Signs My Exhaust System Is Bad

It’s easy to forget about the exhaust system on your car, truck, or SUV until something goes wrong. Generally, it’s a good idea to have the exhaust system inspected annually to make sure everything is okay. We can do that here at our auto service shop. We can also repair the exhaust system if something goes wrong. The following are signs that you’ve got a problem with the exhaust system.

The tailpipe is susceptible to damage because of where it is located. You can damage the pipe by speeding over large bumps or speed bumps, driving over curbs, or getting into a rear-end collision. The tailpipe can also start to rust and end up with holes in it if your vehicle is quite old.

If you can smell fuel odors inside your automobile, you’ve got a leaking or clogged exhaust system. It is easy for the ventilation system to pick up the exhaust odors if you have a leaking exhaust manifold or exhaust pipes. Clogs in the exhaust system can also push the exhaust odors into the cabin.

If the exhaust system is clogged or leaking, your engine is going to perform poorly. The reason why is that the exhaust will back into the combustion chamber and fill the chamber. Consequently, your engine will have a hard time producing combustion to produce power and keep the engine running.

Naturally, any problems with the engine’s performance are going to cause a reduction in the fuel economy. The engine will burn more fuel when it is struggling to run. This will cause your gas mileage to tank – sorry for the pun. Repairing the exhaust system clog or leak will restore your engine’s performance.

The exhaust system can also make rumbling noises if it is going bad. Specifically, the engine will rumble loudly if the muffler is damaged or has a hole in it. The engine will also rumble loudly if the catalytic converter has been stolen.

Finally, we mentioned above that the exhaust system can leak from the exhaust manifold. When this happens, you may hear tapping or popping when you first fire up your automobile. This is the best time to listen for these noises as they are the loudest at this time.

As we previously mentioned, we can repair your exhaust system so call us today to schedule an appointment.