Your car exhaust system is helpful in several ways in your car, such as lowering the noise level, ensuring that the engine drives correctly, boosting fuel economy, preventing exhaust fumes and reducing your emissions. Some of the probable problems you could encounter if you do not service or maintain your vehicle correctly.
Exhaust problems are among the many related to a car’s performance and ability that can be problematic. Thus, it is necessary to maintain your vehicle’s excellent condition, not only in its performance aspect but also regarding the driver’s safety. To do this, one must be able to know when the exhaust system starts exhibiting complications.
But if you notice any symptoms of car exhaust problems early and try to remedy them, there is no reason why your car cannot serve you for several years. Now, let us consider some of the signs and symptoms that suggest that there may be some problems with the exhaust.
What Are The Functions of A Car Exhaust System?
An exhaust pipe helps to channel damaging emissions such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen monoxide from a moderated combustion of fuel in your engine to the back of your car. During the redirection process, the gas flows through several components, where they are changed to relatively inert gases and emitted into the atmosphere.
The typical car exhaust system is divided into five parts: manifold, catalytic converter, resonator, oxygen sensor, and muffler (silencer). Due to its location underneath the car, the exhaust system is more vulnerable to gradual corrosion and rubbing against automotive surfaces like speed humps.
Signs Of Damaged Exhaust System
The car engine suffers whenever one of the exhaust system fixtures gets ruined. Unfortunately, the vehicle’s exhaust system can fall under a string of bad days for many reasons.
You may have to solve such issues as a non-working catalytic converter or an oxygen sensor. Apart from these, there are other issues, such as exhaust system corrosion, which are way too frequent.
1. Metallic Vibrations and Rattling
If your exhaust is loose, you hear metal-like noise from your vehicle’s interior and sometimes feel a slight vibration on your seat, steering wheel, or accelerator pedal. Rattling is most often associated with a loose catalytic convertor, and if ignored, it will damage other components surrounding it and put even more financial burden on your side. Any squeaking or noise should be addressed as soon as possible.
2. Strange Smells
The symptoms, such as smelling burning or a gas leak, could result from some exhaust problems. A burning smell ‘could’ point to a faulty gasket. The burning smell you detect is due to the exhaust gases entering your engine compartment, which melt the plastic and the wiring. Another sign that may show that you are facing exhaust problems is the stinking of gas inside the car. This occurs when a ruptured pipe is somewhere, and instead of the gas diffusing into the atmosphere, it gets in your vehicle.
3. Illuminated Check Engine Light
The oxygen sensors and the catalytic converter, therefore, fit in the exhaust systems of your vehicles. The oxygen sensors measure the amount of oxygen in the exhaust to ensure that your car’s fuel/air mixture is adequate, while the catalytic converter chemically alters some of the more toxic byproducts of combustion into less hazardous substances. Abnormalities with either of these elements can trigger the message to turn on the check engine light.
4. Excessive Exhaust Fumes
This is another definite sign of something wrong with your car, especially when fumes are noticed more often than usual. Damage to the exhaust pipe or tube usually causes an exhaust leak. In case of a leak at the front part of the car or under the section occupied by the cabin, the released gasses are toxic. The effects of inhaling fumes from certain gases, such as carbon monoxide (CO), are especially lethal.
Most of the time, in every leakage, the vehicle’s fumes seek a place where it can evaporate, and that mostly happens in your car’s cabin. Any fume in the car’s interior part should be attended to as soon as possible for that consult with exhaust repairs in Perth.
5. Visible Rust
Rusts on cars are very dangerous once they become big and should be dealt with immediately. If you usually make short drives in your vehicle and do not frequently travel long distances, then your car may be affected by rust in the exhaust system. It is because short drives enable water to gather, and although it becomes hot, it does not get to the extent of evaporating off. If water is allowed to stagnate on a surface for some time, consider the rusting process. This rust will reach a point where it will destroy the exhaust system, and hence, if you discover any rust, it is high time you get your car checked by an auto care shop.
Conclusion
Knowledge of exhaust repairs helps car owner’s act appropriately to prevent the inefficient work of vehicles. Regardless of the problem, exhaust leaks, catalytic converter malfunction, damaged muffler or faulty oxygen sensor, it is equally important to get an exhaust replacement and avoid worsening the situation that affects the efficiency of your vehicle’s performance. A little routine check-up and using professionals and consultation experts from car service in Perth will boost the exhaust system’s longevity and durability. The secret is that it is right to maintain the exhaust system because this will ensure a quiet and comfortable ride, increase fuel consumption efficiency and decrease pollution.
