The salty roads and fluctuating temperatures can have a huge toll on any vehicle’s exhaust system. In addition to increasing the risk of having dangerous carbon-monoxide fumes leaking into your vehicle’s cabin – due to ineffective venting – a rusted-out exhaust system can also reduce the performance of your vehicle significantly. Furthermore, if you regularly drive around in the city, moisture can accumulate in your vehicle’s exhaust system, leading to further damage. Some of the common signs of exhaust system damage include weird smells and knocking or rattling emanating from the exhaust system.
To find out if you need to have your muffler replaced or repaired, and with it avoid the above problems, read on below.
Loud Noises: A distinct change in the tone of your vehicle’s exhaust or the production of excessive noise from the exhaust is one of the main indicators of a damaged muffler. These noises can be caused by a rusted muffler, leaking manifold gasket or cracked exhaust. This noise should be checked immediately as you may end up losing performance, experiencing lower fuel economy or even face fines due to the excessive noise.
A Dropped Muffler: Knocking or banging noises coming from your vehicle’s underside may point towards a damaged muffler or exhaust. A broken exhaust pipe or loose exhaust mounts can leave the muffler or exhaust pipe dragging along the ground. This is a huge problem that should be fined as soon as possible to avoid further damage and eliminate any associated risks.
Rough Idling: The main sign of rough idling is the distinct bouncing and shaking sensation of a vehicle when in idle mode. Other indicators of rough idling include inconsistent RPM counts and other odd sounds. While there are many causes of rough idling, a collapsed or clogged muffler is one of the most common ones. A disintegrating catalytic converter and/or any impact damage that causes the walls of the muffler to collapse are some of the main causes of a clogged muffler. In addition to rough idling, a clogged muffler can lead to loss of engine power and difficulty in starting the engine altogether.
Courtesy of absolutecarcare
