It’s easy to forget about the exhaust system. It does its job faithfully without you noticing anything at all. John Ellis & Son advises that the exhaust system will go bad eventually, especially if it is not maintained. You will notice if the exhaust system is having problems. The following signs are signs that the exhaust system is going bad. The most common problem an exhaust system faces is getting clogged or leaking.
You’ll Hear a Ton of Noise
One thing about the exhaust system is it can tell you it’s in trouble if there’s a hole in the muffler. This will make your engine run extremely loud. The engine actually isn’t running any louder. Rather, the muffler is no longer able to muffle the sound. It’s important to replace your muffler as soon as possible to avoid getting a moving violation for breaking noise abatement laws.
Your Engine Will Struggle to Perform
Your exhaust system may also cause engine performance problems if it is leaking or clogged. Unfortunately, either problem will leave excess exhaust in the engine. This exhaust prevents fresh combustion, and, as a consequence, you end up with performance lag and acceleration lag.
You’ll Have to Fill Up More Often
Naturally, your engine will have to work harder if the combustion chamber is filled with exhaust. Unfortunately, the more the engine struggles to run the more fuel it burns up. This will leave you heading to the gas station more often, which can be overwhelming with gas prices what they are in California.
You’ll Smell the Engine Burning
Your exhaust system may also be leaking if you smell burning odors in the engine. Specifically, if you smell burning plastic or rubber, you may have a cracked exhaust manifold gasket. It’s important to replace the gasket right away to prevent damaged engine parts and constant overheating.
You’ll See the Tailpipe Hanging
You may also see that your exhaust system is damaged if the tailpipe is hanging too low. If you inspect the tailpipe and see that it has holes in it, is dented, or is corroded, it’s time to replace the tailpipe. You need a healthy tailpipe to remove the exhaust away from your car, truck, or utility vehicle.
You’ll Smell Gas Inside Your Car
Finally, you may smell gas inside your automobile if the exhaust system is unable to move it out of the tailpipe and away from the vehicle. You should never smell gasoline or exhaust fumes inside your automobile. If you do, stop driving it right away.
John Ellis & Son in Sacramento, CA, stresses that continuing to drive your automobile could subject you to carbon monoxide poisoning. Have your car towed to our shop so we can find your exhaust problem and fix it.
