Catalytic converters are found in pretty much every car, but you rarely ever see them. They're tucked deep in the exhaust to work as efficiently as possible, eliminating hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions from the atmosphere.
If you're like us, you've probably wondered exactly what it looks like inside your cats while they're working. The Warped Perception YouTube channel was curious as well, so it put together a couple of see-through catalytic converters to demonstrate exactly what goes on when exhaust runs through them.
The host assembled two variations: one automotive-sized version cut in half, and a smaller cylindrical version. Both are see-through, and allow us to see exactly what happens when exhaust is pushed through the converting material.
At first, not much happens—remember, catalytic converters need to be warmed up to work properly. But once a bit of exhaust passes through, the material starts to glow a bright orange. With the bigger version, the acrylic seals eventually fail and cause the exhaust gas to ignite before it can pass through, making for a fun fire-spitting light show. The smaller cat fairs a bit better, with the host eventually getting the catalyzed gases to ignite.
So now you know what kind of stuff goes on inside your catalytic converter. Pretty neat.
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
