The exhaust system performs three important jobs: it carries exhaust gases away from the engine, it quiets the engine, and it helps control pollution.
The exhaust systems one weakness is its vulnerability to corrosion. Original equipment exhaust systems usually have stainless steel head pipes (the pipe between the exhaust manifold and catalytic converter) and converter shells, and aluminized pipe to resist corrosion. But after three or four years, the muffler and tailpipe often need to be replaced. Many newer vehicles are equipped with stainless steel exhaust systems that typically last 7 to 10 years.
CARS technicians are trained & certified to diagnosis, repair and service all of your vehicles exhaust system parts:
- Mufflers
- Exhaust Pipes
- Tail Pipes
- Crossover Pipes
- Clamps & Hangers
- Exhaust Manifolds
- Catalytic Converters
- Gasket Replacement
- Dual Systems
Mufflers
The mufflers are made up of stainless steel and are designed to provide additional performance gain to the vehicle by increasing the engine efficiency.
It is important to know how much back pressure a muffler can produce when you go to buy one as there are many that can reduce the backpressure.
The muffler is made up of tubes which create reflective waves that cancel or interfere with each other. The gases and sound waves enter through the central tube. Bouncing back from the muffler, they pass through a set of holes and enter another chamber and they turn and leave the muffler.
Diagnosis
An exhaust gas diagnosis system helps in reducing the communication lines and power lines connected to the antiweatherability-required exhaust gas sensor disclosed on the exterior of your vehicle. It consists of an engine control unit, radio terminal units and a radio communication repeater.
While the radio terminal units detects the exhaust gases, the radio communication repeater helps in conducting communication and share the process by the conventional engine unit. The communication lines between the sensor, electronic control unit and power lines to the sensor are eliminated while the load on electronic control unit is reduced.
Exhaust Pipes
Every automobile consists of an exhaust system designed with the purpose of guiding the reaction gases away from a controlled combustion within the car’s engine. So basically it discharges the burnt gases or steam out with the help of various devices of the engine.
The system comprises of tubing for emission of these gases. The burnt gases are exhaled through the system via exhaust pipes through devices like turbocharger, exhaust manifold, cylinder head, muffler, silencer and catalytic converter. The number of pipes required depends on the overall system design.
The exhaust pipes carry the important function of discarding the toxic and/or noxious gases and protect the users of the system. If the harmful gases like carbon monoxide and exhausted carefully, they can fill up the indoor generators and furnaces.
Since the gases emitted are hot the exhaust pipes need to be heat-resistant, and must be restrained from passing near any explosive material or anything that can be dented by heat.
Tail Pipes
Tail pipes are a kind of exhaust pipes used in exhaust systems of automobiles. The end of the exhaust pipe where the exhaust gases are vented into open air, there is a kind of a tip.
The pipe ends with a straight or angled cut, is generally chromed and larger than the other pipes in the exhaust system ultimately producing a reduced pressure on the vehicle. This also helps avoid rusting of the tips and gives the vehicle a better look.
In case where the silencer of the vehicle (like in some trucks) is front-to-back under the chassis, the end of the tailpipe blows downwards turning 90 degrees avoiding anyone getting a direct blast of the exhaust gases.
Crossover Pipes
The crossover pipe within an exhaust system lets the hot exhaust gases from the front cylinder bank to the rear cylinder bank. It connects to these two ends and then goes on to connect the entire exhaust system.
A crossover pipe can get corrupt if there is any leakage within the exhaust system and needs to be addressed pronto. When you are changing the pipe make sure that it is made of a flexible material. This is so because as the vehicle’s engine warms up and cools off, it contracts and expands. If the crossover pipe is not flexible enough to take the contraction and expansion, it can be enough of a reason to break or create a crack in it.
Another thing to remember is that, never subject the crossover pipe or for that matter the entire engine to any quick fixes. Now, it may work fine initially, but there is no telling as to how long it will last. Plus replacing it also means that you are getting an upgrade of the system, therefore lesser chances of breakdowns.
Clamps & Hangers
Like the name, an exhaust hanger is used to suspend the entire exhaust system. They are made of flexible material as it needs to withstand the stress caused by the engines vibration. The flexibility aspect in an exhaust hanger is provided by the rubber components. It keeps the exhaust pipes from feeling any extra load or stress which in turn increases the lifespan of the exhaust system.
The exhaust clamp basically functions as the grip factor between the muffler and the catalytic converter. They are usually U-bolts. However, these days, in newer models of automobiles the work of clamps has been replaced by welds.
When you are putting your car through its regular check-up sessions, make sure that the clamps and hangers are tight and are not heavily corroded due to any leaks. This will keep the muffler or the resonator in place, and therefore would save your car from creating any neighborhood awakening alarms or noises.
Exhaust Manifolds
An exhaust manifold is that part of your car’s engine that collects the exhaust gases formed in multiple cylinders in one pipe. It is also known as a “header”.
The main purpose of an exhaust manifold is to decrease the resistance of the flow and increase the efficiency of the engine. This results in a better output of power. In other words, it enhances the formation of pressure waves within the exhaust system, thereby optimizing the engines efficiency to deliver a mid-range to high level performance.
Most headers available today come with a ceramic coating in the inside. This serves to stop it from rusting and also to reduce the heat radiated by the engine into the engine bay, thereby improving the functioning of the entire exhaust system of the car.
Catalytic converter
This device helps in reducing the toxicity of the emissions from an internal combustion engine. It converts the toxic elements into less-toxic ones by cleaning the gases that pass through the vehicles’ exhaust systems.
When the gases pass through this device, it promotes chemical reactions which convert the pollutants into harmless water and gas. It is thus considered as an important part as far as a vehicle’s exhaust system is concerned.
If this device goes faulty then you may find it hard to start your car as it is in this part where the oxygen sensor is located. Any fault in this part may affect the amount of fuel the engine needs as the fuel injection system may not regulate the required amounts of fuel. It may lead to lighting of the Check Engine light.
Catalytic converters are largely used in trains, trucks, buses and mining equipments.
Gasket replacement
Before replacing a head gasket, make sure you have the correct torque wrench and torque specs with you. Disconnect the battery negative terminal and drain the cooling system. Remove air cleaner, the upper radiator hose and unplug the coolant temperature sensor. Disconnect wiring harness connector, throttle cables, fuel lines and vacuum lines, vacuum hose and heater hose. Clean the head gaskets by wiping it clean with a brake cleaner.
While reassembling make sure you set the new gasket in place keeping the head in the right position. Reseal the valve cover and make sure the mating surfaces of the valve cover are clean. Last but not the least do reset the base timing to specs. Double check the timing belt position.
Dual Systems
Vehicles have either single or dual exhaust systems. Both perform the same function of carrying away burned engine gases to help the engine perform better. The only difference between the two is that the dual exhaust system uses two exhaust pipes to throw the gas out.
Cars using dual exhaust system are more powerful as the dual pipes allow fast excretion of the gases thereby reducing the pressure on the engine and increasing the horsepower. Increased horsepower indicates high gas mileage too.
Cars with this system use the cooler similar to those with single system. This system helps in increasing the life of the engine as well.
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