Catalytic converter
An exhaust part that cleans engine emissions using precious metals, often the most valuable part of a junk car.
A catalytic converter is the exhaust component that converts harmful engine gases into less harmful ones. Inside is a ceramic or metal honeycomb coated with precious metals. Its scrap value depends on that metal content, which varies widely by vehicle.
For junk car sellers, the converter is often a big part of what a yard will pay. A car with its converter missing is usually worth less, and some buyers ask about it when quoting.
The U.S. Geological Survey says that since 1979 the automotive industry has been the principal consumer of platinum-group metals, and that palladium, platinum and rhodium have been used as oxidation catalysts in catalytic converters to treat exhaust emissions.1
References
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U.S. Geological Survey, “Platinum-Group Metals Statistics and Information”, https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/platinum-group-metals-statistics-and-information ↩
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