This is how much platinum is actually in your catalytic converter – Jalopnik

Platinum has now been considered a precious metal for a few thousand years, with people in both hemispheres since about 700 BC. Use to show off their striking consumption. This is partly because of how difficult it is to find platinum. Of course, most people think that gold is rare, but platinum is about 15 to 20 times less abundant than that – unless you know where to look.

It turns out that there is a reliable and relatively easy to access platinum that is used to pick up. The problem is that the offer is in your Katalytic converter, making it easy for thieves to do it. And that is the case, although every catalytic converter contains only about 3 to 7 grams of platinum.

It doesn’t seem like much, but notice that the current price for this precious metal is almost $ 50 per gram- more than $ 1,400 per ounce. If you take into account that thieves can remove a catalytic converter from your car in less than a minute, you may not be surprised that one Catalytic Convertercriminelring has scored $ 500 million in just three years. Platinum is also not the only expensive element hiding in your catalytic converter and waiting to be stolen.

Catalytic converters actually rely on three of the six so -called platinum group metals (PGMs) that are known for a strange combination of properties. On the one hand, they all resist certain chemical reactions that are known for harmful cars, such as rust. On the other hand, they accelerate various chemical reactions, such as those who help to reduce emissions. With that in mind, car manufacturers usually use platinum, palladium and rhodium in catalysts. The platinum and palladium catalyze reactions with carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, while the Rhodium works on nitrogen oxides.

That is also their order of rarity. We have already said that platinum is about 15-20 times rarer than gold. Well, palladium and rhodium are about 15 times and 25 times more rare than platinum. Rhodium is in fact often considered one of the rarest metals on earth, which helps explain why it is now priced at more than $ 250 per gram ($ 7,125 per ounce).

Thieves will not realize that kind of trek when they finish with a stolen catalytic converter, because they, along with the few grams of platinum, contain only 2 to 7 grams of palladium and 1 to 2 grams of rhodium. Sources say that they can get a maximum of $ 300 for a stolen of a typical car with gas and up to $ 1,400 for one lifted from a hybrid, which is why they are one of the car parts that thieves like to steal.

It is true that the theft of the Katalytic converter has fallen considerably since the pandemic, but those precious metals can still be a tempting target for bad actors who want to make money quickly. Do you remember when a school district had to be closed after the buses were the target? It can therefore be a good idea to take proactive measures against the possibility that you are the next.

When it comes to public parking, search for an area that is well covered with both lights and surveillance cameras. If possible, if possible, park your car in your garage and/or receive your own security cameras. A dashcam with a built -in motion sensor can also expand your video cover. Yes, there is a small amount of evidence in the other way, but surveillance cameras have proven their effectiveness in many crime studies.

You can also physically protect your catalytic converter by etching your license plate on the part. Contact your local exhaust store or police for resources and remember that thieves does not have to be traced with everything that can easily be traced to a specific crime or vehicle. Some companies also make special anti-defect devices for catalytic converters that you confirm to your car to prevent thieves from achieving their goal care to do your research before you buy.