Indmar launches production catalyst for inboard engines
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Indmar Products Co., Inc. has created what it says is a first for the industry – a production-ready catalytic converter for gasoline marine inboard engines – which it will launch at the 2006 Miami boat show.
ETX/CAT will be standard equipment starting this summer on all 2007 Indmar 5.7L electronic fuel injected (EFI) inboard engines, said Indmar founder Dick Rowe in a statement yesterday.
The Indmar technology reduces exhaust emissions to less than 5 grams of combined hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) as required by California Air Resources Board (CARB) upcoming regulations. In fact, Indmar reports that the ETX/CAT-equipped Indmar inboards will be the first marine engines to earn CARB’s top rating of Four Star Super-Ultra-Low Emissions.
“The most dramatic achievement for boater safety is ETX/CAT’s substantial reduction of carbon monoxide (CO) gases in all part-throttle operating modes,” stated Indmar in the release. “Neither CARB nor the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently regulates CO emissions, but when they do Indmar stands poised to meet or surpass those regulations.”
Indmar also said that there is no measurable engine power loss. With negligible backpressure, the ETX/CAT system is a free-breathing, header style, performance exhaust manifold with the catalytic converter built in, according to the company. Its single-piece manifold design extends the life of the part by preventing water intrusion or water inversion, as is typical with two-piece, center-rise exhaust systems.
In addition, the engine builder reported that ETX/CAT has a diminutive profile, making it easy to incorporate the engine into a boat.
The new Indmar proprietary ETX/CAT catalyst functions similar to a car’s, the company said. Hot exhaust gas flows into an engine-mounted canister with a catalyst brick of precious metals tucked inside. A high-temperature chemical reaction removes much of the government-targeted gasses (HC and NOx) as well as CO.
“Taking a pro-active approach to emissions control means being part of the solution instead of merely following along,” said Rowe.
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