3 Unmistakable Signs That Your Vehicle Needs Exhaust Repairs
The exhaust of your vehicle is very important for its overall operation; the exhaust doesn't just quiet the car as it runs; it also pulls excess oxygen and emissions out of the engine, allowing for a stronger and healthier combustion. In turn, your car's engine runs more efficiently and more cleanly. While a loud rumbling is the most obvious sign that your car needs exhaust repair, there are some other signs you should look out for so you know to take your car to a shop as needed.
1. Vibrations
Your car may vibrate if the steering system needs fluid or if a tire is not balanced, but when the fumes and emissions from the engine are going out through a hole in a pipe or the muffler rather than the tailpipe itself, this can cause the car to vibrate and shake. If the muffler is rusty or not working properly, it may be muffling sound but not absorbing airflow so that the car vibrates as the air runs through a hole in the exhaust. In these cases, you may need a new tailpipe or a new muffler under the car.
2. Stalling and low idle
When you start your car or are sitting at a red light, and the vehicle starts to stall, this is often a sign of a poor emission system. The exhaust system is not pulling oxygen away from the engine as it should. When you're idling, you're getting less fuel, so the ratio of fuel to oxygen is then off balance. In turn, the engine may sputter and stall. This also happens when you start the car and are not giving it any gas. The vehicle is probably not pulling enough oxygen away from the combustion chambers through the exhaust system.
3. Smell
If you can smell the exhaust of your car, this is never a good sign. The catalytic converter should be filtering exhaust fumes, and the tailpipe should be depositing them out the back of the car, away from where you sit. When either of these are damaged or blocked, the fumes will then collect in the cab of the car, and you will be able to smell them. This is dangerous for you and also means that the car's exhaust is not working to pull out enough oxygen, as the fumes may also be deposited right back into the engine itself. Never ignore this odour or assume it's just part of driving an older car; have the issue checked as soon as you notice this bothersome smell.
