Specialty shops frequently perform automobile muffler and exhaust system repairs in the same way transmission shops do repairs and replacements of transmissions. Exhaust systems and mufflers are best handled by specialists rather than general auto mechanic shops.
Before taking your vehicle for a muffler repair or exhaust system repair, it's a good idea to understand the basics and how they work. This allows you to be an informed consumer when speaking with exhaust specialists at muffler shops.
Exhaust System Basics
Automotive exhaust systems serve three main purposes:
- improvement of fuel economy
- moving harmful fumes away from your car
- reduction in harmful emissions
Gasoline combustion engines produce harmful gases such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide that harm humans and the environment. The exhaust system is vital in the process of keeping these gases out of the cab of your vehicle and cleaning up the exhaust before it's released into the atmosphere.
The exhaust system's main parts include each of the following:
- A cast iron manifold that pulls in all cylinders' exhaust fumes and concentrates them for the catalytic converter
- A catalytic converter that uses special metals to remove harmful contaminants from exhaust fumes by turning them into water and carbon dioxide
- Various gaskets and connection points
In addition, the muffler is also part of the exhaust system.
Common Exhaust System Failures and Problems
Most exhaust system failures and problems come from physical damage when car owners accidentally run over something on the highway or hit rocks when driving offroad.
In addition, catalytic converters and mufflers eventually wear out and need replacement. These parts aren't fixable or rebuildable and are generally replaced with new ones when they fail.
Muffler Basics
An automotive muffler's main purpose is to reduce a vehicle's exhaust system noise. Gas engines have a lot of power and produce a lot of noise. Without mufflers, cars would all sound like noisy motorcycles with big pipes.
Common Muffler Failures and Problems
Mufflers are prone to problems with corrosion, physical damage from banging them into objects in the roadway, and clogging from contaminates building up over time.
While a banged-up muffler is obvious, the other signs of a problem may not be. Often, failing mufflers will make your car increasingly louder as the days and weeks pass. You may also start noticing your vehicle is overheating.
Finally, failing or damaged mufflers can leak dangerous gases into your car's cab, so if you smell any strange odors, get the vehicle into a muffler shop as soon as possible.
For more info, contact a company like Muffler Man.
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