Discovery II
EMISSION CONTROL - V8
17-2-26 DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
Secondary Air Injection System
The secondary air injection (SAI) system comprises the following components:
l
Secondary air injection pump
l
SAI vacuum solenoid valve
l
SAI control valves (2 off, 1 for each bank of cylinders)
l
SAI pump relay
l
Vacuum reservoir
l
Vacuum harness and pipes
The secondary air injection system is used to limit the emission of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HCs)
that are prevalent in the exhaust during cold starting of a spark ignition engine. The concentration of hydrocarbons
experienced during cold starting at low temperatures are particularly high until the engine and catalytic converter
reach normal operating temperature. The lower the cold start temperature, the greater the prevalence of
hydrocarbons emitted from the engine.
There are several reasons for the increase of HC emissions at low cold start temperatures, including the tendency for
fuel to be deposited on the cylinder walls, which is then displaced during the piston cycle and expunged during the
exhaust stroke. As the engine warms up through operation, the cylinder walls no longer retain a film of fuel and most
of the hydrocarbons will be burnt off during the combustion process.
The SAI pump is used to provide a supply of air into the exhaust ports in the cylinder head, onto the back of the
exhaust valves, during the cold start period. The hot unburnt fuel particles leaving the combustion chamber mix with
the air injected into the exhaust ports and immediately combust. This subsequent combustion of the unburnt and
partially burnt CO and HC particles help to reduce the emission of these pollutants from the exhaust system. The
additional heat generated in the exhaust manifold also provides rapid heating of the exhaust system catalytic
converters. The additional oxygen which is delivered to the catalytic converters also generate an exothermic reaction
which causes the catalytic converters to 'light off' quickly.
The catalytic converters only start to provide effective treatment of emission pollutants when they reach an operating
temperature of approximately 250
°
C (482
°
F) and need to be between temperatures of 400
°
C (752
°
F) and 800
°
C
(1472
°
F) for optimum efficiency. Consequently, the heat produced by the secondary air injection “afterburning”,
reduces the time delay before the catalysts reach an efficient operating temperature.
The ECM checks the engine coolant temperature when the engine is started in addition to the elapsed time since the
engine was last started. The engine coolant temperature must be below 55
°
C (131
°
F) for the SAI pump to run.
NOTE: The ambient air temperature must also be above 8
°
C (46
°
F) for the SAI pump to run.
Also, depending on the long term 'modelled' ambient temperature determined by the ECM, the minimum elapsed time
required since the last engine start can be up to 8.25 hours. The period of time that the SAI pump runs for depends
on the starting temperature of the engine and varies from approximately 96 seconds at 8
°
C (46
°
F) to 30 seconds at
55
°
C (131
°
F).
Air from the SAI pump is supplied to the SAI control valves via pipework and an intermediate T-piece which splits the
air flow evenly to each bank.
At the same time the secondary air pump is started, the ECM operates a SAI vacuum solenoid valve, which opens to
allow vacuum from the reservoir to be applied to the vacuum operated SAI control valves on each side of the engine.
When the vacuum is applied to the SAI control valves, they open simultaneously to allow the air from the SAI pump
through to the exhaust ports. Secondary air is injected into the inner most exhaust ports on each bank.
When the ECM breaks the ground circuit to de-energise the SAI vacuum solenoid valve, the vacuum supply to the
SAI control valves is cut off and the valves close to prevent further air being injected into the exhaust manifold. At the
same time as the SAI vacuum solenoid valve is closed, the ECM opens the ground circuit to the SAI pump relay, to
stop the SAI pump.
A vacuum reservoir is included in the vacuum line between the intake manifold and the SAI vacuum solenoid valve.
This prevents changes in vacuum pressure from the intake manifold being passed on to cause fluctuations of the
secondary air injection solenoid valve. The vacuum reservoir contains a one way valve and ensures a constant
vacuum is available for the SAI vacuum solenoid valve operation. This is particularly important when the vehicle is at
high altitude.
