Your vehicle’s exhaust system plays a crucial role in the overall performance of your car, truck, or SUV. If there is something wrong with the exhaust system, it could be dangerous to you and to the environment. How can you tell if your exhaust system is having problems? There are five signs you can look for and Righter’s Auto Repair explains what they are in this blog post.
1. Noisy Engine
You’ve probably heard the sound of a tricked-out muffler a mile away. Yeah, it’s cool for about two seconds and then it just gets loud and annoying. Your engine shouldn’t sound like this – unless you’ve tricked-out the muffler. If your engine is noisier than it should be much less than it normally is, you might have a hole in your muffler or leaking exhaust manifold gasket.
2. Power Decrease
You’ll notice a decrease in power when you accelerate your vehicle if you have an exhaust system problem. Power decreases while accelerating usually mean there’s a leak somewhere in the exhaust system. The longer you wait to have the issue inspected and repaired the more power you’ll lose every time you try to accelerate your automobile.
3. Poor Gas Mileage
Your exhaust system helps your vehicle run efficiently, which is why if it’s faulty you’ll use more gas than normal when you drive your car, truck, or SUV. The harder an engine has to work the more fuel it will use. It doesn’t matter if it’s a diesel, gas, or electric engine. In the case of your vehicle, the harder it has to work the more gasoline it will burn.
4. Engine Bay Burning Smells
Your exhaust manifold gasket can fail over time and if it does, the exhaust escaping from it might burn other engine parts. The parts that usually suffer are engine wiring and anything made of plastic. If you notice a burning smell coming out from underneath your hood, which may be coupled with smoke, pull over and turn off your car. Something is wrong under the hood.
5. Gas Smells
Your vehicle’s exhaust system is designed to draw exhaust away from the engine and cabin and remove it out the tailpipe after it has treated it to make it safer for the environment. If you smell gas inside your car, your exhaust system isn’t working properly. Chances are, you have a problem with the exhaust tubes or pipes that needs to be fixed right away.
Located in Grand Ledge, MI, Righter’s Auto Repair would be happy to inspect and repair your automobile’s exhaust system. Call us today for an appointment.
