How To Tell When The Muffler On Your Car Needs Replacing
Your vehicle's exhaust system will typically last for several years without needing much attention. However, over time the metal exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, and mufflers can start to rust from exposure to water, road salt, and materials in the exhaust gases. If the damage is bad enough, a muffler repair shop may need to replace some or all of the parts in the system under your car.
Exhaust Gases
When your vehicle's engine is running correctly, the exhaust gases traveling through the system are filled with byproducts from the combustion inside the vehicle's engine. Some of these gases leave deposits inside the muffler and exhaust pipes that contribute to rust and corrosion inside the system.
Water vapor in the gases can also settle in low spots, and eventually, the mix of these things can cause the system to rot from the inside out. The only prevention for this is to keep your engine running efficiently to help reduce the deposits in the exhaust system and limit the effect on the metal.
The exhaust gases will still cause some corrosion that will eventually lead to muffler repair or replacement, but you may be able to reduce the damage and slow the process. Cars and trucks that idle a lot, often have more water vapor in the system, while vehicles driven at higher RPMs will expel more water and exhaust gas out the tailpipe and reduce the need for muffler repair for longer periods.
External Damage
Damage to the outside of your exhaust system can come from impacts to the muffler or corrosion that starts on the outside of the system. Vehicles driven in areas that use a lot of road salt to control ice on the roads in the wintertime or coastal areas, like beach towns, will often experience corrosion on the outside of the exhaust system.
Often the best way to tell when you need muffler repair is to look under the car or have a repair shop check the system thoroughly. The vehicle may get louder, or you may notice a rattle or banging noise under the chassis, but the final determination often comes only after visual inspection.
If the muffler repair is necessary because you hit something in the road that dislodged a connector or put a hole in the muffler, you may notice a rapid change in the volume and performance of the vehicle. You may also smell exhaust gases or fumes inside the passenger compartment shortly after the impact.
These should all be indications that there may be a problem and that you need to take the vehicle to a muffler repair shop for further assessment and repairs.