A.I.R. Pump
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Gadsden AL
A.I.R. Pump
Can someone tell me exactly what the A.I.R. pump does and if it is hard to replace? I noticed mine chirping like a bearing was going bad. I rev'd the engine a little and it quit. Thought I would be prepared in case it goes out. Thanks in advance!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Bahama NC
Re: A.I.R. Pump (goodson)
Goodson,
The A.I.R. pump supplies air to the exhaust manifolds and cat. The air is controlled by diverter valves that send the air where it's needed. On startup, air is dircted to the cat to help it warm up. After warmup, the air is diverted to the manifolds to burn off un-burned fuel and reduce emissions. The car will run fine without it but it doesn't take much power to run and is easy to replace. If your car has an LT1, the pump is electric. On the L98, it's run by a belt.
-Max
The A.I.R. pump supplies air to the exhaust manifolds and cat. The air is controlled by diverter valves that send the air where it's needed. On startup, air is dircted to the cat to help it warm up. After warmup, the air is diverted to the manifolds to burn off un-burned fuel and reduce emissions. The car will run fine without it but it doesn't take much power to run and is easy to replace. If your car has an LT1, the pump is electric. On the L98, it's run by a belt.
-Max
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
Likes: 1
From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: A.I.R. Pump (Mad Maxwell)
Isn't it the opposite? The AIR pump output is sent to the exhaust manifolds to to burn what's left of the rich starting and cold running mixture, this combustion reduces hydrocarbons from the cold engine and helps light the cats up quicker. Once warm, the air is diverted to the center of the cat as there is very little O2 left to perform the HC / CO reduction in the second half of the cat. The first half of the cat is reducing NOx and works better without the extra O2. If a "3 way" cat is not used then the pump output is just dumped to the engine compartment.
I think this is the way it's working: When cold - air goes to exhaust manifolds. When warm - air goes to cat or dumps.
I think this is the way it's working: When cold - air goes to exhaust manifolds. When warm - air goes to cat or dumps.
