Signs That Your Car Needs a New Muffler

Your car’s muffler is an important part of its operation. If your muffler isn’t working properly, it might lead to a variety of issues. A faulty muffler can result in exhaust back pressure, causing other parts of your automobile to be damaged to the point that it is no longer drivable.

What Is a Muffler?

Mufflers are used to muffle the sound produced by a vehicle’s engine. Engines must produce a lot of power, thus they produce a lot of pulsating sounds that resonate through the exhaust valves.

Why Is a Muffler Important?

The muffler is one of the most critical components on your vehicle. It is essentially the exhaust system of your vehicle’s engine, and it is located under the back of the automobile. The muffler reduces the amount of noise produced by your engine while also reducing the engine’s backpressure, which increases the engine’s endurance and performance. 

Keeping your muffler in good working order is critical to preventing excessive stress and damage to your engine and exhaust system. There are clear symptoms that your muffler needs to be repaired or changed, and being able to spot them early is critical to avoiding accidents.

Common Problems:

• Faulty Oxygen Sensor – If one of your car’s oxygen sensors fails, the engine’s computer will be unable to establish a properly balanced air-fuel combination for efficient operation. This could result in a low-air-to-high-gas combination, a hotter-than-intended blend, or a blockage in your catalytic converter, causing more harm to your system and vehicle.
• Exhaust Leaks – If you drive on bumpy roads frequently, your exhaust system may not last as long as it should. Bumps, holes, and shaking that occur when driving in these conditions can cause weak places, such as joints, to fracture and release hazardous vapors into the passenger compartment, posing major health and safety concerns. Turn to a skilled mechanic at Master Muffler if you see any indicators of a leak or break in your system. When driving, it’s also crucial to be aware of scents. 
• Exhaust Smoke – Although everyone understands that driving a car that is smoking is never a good idea, few people are aware that different hues of smoke have distinct connotations. Blue smoke is usually an indication of oil burning. Black smoke is an indication of excessive burning of fuel. White or gray smoke is an indication of coolant burning in the combustion chamber.
• Rust – Rust is the single most dangerous opponent for the exhaust system.
• Broken Hangers – Hangers are the small, helpful pieces that keep your exhaust system from rattling around when you hit a bump. They aid with the securement of your exhaust on your vehicle. All of the exhaust pipes become free to move once the hanger breaks and falls off. Their movement can cause dents, cracks, and even break off entire components of the exhaust system in some situations. Your exhaust system hangers should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure that none are cracked or missing entirely.
• Vibrations – Any unusual noises emanating from your steering wheel or gas pedal while driving are likely symptoms that your exhaust system needs to be repaired. Your entire automobile may begin to tremble as you drive if the exhaust system is poor enough. These vibrations endanger not just the health of your car, but also the safety of you, your passengers, and others on the road.
• Increased Engine Noise – An increase in engine noise is usually the first indicator of an exhaust leak. Your system’s manifold or any of the joints along the exhaust system are most likely the source of an exhaust leak. Not only will your engine’s volume grow if the leak is in the manifold, but hazardous fumes may also enter the passenger compartment. That is a significant problem that needs to be addressed right away.

You can avoid having to deal with these exhaust issues. Regardless of whether you’ve noticed a problem, have your exhaust system evaluated every year or two. We can inspect your check engine light, repair exhaust leaks, and provide general peace of mind checks. Located in South Salt Lake City, UT, give Master Muffler a call and we will be glad to assist you.