keeping these old vans on the road is a good thing for the planet cos apparrently it uses more fuel to create a new van than it will use in it's lifetime of driving . . . so I've been told of course it might be bollocks

Sounds about right to me mate

Rover.

[FredTransit]

On average it take 20 years for the pollution made in the manufacture of a vehicle to clear, so even if you had bought the van new and never drove it once, the planet would only just be getting over it coming in to the word. As sam l said, try using veg oil to power your transit (fresh rapeseed oil mixed 50/50 with diesel), but check first to see what type of pump you have. If it's a Lucas CAV (CAV will be written on the top of it) it won't have the seals to cope with fresh raw veg oil, so it's not a good idea. Early DIs have CAV pumps.

[Inline Boarding Portugal]

As sam l said, try using veg oil to power your transit (fresh rapeseed oil mixed 50/50 with diesel), but check first to see what type of pump you have. If it's a Lucas CAV (CAV will be written on the top of it) it won't have the seals to cope with fresh raw veg oil, so it's not a good idea. Early DIs have CAV pumps.

Well, despite of my interest on veg oils, I think old Transits (MK1 and MK2) are not the most suitable van to try it on them.. (Only the few ones with Bosch pumps instaled can be lucky enough to burn "chips-oil" )


My idea when posting such topic was to adapt a catalytic converter and/or a particle filter.
I know that CC's trap much more CO then CO2, but few it's better then nothing... And CO also isn't your best friend on the gases list..

I found this http://www.catalystproducts.com/12128/13020.html and wondered if such product or even a CC from a newer Transit will do the trick.

[MRspivvy]

This IS possible. unlikely to be cheap though, you can fit an older style 2-way catalyst, people have even fitted these to 2-stroke trabants

[FredTransit]

Though I have to say why would you fit one? I can remember when the government said diesel is better for the environment than petrol, now they are saying the exact opposite! If it's true that diesel is bad for the environment, then surely the damage has already been done, all those years we we polluting the atmosphere and being told it was OK.
As for the catalytic converters, there are large parts of Easten Europe being completely ruined but the chemicals used in the production of cats. But that's OK cos its not here. And don't even get me on the amount of pollution being put out of factories in China, India and even the USA. whatever we do to supposedly help is just spitting in the wind.

[Inline Boarding Portugal]

I can remember when the government said diesel is better for the environment than petrol, now they are saying the exact opposite! If it's true that diesel is bad for the environment, then surely the damage has already been done, all those years we we polluting the atmosphere and being told it was OK.

My post has nothing to do of what the government imposes... It's just about thinking about the future of our planet and try to do the best, and not just what is obrigatory...
-I really think that old transit's, as well as other older cars, are great polluters. If I can do something to diminish such impact, I'll for sure try it.

As for the catalytic converters, there are large parts of Easten Europe being completely ruined but the chemicals used in the production of cats. But that's OK cos its not here. And don't even get me on the amount of pollution being put out of factories in China, India and even the USA. whatever we do to supposedly help is just spitting in the wind.

Well, it's NOT OK for me, even if it's far...
Unfortunetly, I can't do nothing about Eastern Europe being ruined by chemicals or about the China, India and USA polluting factories.
However, I CAN DO some other things that might help, even if lots of people around the world doesn't know, doesn't want or doesn't care to do them.
In fact, I will feel better with myself, if I just know that I'm not another citizen undervalueing the future of our planet...

whatever we do to supposedly help is just spitting in the wind.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." ~ Edmund Burke

This IS possible. unlikely to be cheap though, you can fit an older style 2-way catalyst, people have even fitted these to 2-stroke trabants

-Older style catalyst's are much different from new ones?
-What is "unlikely to be cheap though"? Any ideas of prices of this parts?
-Anyone was fiited one to an old Transit?

