What does the car exhaust do?
A vehicle's exhaust system carries away the gases that are produced by the engine combustion. It allows the vehicle to operate with minimal noise, smoke and pollution transmitted to the environment. A properly maintained exhaust system is essential to the clean and efficient operation of the car. The system is made up of a number of different components.
Exhaust Manifolds: Exhaust manifolds are connected to the cylinder head. They primary function is to vent the cylinders. The exhaust gases are combined into one pipe to flow away from the engine.
Oxygen Sensors: Oxygen sensors measure the ratio of oxygen to exhaust and transmit this information to the vehicle computer so it can adjust the amount of fuel being added to the air going into the engine.
Catalytic Converter: The catalytic converter changes carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into water and carbon dioxide, which is more environmentally friendly. Catalytic converters are required by almost all states.
Muffler: The muffler helps reduce noises that are created by the engine.
Exhaust Pipe: The exhaust travels through the various exhaust components and releases emissions through the exhaust pipe in the back of the vehicle.
What should car exhaust smell like?
Inside the vehicle, there shouldn't be any smell of exhaust fumes. Any odors that are detected – should be addressed immediately. Exhaust fumes are not only dangerous, but can be deadly. If there is a sulfur or rotten egg smell, there could be an issue with the catalytic converter. A heavy scent of gasoline may indicate an issue with the oxygen sensor. No matter what may be causing the issue, any exhaust fumes in the vehicle should be inspected urgently.
What makes car exhaust loud?
If your vehicle is making loud noises, it may be a sign of issues with your exhaust system. There could be damage to any of the exhaust components – including the front pipe, catalytic converter, intermediate exhaust pipe, front muffler, rear exhaust pipe, and rear muffler. All of these components are sealed together and held in place by mounts and brackets. A small hole in any of these sections can allow noise to escape – which can become increasingly louder. Additionally, if any of the support clamps are loose, it may cause a rattling noise. While the noise may be annoying, it's generally not as loud as a hole in the exhaust system.
What causes car exhaust to smoke?
Vehicles should not be emitting smoke. If you see smoke coming from your car's tailpipe – this is something that you should have inspected. Often times the color of the smoke will range from white, gray, blue or black. The color of the smoke can indicate the source of the issue.
On cold mornings, you may see white vapor, but this should go away once the car engine is warm. If you continue to see white smoke, there may be problems with the engine block. Coolant could be leaking in to the engine because of a leak in the head gasket.
If you see a bluish smoke coming from the tailpipe, this could indicate trouble with the oil. Whether it is light or dark, that indigo shade suggests that oil is burning. The oil is possibly leaking into combustion chambers and that signals very definite problems with the engine.
The darker the smoke is the more serious the problems grows. A gray smoke color is a warning sign of possible transmission fluid burning. Thick, black smoke suggests that the engine is being flooded with gasoline. There are different instances which may cause this to happen.
No matter what the color, if you notice smoke coming from your vehicle's tailpipe, you should plan to have a qualified mechanic take a look. Due to the toxic gases and potential hazards, issues with the exhaust system should not be taken lightly.
When should I replace the car exhaust?
Major exhaust components are designed to last a long time, but there's no way to predict their true lifespan. This is because they're subject to a lot of factors that affect durability. They're made primarily of metal, which corrodes easily since they're under extremely high temperatures. Our climate, environmental conditions and personal driving habits can also impact the condition of exhaust components.
It's not likely that your vehicle's entire car exhaust system would fail at the same time. Generally, there are smaller issues with rubber gaskets or loose clamps, which if ignored, can lead to bigger problems. Clamps are susceptible to drying, cracking and snapping caused by engine heat, environmental conditions and chassis flex. Discovering issues early and taking action can help to minimize the repair costs.
Top signs of car exhaust problems?
Vehicles in New York State need to be inspected annually. One of the items that is checked is the exhaust system. Emissions tests will examine the gases exiting your vehicle. Not only is this good for the environment, but it will help to indicate any early warning signs of problems with your exhaust system.
In addition to annual inspections, if you notice odor inside the vehicle, smoke coming from the tailpipe, or loud noises – those are all signs of potential issues with the exhaust system. These should not be ignored as these are important safety concerns for your vehicle.
If you have any questions about your vehicle's exhaust system or would like to have a qualified mechanic inspect your exhaust to ensure it is in safe operating condition, please contact the nearest Dunn Tire store for assistance