What Are the Signs of a Bad Muffler?
Most drivers want to keep their vehicles running at the highest performance level possible. This means that all the vehicle maintenance items should be kept up-to-date, including the muffler and exhaust system. Today’s newer vehicles have a computer sensor that monitors fuel economy and overall performance, able to pinpoint problems before they get serious. As experienced drivers know, the exhaust system is most effective when it is operating quietly in the background. Unfortunately, this means that it is often “out of sight; out of mind” until a problem starts to develop.
Are you wondering what are the signs of a bad muffler? When mufflers become worn out, they are unable to effectively "muffler" the sound of the vehicle's exhaust. Mufflers typically last five to seven years, but they can become worn out prematurely due to several issues. Here are three common problems that you will notice:
- Noisy Muffler – A good exhaust system should keep your car running quietly and not sound like a roaring monster.
- Decreased fuel mileage – If your fuel efficiency has decreased and you find yourself filling the tank more often than usual, have the exhaust system checked out.
- Obnoxious odor – Toxic emissions should be directed outside and away from your vehicle through the muffler. If you are smelling exhaust fumes inside your car, there is a leak or some other problem that needs to be checked out.
How does a muffler gets damaged, you wonder? There are several causes of problems that could develop in exhaust systems, some of them unavoidable:
- Exposure to the salt used on icy and snowy roads, or the ocean.
- Driving too fast over speed bumps, potholes, or other objects in the road
- Obsessive use or custom fabrication not recommended by the manufacturer.
- Condensation from the exhaust pipes rusting out the seams of the muffler so that it leaks exhaust gases and noise.
Need to know more about what are the signs of a bad muffler? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about mufflers and exhaust systems and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
Most drivers want to keep their vehicles running at the highest performance level possible. This means that all the vehicle maintenance items should be kept up-to-date, including the muffler and exhaust system. Today’s newer vehicles have a computer sensor that monitors fuel economy and overall performance, able to pinpoint problems before they get serious. As experienced drivers know, the exhaust system is most effective when it is operating quietly in the background. Unfortunately, this means that it is often “out of sight; out of mind” until a problem starts to develop.
Are you wondering what are the signs of a bad muffler? When mufflers become worn out, they are unable to effectively "muffler" the sound of the vehicle's exhaust. Mufflers typically last five to seven years, but they can become worn out prematurely due to several issues. Here are three common problems that you will notice:
- Noisy Muffler – A good exhaust system should keep your car running quietly and not sound like a roaring monster.
- Decreased fuel mileage – If your fuel efficiency has decreased and you find yourself filling the tank more often than usual, have the exhaust system checked out.
- Obnoxious odor – Toxic emissions should be directed outside and away from your vehicle through the muffler. If you are smelling exhaust fumes inside your car, there is a leak or some other problem that needs to be checked out.
How does a muffler gets damaged, you wonder? There are several causes of problems that could develop in exhaust systems, some of them unavoidable:
- Exposure to the salt used on icy and snowy roads, or the ocean.
- Driving too fast over speed bumps, potholes, or other objects in the road
- Obsessive use or custom fabrication not recommended by the manufacturer.
- Condensation from the exhaust pipes rusting out the seams of the muffler so that it leaks exhaust gases and noise.
Need to know more about what are the signs of a bad muffler? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about mufflers and exhaust systems and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