[FredTransit]

IBP I am sorry you might have taken my posts wrong due to the differences in language. I was being sarcastic when I said it was OK for Eastern Europe to be ruined in the production of catalytic converters, of course it is not. My point on that one is although you think you are doing some good in fitting one, the truth is the manufacture of it will do far more damage to the global environment than your transit ever will. Modern cars are fitted with them because the government of western countries say they must be fitted. I genuinely believe that a well maintained old engine is far better for the environment than a badly maintained newer one.

Here in London we are being made to either fit the cats to our trucks, vans and buses, fit brand new engines, buy a new van, or pay £100 a day to use an older van within the M25 (the whole of London), all day everyday, diesels only, not petrol. This is already affecting taxis, and they are having huge problems. Follow the link below and scroll down the page to the 10 min film. There it shows an 18 year old cab without the cat, and then a nearly new cab with it, the smoke is unbelievable. Many cabs here have the transit DI engine, very similar to the one in your transit. The 18 year old dark red cab shown definitely does have the same engine.

http://www.anyonebutken.blogspot.com/

[transerbia]

this is maybe an off-topic:
Think globally, Act locally. I' am engaged in a local NGO trying to do something for the preservation of the rivers. It' s very nice to think about the pollution of our mk1 and 2, but we have to keep our eyes open for the real problem, the pollution of the aircrafts, especially military, which represents 90% of that kind of pollution.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... matechange

[AndyG]

Best thing to do on an older engine, is to make sure that it's in the best possible state of tune

ie; as efficient as possible

Regular oil changes, a clean fuel system, injector condition and pump timing are a major consideration along with gentle driving and don't carry unnecessary weight

If you add devices to the exhaust system, you are actually making the engine work alot harder causing more pollution Higher fuel consumption

The engine will run much hotter too And that steep hill ahead will be a big NO NO

So at the end of the day, you are worse off IMO

I think the fuel companies have alot to answer for here
Why
I ask myself, how come there are "premium" "better" "more efficient" fuels available at the filling stations
ie BP Ultimate If it's "cleaner" and "better", then why not do away with the lesser

[Luke]

if i was concerned i would take a look at the modern engines and see which one was a low emmissions one and fit one of those - ie. complete engine

would be interesting to find out which ones were, it would probly be some japanese engine

[Inline Boarding Portugal]

IBP I am sorry you might have taken my posts wrong due to the differences in language. I was being sarcastic when I said it was OK for Eastern Europe to be ruined in the production of catalytic converters, of course it is not.

Ok. Sorry for misunderstanding you. Isn't an easy task for me to interpretate sarcasm on UK english.. Although I think it was a little bit strange that you might have that opinion.

My point on that one is although you think you are doing some good in fitting one, the truth is the manufacture of it will do far more damage to the global environment than your transit ever will. Modern cars are fitted with them because the government of western countries say they must be fitted. I genuinely believe that a well maintained old engine is far better for the environment than a badly maintained newer one.

Ok, I got your point.
But what about get an used CC from the scrap? Like this you are also saving a lost CC from poluting where else..


The taxi movie is schoking!!

[MRspivvy]

-Older style catalyst's are much different from new ones?
-What is "unlikely to be cheap though"? Any ideas of prices of this parts?
-Anyone was fiited one to an old Transit?



Yes, old ones definately a lot different to new ones. 2 way catalysts is what the USA was using in the '70s... back in the days when an 8.2 litre cadillac could only generate 170bhp whereas its uncatalysed models of a decade before were getting 360 bhp from 6.4 litre. they clean the exhaust up but strangle the motor so much that you are using ridiculous extra quantities of fuel which somewhat negates the excercise.
I dont know of anyone who has done it to a transit specifically, is yours a diesel or petrol, I cant remember. If its a petrol then yes it can be done, the engine is the same as that of the Ford Pinto compact in the States which was built with a catalyst. If its a diesel then you are going to run into difficulties with things like particulate traps as there are a lot more large soot particles produced by an elderly diesel engine which would clog up a cat in next to no time. I think its going to be more trouble than its worth, why not run on veg oil this contains no hydrocarbons and emits far less pollution than diesel