Effective Ways to Take Care of the Sports Exhaust System

Who doesn’t want to have a high-powered exhaust system in their car, bike or truck but you need to know that for any vehicle the catalytic converter, the muffler and the exhaust system are very important accessories. It is therefore necessary to make sure that they are taken care of, so that they can perform properly at the highest level and also prevent any hazards on the road. To know how to take care of the sports exhaust system to reduce the cost of repairs, you must first understand the importance of it.

The exhaust system helps the car to run smoothly by diverting the harmful exhaust gases of the car engine. If the exhaust does not perform properly, the performance and life of your engine can deteriorate. What is even more dangerous is the potential for carbon monoxide buildup inside the passenger cabin. This can be deadly.

In addition to that, the effective exhaust system also helps in reducing emissions and therefore can improve the fuel economy. These are the reasons you should consider a professional for muffler and exhaust repair and maintenance.

Potential Signs of Issues

There are a few significant signs of a sports exhaust system, catalytic converter, muffler or exhaust pipe issues. These are:

• Vibrations in the car or losing the power of the engine
• Check engine light staying on your dashboard display
• Rattling noises coming from inside
• Loud exhaust noises and
• Decreased fuel efficiency.

All these calls for a professional inspection and necessary repairs.

Tips to Take Care

 The sports exhaust system is designed not to transport the harmful gases emitted from your engine to the muffler. To ensure that it does so always there are a few tips that you must follow for its care and inspection.

• Check the check engine light – There are a lot of reason when the Check Engine Light can come on and all these reasons are related to the emissions system some way or the other. However, when this light is on there is sure to be a problem. Check the exhaust system because it is an integral part of the emission system.

• Repair broken components – There are a lot of components in the exhaust system that must work harmoniously. Any broken parts such as hangers and snapped bolts must be replaced immediately.

• Fix leaks quickly – The sports exhaust system is subject to constant pressure, high temperature and lots of vibration. These factors can cause leaks in its different parts. Even rust and corrosion can cause leaks that must be fixed immediately.

General Inspection Tips

You must also conduct a general inspection of your car along with the sports exhaust system. Make sure that all shields and shrouds are removed from the stacks and muffler during an inspection. This will ensure a better inspection as deformities and cracks can be well within the muffler itself.

Look for the sign of leaks at the pipes and the surface area of the different components around the exhaust system during inspection. There may be signs of exhaust soot as well. Areas where there are leaks will usually have an orange or yellowish powdery residue. Pay particular attention to the clamps, welds, and flanges. While driving if you feel the strong smell of exhaust fumes then you should take proper action because it must be a leakage and you should repair it immediately.

Perform a pressure test to look for leaks. For this you will have to refer to your maintenance manual if you are not sure so that you do not over-pressurize the system and damage the engine. You may spray soap and water solution on the joints and the sports exhaust system to look for cracks and pinholes.

Inspect all the surfaces for metal fatigue such as bulges, cracks and distortions. Examine the pipes for any bends that will indicate thinning and pitting of material. Use a flashlight or a bore-scope to examine all internal components, damaged or missing fins, heat studs or other heat sink material.