What Does The Air Pump Actually Do?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,030
From: teh frozen nort
Surprised myself by coming this far in rotary knowledge and I still don't really know what the air pump is for.
Where does the air get pumped to, and why? Will removing it have any noticeable effect?
J
Where does the air get pumped to, and why? Will removing it have any noticeable effect?
J
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 22,465
From: California
they air pump is used to put fresh air into the exhaust ports between idle-2500/3000rpms (it varies), it um makes it pass smog. if you take it off the only thing that happens is that it will idle a little rich, because the airpump air throws off the o2 sensor, but the ecu is expecting the signal
mike
mike
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 114
It pumps air 
.
Actually, on the 79-80 cars, I believe it pumps air first into the ACV (air control valve) where its then metered out into the thermal reactor which acts as a form of catalytic converter.
On the 81-85 cars, it pumps air first into the ACV, and then is metered out into the catalytic converters. Without the fresh air supply, the cats would fall apart and clog the exhaust. Removing it without removing the cats will significantly decrease the lifespan of your cats.
~T.J.
Actually, on the 79-80 cars, I believe it pumps air first into the ACV (air control valve) where its then metered out into the thermal reactor which acts as a form of catalytic converter.
On the 81-85 cars, it pumps air first into the ACV, and then is metered out into the catalytic converters. Without the fresh air supply, the cats would fall apart and clog the exhaust. Removing it without removing the cats will significantly decrease the lifespan of your cats.
~T.J.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12
The air is pumped into the exhaust either right at the header or at the catalytic converter under most operating conditions. The air helps complete the combustion of hydrocarbons coming from incomplete burning of fuel in the engine. The rotary is a pretty dirty engine and puts out a lot of hydrocarbons.
If you disconnect your air pump the catalytic converters will not function well at all and will run a lot cooler. There is a temperature sensor on the main catalytic converter that detects when it is overheating. If this occurs then the air control valve (ACV) directs the air pump air back to the air cleaner lowering the temperature of the catalytic converter.
I do not think that the life of the catalytic converter will be affected if the pump is disconnected but it also will not be doing much cleaning of the exhaust either.
Hope this helps.
If you disconnect your air pump the catalytic converters will not function well at all and will run a lot cooler. There is a temperature sensor on the main catalytic converter that detects when it is overheating. If this occurs then the air control valve (ACV) directs the air pump air back to the air cleaner lowering the temperature of the catalytic converter.
I do not think that the life of the catalytic converter will be affected if the pump is disconnected but it also will not be doing much cleaning of the exhaust either.
Hope this helps.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 22,465
From: California
Originally Posted by RotorMotorDriver' date='Jul 26 2003, 12:47 AM
On the 81-85 cars, it pumps air first into the ACV, and then is metered out into the catalytic converters. Without the fresh air supply, the cats would fall apart and clog the exhaust. Removing it without removing the cats will significantly decrease the lifespan of your cats.
~T.J.
~T.J.
mike
