There are several indicators that problems are happening in your vehicle’s exhaust system. For example, your car can be heard coming down the street before you are seen. Or, you are unable to overtake slower vehicles or you lose power even though you are pressing down on the accelerator. Maybe you see the “check engine” light flashing on the instrument panel? It is highly possible that there is a leak in your vehicle’s exhaust system. When a problem develops in the exhaust system, it becomes quite obvious—a noisy muffler and loss of engine performance.
How do you know if your muffler is bad? Here are six of the most common problems that can develop in exhaust systems:
- Misfiring Engine – If the muffler has a hole in it, it can cause the engine to misfire, particularly when slowing down.
- Performance Issues – Damaged pipes in the exhaust system can produce an exhaust leak causing loss of power and lower fuel efficiency.
- Noisy Muffler – The muffler can become cracked or develop holes due to rust or other damage. An exhaust leak results in a noisy vehicle, becoming louder while accelerating.
- Obnoxious odor – If the muffler or other exhaust pipes develop holes and leak exhaust fumes, these fumes can enter the passenger cabin, noticeable by an obnoxious smell of fuel and motor oil. This is actually a hazard to the health of passengers.
- Condensation in the pipes – After driving and as the exhaust system cools down, the moisture in the air condenses inside the exhaust pipe and muffler. This moisture can eventually rust out the exhaust pipe and muffler, leaking fumes and noise.
- Dragging muffler – If the muffler or tail pipe has become loose and is hanging down from the vehicle dragging the ground, they can be damaged, leading to a costly repair.
A word of advice: To keep your vehicle running strong and safely down the road, ask your mechanic to inspect your vehicle’s muffler and exhaust system at the same time as other maintenance items are being done, such as oil changes. Any problems can be taken care of before they get bigger and more expensive to fix!
Have more questions about how do you know if your muffler is bad? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Phil’s Service for more information about exhaust system problems and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of Killeen, TX, and the surrounding area.
There are several indicators that problems are happening in your vehicle’s exhaust system. For example, your car can be heard coming down the street before you are seen. Or, you are unable to overtake slower vehicles or you lose power even though you are pressing down on the accelerator. Maybe you see the “check engine” light flashing on the instrument panel? It is highly possible that there is a leak in your vehicle’s exhaust system. When a problem develops in the exhaust system, it becomes quite obvious—a noisy muffler and loss of engine performance.
How do you know if your muffler is bad? Here are six of the most common problems that can develop in exhaust systems:
- Misfiring Engine – If the muffler has a hole in it, it can cause the engine to misfire, particularly when slowing down.
- Performance Issues – Damaged pipes in the exhaust system can produce an exhaust leak causing loss of power and lower fuel efficiency.
- Noisy Muffler – The muffler can become cracked or develop holes due to rust or other damage. An exhaust leak results in a noisy vehicle, becoming louder while accelerating.
- Obnoxious odor – If the muffler or other exhaust pipes develop holes and leak exhaust fumes, these fumes can enter the passenger cabin, noticeable by an obnoxious smell of fuel and motor oil. This is actually a hazard to the health of passengers.
- Condensation in the pipes – After driving and as the exhaust system cools down, the moisture in the air condenses inside the exhaust pipe and muffler. This moisture can eventually rust out the exhaust pipe and muffler, leaking fumes and noise.
- Dragging muffler – If the muffler or tail pipe has become loose and is hanging down from the vehicle dragging the ground, they can be damaged, leading to a costly repair.
A word of advice: To keep your vehicle running strong and safely down the road, ask your mechanic to inspect your vehicle’s muffler and exhaust system at the same time as other maintenance items are being done, such as oil changes. Any problems can be taken care of before they get bigger and more expensive to fix!
Have more questions about how do you know if your muffler is bad? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Phil’s Service for more information about exhaust system problems and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of Killeen, TX, and the surrounding area.
