Internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas purifying apparatus and method of operation of an internal combustion engine

Internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas purification system comprising a noble-metal-free precatalyst for start-up connected by an exhaust gas conduit to a downstream main catalyst. An independent claim is also included for operating an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas purification system comprising a noble-metal-free precatalyst comprising a preferably washcoated support connected by an exhaust gas conduit to a downstream main catalyst, where enrichment of the engine lamba value for component protection takes place at a higher precatalyst temperature than is normal or necessary for a catalyst that is not noble-metal-free.