Don't Let These Exhaust System Problems Wear You Out

May 13, 2022

If you started your car this morning and wondered, "Why is my exhaust so loud?" you could have a leak, damaged muffler, or some other problem stemming from your exhaust system. A healthy exhaust system is critical to engine performance and vehicle emissions standards. If you're experiencing car exhaust system problems, don't wait to make the necessary auto repairs. Keep reading to learn the signs of exhaust problems so you can stay ahead of issues before they wear you out.

Common Car Exhaust System Problems

A car's exhaust system is made up of a chain of parts starting from the engine and ending at the tailpipe. Its purpose is to take exhaust fumes created during the combustion process, filter them, and safely release them behind your vehicle-while also quieting the engine's sound.

Exhaust systems typically don't last the lifetime of the vehicle, and various parts, such as the catalytic converter, O2 sensors, and the muffler, may have to be repaired or replaced. If your car is more than five years old, it's best to have your exhaust system inspected every one or two years. Here are some common exhaust system problems you may encounter as your vehicle ages:

Rust

Since water is a natural byproduct of combustion, there is actually a surprising amount of moisture inside your exhaust system. In fact, mufflers are designed with small holes, called "weep holes," that allow water to escape. However, if too much water builds up without evaporating or dripping out, rust can form inside your exhaust system. If left long enough, rusty exhaust pipes and mufflers will start to crack and form holes where exhaust can leak out.

One way to prevent rust is to avoid short trips in your car. Short drives don't give the exhaust system enough time to sufficiently heat up and evaporate moisture.

Road Damage

The undercarriage of your car is a dangerous place for unprotected car parts. Since your exhaust system is one of the lowest hanging parts underneath your vehicle, it is especially prone to damage from potholes, bumps, and stray rocks. While the odd bump or pothole may not be enough to dislodge exhaust parts, the damage adds up. Accumulating impacts may loosen the hangers that hold your exhaust pipe in place or even take your muffler clean off. What's more, prolonged exposure to rain, snow, road salt, and other elements may also cause rust to form ‐ making exhaust parts even more susceptible to breakage from road impacts.

Exhaust Leaks

An exhaust leak occurs when combustion fumes escape anywhere other than from the tailpipe on your vehicle. The most common places to find a leak are around the various flanges, gaskets, and connectors that join your exhaust system together, such as the exhaust manifold gasket, which connects the manifold directly to the engine. These leaks might be caused by cracks or holes created by rust.

Oxygen Sensor

Your exhaust system comes equipped with one or more oxygen sensors, whose job it is to analyze the quality of exhaust leaving the engine and determine if it is too lean or too rich. If the sensor reads the exhaust as too lean, it will increase the amount of fuel injected into the engine cylinders. If it reads the exhaust as too rich, it reduces the amount of fuel. The Check Engine light should illuminate if there is an issue with your oxygen sensor.

Clogged Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter is responsible for filtering harmful gasses in the exhaust, like carbon monoxide. The catalytic converter is also one of the most commonly clogged parts of the exhaust system. A clogged catalytic converter can have many causes, though. If you believe your catalytic converter is clogged, it's essential you get the root cause diagnosed right away to help prevent more clogs from happening in the future.

Signs Your Car Has an Exhaust Problem

Your exhaust system plays an important role in how your engine functions, which means problems with it shouldn't be ignored. Thankfully, when you have a faulty exhaust, you'll probably notice it fairly quickly. Here's what to look out for:

Loud Exhaust

An overly loud exhaust is the most telltale sign you have an exhaust system problem. If you go to turn on the car and it sounds like your muffler disappeared, you most likely have a leak in your exhaust system. This is because leaks allow loud noises from the engine to escape rather than get canceled out by the muffler or resonator, if your car has one.

Oftentimes the exhaust will have a hissing or tapping sound that gets louder during acceleration. If the noise is coming from around the engine, the first place you should look is the exhaust manifold. You may find that one of the tubes on the manifold has cracked or that the exhaust manifold gasket is broken.

Decreased Engine Performance

Another symptom of an exhaust leak is a noticeable drop in engine performance due to an increase in backpressure. This increase in backpressure and subsequent loss of engine power can be caused by a clogged or restricted exhaust. If you find that your engine suddenly lacks power, see an expert for repair.

Reduced Fuel Economy

Along with reduced engine performance, exhaust problems will also cause a drop in fuel economy. The lower fuel efficiency may be due to the fact that your engine has to work harder to expel the exhaust gasses.

In the end, you want your exhaust system to be in the best shape possible, which means finding quality replacement parts. Shop Genuine Nissan Parts to find replacement exhaust system components custom-made for your vehicle.