The exhaust system in your car might seem as if it just has the one job of making your car quieter, but it does a lot more than that. Allman’s Automotive has these tips for noticing when your exhaust system might be failing.
Your Car Is a Lot Louder
The first way that most people start to realize that there’s an issue with their car’s exhaust system is because the car is louder. The exhaust system, including the muffler, is designed to tone down engine sounds. A failing exhaust system isn’t able to keep up with that task. You might notice that your car is idling a lot louder and when you press the accelerator you might have a lot more noise.
You’re Smelling Exhaust Fumes or Gas
It’s never good to smell gas or exhaust fumes inside the passenger compartment. For one, that ruins the driving experience, but more importantly, this is very dangerous. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real consequence, especially if your car is in an enclosed space and is on. The exhaust system takes dangerous gases and fumes from the engine and converts them to less harmful ones. If you’re smelling gas especially, the exhaust isn’t getting much of anything converted.
Your Car’s Gas Mileage Is Terrible
Any time your car starts operating less efficiently, your gas mileage is likely to show it. The big reason that gas mileage is affected by a failing exhaust system is that the exhaust system moves spent combustion fumes away from the cylinder so that the next round of combustion can occur safely. If there’s something wrong in that process, the engine is working too hard and burning too much fuel. Your gas mileage suffers for it.
The Check Engine Light Is On
There’s no dashboard warning light specifically for your exhaust system. That’s why you might see the check engine light when there’s something wrong with your exhaust. This happens because while it doesn’t seem to be related, the exhaust system is a crucial piece in keeping your car’s engine running as efficiently as possible. Don’t ignore the light, because it’s letting you know that there’s something going on.
Trouble in your car’s exhaust may be a much easier repair than you might fear. Allman’s Automotive in Groveland, MA can fully diagnose the issue for you. Once we know what’s happening, we can get your car’s exhaust repaired quickly and professionally.