When most people think of their exhaust system, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the muffler, but the fact is that there’s so much more to it. Your exhaust system is responsible for safely transporting your engine’s hot exhaust to the tail pipe. Along the way it also treats and filters out harmful pollutants and also muffles your engine noise. At your local Signature Tire, we can check out your exhaust system to make sure it’s in perfect working order and ready for you to hit the road. We can also perform an emissions test to ensure that your vehicle running cleanly.
Maintaining Your Exhaust System
Exhaust gas can be harmful to people, which is why it’s so important that your system is working well when you get behind the wheel. If your exhaust system is damaged, there is a chance that exhaust gas could leak into your car’s passenger cabin and make you seriously sick (or worse!).
In addition to being harmful for people, exhaust gas also contains pollutants. Since the mid-90s, vehicles have come equipped with something called a catalytic converter which works to scrub a large amount of these pollutants. A catalytic converter is an expensive piece of equipment that, over time, will wear down and eventually need to be replaced.That said, by keeping your system clean, you can greatly increase the life of your catalytic converter.
How Do I know if My Exhaust System is Failing?
There are a number of warning signs to take note of if you think your exhaust system may be damaged. Most notably, if you notice your car has recently become considerably louder, it’s definitely time to head to your nearest Signature Tire.
Catalytic converters are an expensive piece of your exhaust system, which unfortunately makes them prone to theft. If your catalytic converter is missing, you’ll quickly notice altered vehicle performance as well as loud noises immediately upon start up. If your catalytic converter is failing, you will start to notice a distinct shaking noise while your vehicle is idling or stopped in traffic.
If you have an exhaust leak, you’ll start to notice a vibration when touching the steering wheel or foot pedals, as well as loss of power when you’re operating your car. Depending on the size of the leak, you may also begin hearing a rumbling sound. In addition to this being an exhaust problem, a leak can be a tell tale sign that your engine is no longer performing at peak levels.
If you’re beginning to notice a drop in your fuel efficiency, this can also be a sign of an exhaust system problem. This is because when your exhaust leaks, your engine has to work harder, which in turn causes you turn burn more fuel.
Emissions Testing
Emissions testing helps to ensure that your vehicle is burning its fuel efficiently. These tests are important, not only for your vehicle, but also to the environment, as these tests remove unmeasurable tons of pollutants from the air each day.
The bottom line is that it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your vehicle’s exhaust system. If you think you might have an issue with your exhaust system, stop into your local Signature Tire and speak to one of our professionals today.
