Car muffler malfunctions and effective methods for their elimination
Auto repair

Car muffler malfunctions and effective methods for their elimination

A broken muffler is much louder than a good one. Many models have baffles inside to reduce background noise. When these bulkheads are weakened or broken, a roar appears, and the level of noise pollution increases. Exhaust fumes may be smelled in the cabin. In such cases, you should check the muffler on the car.

Drivers often identify car breakdowns by external signs. A drop in power and increased noise from a running engine may indicate a malfunction of the car muffler.

Car muffler malfunctions

The exhaust system is a sealed design. Therefore, the cause of most problems is depressurization or clogging. In both cases, there is a loss of engine power and a sharp increase in fuel consumption. A malfunctioning car muffler can lead to at least costly repairs.

Identifying faults

A broken muffler is much louder than a good one. Many models have baffles inside to reduce background noise. When these bulkheads are weakened or broken, a roar appears, and the level of noise pollution increases.

Exhaust fumes may be smelled in the cabin. In such cases, you should check the muffler on the car.

Signs of a malfunctioning car muffler

Car muffler malfunctions can be identified by the following signs:

  • in the cabin there is a smell of burning;
  • power and traction are reduced;
  • there is dense, hanging smoke behind the body while driving;
  • fuel consumption increases;
  • rattling is heard from under the bottom, the cause of which is a violation of the exhaust pipe suspension;
  • the engine runs louder than usual, a roar, secant and other unpleasant sounds appear.
Car muffler malfunctions and effective methods for their elimination

Even outwardly a new muffler can be problematic

If these signs of a breakdown of the muffler are identified, it should be urgently repaired.

Car muffler defects

Increased vehicle noise and knocks may appear from the contact of the exhaust pipe with the bottom. This is usually due to dirt clogged between the muffler and the body. The reason is also the pressing of the pipe to the car after driving into a rut or ditch. The same noise occurs if the rubber mounts are torn off.

The tightness of one of the outlet elements may be broken. This happens due to the burning of the metal, as a result of which loud sounds begin to come out, the smell of gas is felt.

Corrosion has a negative effect on the metal. The exhaust pipe constantly heats up and cools down. At the same time, it is affected by moisture and road components. Welds corrode, holes appear, especially on the bends of the exhaust pipe.

Car muffler malfunctions and effective methods for their elimination

Auto muffler corrosion

The source of damage can be mechanical impact. The walls of the pipe are broken from collisions with curbs, stones, stumps and other obstacles. Due to the developing corrosion or abrasive wear, the fasteners or suspension elements break.

Car exhaust system repair Catalyst removal

A catalytic converter, or catalyst, is used to clean the exhaust from gases. It fails after 80-100 thousand kilometers. Then, to repair the car exhaust system, it is necessary to remove the catalyst. In place of the part, most motorists install a flame arrester. They do this in order to avoid large expenses, since the price of the spare part is quite high. Removing a clogged catalyst leads to improved dynamics and normalization of fuel consumption.

Straighten the muffler on the car

A bent exhaust pipe can be straightened with a reverse hammer. Making your own tool is easy. For this:

  1. Take a rod 5-10 mm thick and a piece of pipe.
  2. Weld a limiter to the bottom of the rod. Put the pipe that served as a load on the pin. The free reciprocating movement of the weighting agent must be ensured.
  3. Attach the upper part of the fixture by welding to the middle of the dent. If the curvature is large, then you need to straighten it from the edges. Tap the curved surface with sliding movements.
  4. If the metal cannot be leveled, heat the area to be treated, for example, with a blowtorch, observing fire safety rules.
Car muffler malfunctions and effective methods for their elimination

Silencer repair

Straighten the muffler on the car in this way it will turn out efficiently and quickly.

Can a car stall due to a muffler

The reasons why the car stalls on the go can be different:

  • fuel pump failure;
  • problems with electrical equipment;
  • defective air filter, etc.

When asked if a car can stall due to a muffler, the answer is yes. Violations in the operation of the exhaust pipes lead to the fact that at full speed the engine begins to lose speed, choke and eventually stall. The reason for this phenomenon is pollution and clogging of the exhaust. The catalytic converter may also fail. Disassemble and clean the tubes. Replace the faulty catalytic converter.

Because of what the muffler exploded on the car

Many drivers are familiar with the phenomenon of muffler shots. Sharp, unpleasant pops occur as a result of malfunctions of the power unit of the car. The unburned fuel mixture in the engine enters the collector system and the exhaust pipe. Under the influence of high temperature gases ignite. There is a kind of micro-explosion, similar to a shot.

Car muffler malfunctions and effective methods for their elimination

Consequences of a silencer explosion

From drivers you can hear stories about how the muffler exploded on the car. Excess combustible mixture in the exhaust pipe can really explode. A damaged exhaust mechanism must be replaced in such cases.

Is it possible to drive with a faulty muffler in a car

By external signs, it is sometimes difficult to determine defects in car components. Experts advise at least once a month to look under the car. Checking the inspection hole and checking the underbody units will help identify various malfunctions, including problems with the exhaust system.

Owners often think about whether it is possible to drive a car with a faulty muffler. In practice, this is possible, but entails a number of unpleasant consequences:

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  • exhaust gases, seeping through the floor into the passenger compartment, can cause various diseases for the driver and passengers;
  • faulty exhaust increases the release of harmful toxic gases into the atmosphere;
  • repairs to the system that are not carried out on time will cost even more: delaying work will damage other components of the car.
For driving a car with faulty exhaust, a fine is provided under Art. 8.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, since increased noise disturbs the peace of others.

Can a car drive badly due to a muffler

A faulty exhaust system can cause a decrease in the power of an automobile engine. As a result, the dynamics worsens, the maximum speed decreases. Clear evidence of this is sluggish acceleration when starting from a standstill and during overtaking. Turnovers can spontaneously decrease or increase. The car starts hard to start both from a cold and a hot engine.

When asked if the car can stall due to a silencer, the answer is unequivocal: if the system is heavily clogged, even a complete failure of the power unit is possible. Most often, the catalyst is to blame. Therefore, when carrying out vehicle maintenance, it is imperative to check the condition of the exhaust system.

Silencer malfunctions

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