When I got my first car twenty years ago, I was clueless when it came to maintaining it and keeping it in a roadworthy condition. As a result, I had to pay for costly repairs that could have been avoided if the car had been looked after better. I learned my lesson and started reading everything I could about basic car maintenance. I started this blog to share what I've learned in the hopes it will save other new drivers making costly mistakes. I blog about a variety of topics, such as troubleshooting uneven tyre wear, the benefits of regular servicing and maintaining your car during the winter months. I hope you find my blog useful.
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Car Exhaust Mufflers: Knowing If There Is a Problem
Reginald Fox
How do you know that you know that you have a defective muffler? The muffler is the bulged part of the exhaust pipe, which helps to reduce the noise produced by your car's running engine. In some cases, it is also referred to as the silencer. Besides the noise reduction, the muffler also helps to purify the smoke produced by the exhaust pipe into the atmosphere. Therefore, a defective muffler contributes to the pollution of air, which is why it should be checked and repaired any time you realise that it has a problem. Here are some of the signs that will help you know if the exhaust muffler is defective:
Leakage from the muffler
It is normal to see a few drop of water coming out of the rear end of the exhaust pipe. This is because the engine has to be cooled when the car is running. Condensation often occurs in the muffler as a mechanism for cooling the engine, although the water should drip at the rear end of the exhaust pipe and not at the muffler.
Therefore, if you have water dripping from the muffler, it is an indication that the muffler has been perforated. This could happen due to rust that eats away the metallic coating of the muffler and forms small holes. Moreover, hits from large pebbles and stones can puncture the muffler when you are driving.
The sound of the car
A broken or punctured muffler can make your car sound louder than it did before. The intensity of the sound will change according to the level of damage to the muffler. For instance, some mufflers can reduce the noise from the running engine because it has baffles. If the extent of the damage is great, the baffles become loose or broken. This makes the engine louder than a case where the muffler just has a small, superficial puncture.
The engine's temperature gauge
The car's engine relies on the combustion of fuel for it to run. This generates heat in the engine, which must be cooled using the exhaust system. Start the car and let the engine run for a while, then check the engine's temperature gauge. If the needle moves towards the section marked "H", then the engine's exhaust system might have a problem. This may be due to a blockage in the muffler.
In case you notice any of these signs, you should visit a repair centre before the problem affects other parts of the car exhaust system.
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