A muffler is actually just one part of a major system in your vehicle. The exhaust system in your car really starts at the front of the vehicle, just behind the engine. Without the complete system in proper working order, your muffler really doesn’t get the proper chance to do its job at all. This can mean higher carbon emissions, less fuel efficiency and poor gas mileage, which all translates into additional expenses for your car. In order to avoid these expenses, it is important to understand how each component of your vehicle’s exhaust system works, and what you can keep an eye out for in order to determine when your car is in need of repairs.
Exhaust System Components
There are a number of small, but significant components that are related to your car’s exhaust system, starting with the exhaust manifolds located at the front of your car and reaching all the way to the tailpipe. To better understand how each component works, here is a step by step account of how your car’s exhaust travels from the engine to the muffler and out into the air.
• First, the exhaust manifolds located behind your engine connect to your car’s cylinder heads where exhaust gas is collected and transferred towards the muffler at the rear end of the car.
• Next, as the gas moves through the exhaust pipes towards the end of the car, oxygen sensors analyze the carbon content of the exhaust. This is how emissions are gauged and how a vehicle’s efficiency is determined.
• Once the sensors have determined the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gasses, a catalytic converter refines the exhaust before it makes its trip to the muffler.
• By the time the exhaust reaches the muffler, it is ready to be released into the air. It is at this point that the muffler earns its name and muffles the noise created by the exhaust as it is emitted from the engine.
Related Articles: Tire Repairs & Rotations, Brakes, Belts & Hoses, Car Batteries
If any one of these steps is not completed due to a faulty component of your vehicle’s exhaust, there are a number of problems that can occur. Thankfully, the experts at Bill & Walter’s Garage are fully certified to perform any necessary repairs or provide replacements for damaged parts. Without a working exhaust system, your car will not only fail an emissions test, but it can also release extremely harmful, unfiltered and unrefined carbon monoxide gas into the air. For the most part, vehicles built during or after the 1990s have mufflers and exhaust systems made of stainless steel. This has vastly increased the lifespan of mufflers and exhaust systems, which is why it is usually obvious to a skilled auto mechanic when a vehicle’s exhaust system isn’t working properly.
If you suspect your exhaust system is not working properly, or you are concerned about passing an upcoming emissions test, the friendly experts at Bill & Walter’s garage can get your car running smoothly and efficiently in no time. For more information, or to book a service appointment feel free to call us or go online today!