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Chevrolet 305 Emissions Control Systems: The Basics
from:In the mid to late 1960's the focus turned from larger cars into more efficient cars through the implementation of the United States government standards and regulations with regards to emissions standards. The Chevrolet 305 emissions control systems were revamped and redesigned, appearing for the first time in all engines used in Chevy vehicles in 1976.
The Chevrolet 305 emissions control systems were designed to decrease the amount of harmful emissions in the exhaust and to more efficiently burn the fuel within the engine, resulting in less carbon as a by-product. With this also came a slight decrease in performance as the Chevrolet 305 emissions control systems were uniformly added to each vehicle rolling off the dealership lots. The newer, more efficient Chevrolet 305 emissions control systems were found in all V-8 vehicles sold with a 305 engine including such diverse types of vehicles as the Chevrolet Caprice, Monza, Camaro, Malibu, Firebird, Cutlass, Grand Prix and the various small and light duty trucks produced by Chevy.
The Chevrolet 305 emissions control systems work similar to other types of emissions control systems within different types of motors and engines. The systems are designed to monitor the amount of hydrocarbons produced while the vehicle is running, thereby decreasing the damaging emissions released into the environment through the exhaust of the vehicle. Chevrolet 305 emissions control systems are designed to be self correcting, or that the computer within the system will recognize a problem in the amount of hydrocarbons being produced and would automatically make adjustments in the fuel or air in the engine to allow the most efficient type of operation of the motor. Basically the system would self-adjust, providing that the problem with the high level of hydrocarbons was due to some incorrect level of either air or fuel in the engine combustion chamber. Of course if the problem is outside of this, the engine would then signal the operator through a light in the dash that indicates an engine malfunction. In addition the engine would send a message to the computer with the information from the report. When the owner takes the vehicle to a repair station, the mechanic is able to access the data on the computer with regards to the malfunction to help with determining the necessary repair.
One other part of Chevrolet 305 emissions control systems is the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is a small section of the exhaust system right before the muffler that actually helps to oxidize the hydrocarbons in the exhaust, converting them to carbon dioxide and water. If the catalytic converter becomes dirty or if the engine is very inefficient in burning the fuel the converter will become so hot it will no longer work effectively and will decrease the performance of the vehicle. Sensors in the car's computer will alert mechanics to the performance of the catalytic converter and will signal when it needs to be replaced and the engine given a turn-up for better fuel efficiency.
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