There will come a time when you have to replace your car’s muffler. Usually, this time is between 40,000 miles and 80,000 miles. If you take care of your vehicle’s exhaust system, you may get more than 80,000 miles out of the muffler. One way to take care of the system is to have it inspected once a year. This gives us a chance to check for wear and tear that needs to be addressed. The sooner we find a problem and fix it the less of a problem it becomes later on. Here are signs that it’s time to replace your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s muffler. We can do this at our auto service shop.
Loud Noise
The muffler has two jobs in the exhaust system. First, it muffles the noise that the exhaust system makes when it processes the engine’s exhaust. Second, it helps route the exhaust out of the tailpipe and into the environment. If you are vehicle is much louder than it normally is, this is a sign that the muffler is no longer muffling the exhaust system noise. This can happen if the muffler gets a hole in it.
Corrosion
The muffler can also get corroded, especially if you live in a human climate. Corrosion can eat through the muffler and cause holes in it. The muffler can also be dented by road debris or road hazards if you drive over them too quickly. Any type of muffler damage can prevent the muffler from muffling the exhaust system noise and routing the exhaust out of the tailpipe. This is a problem.
Water
The muffler can also start to leak water if it has a hole in it. This, too, is a sign that the muffler needs to be replaced. You may be able to look under your automobile and see water dripping from the muffler. If this is the case, bring your vehicle to our shop so we can take care of the problem.
Overheating
Finally, there are times when the muffler can cause the engine to overheat. This can happen if the muffler has a hole in it and is leaking scorching exhaust. If the exhaust makes its way back into the engine, it will increase the engine’s temperature. Any temperature above 220 degrees Fahrenheit is too hot.
Give us a call today to set up a service visit for your automobile if you are having any of the muffler problems discussed above.