Keeping your exhaust system in good working condition is vital for fuel mileage, the environment, and your safety.

Originally published in 2016 and updated in 2020 to reflect technical and industry changes, our auto repair experts at Christian Brothers Automotive discuss what your exhaust system is, the benefits it gives your vehicle’s performance, and what you can do to protect it.

What Is the Exhaust System?

As we already mentioned, your vehicle’s exhaust system is extremely important. Not only does this affect the performance of your vehicle, but it can also save your life by diverting carbon monoxide from the vehicle.

Your car’s exhaust system components carry away the gasses created when the fuel and air are burned in the combustion chamber. As most people know, this carbon monoxide that is emitted from vehicles is harmful to the environment, as well as humans.

What Makes up My Car’s Exhaust System?

Your exhaust system is comprised of a variety of components that work together to direct harmful gases away from the vehicle, in the safest way possible.

EXHAUST MANIFOLD

The exhaust manifold connects to the cylinder head and takes each cylinder’s exhaust, collecting it into one pipe. The size of your car’s exhaust manifold will depend on the number of cylinders your engine has.

OXYGEN SENSOR

All modern vehicles have at least two oxygen sensors (O2 sensors). Just as the name says, it senses how much oxygen is in your exhaust and sends that information to your car’s computer. From there, the computer can then add or subtract fuel to achieve maximum fuel economy. The other job it does is it makes sure that your catalytic converter is doing its job and cleaning the air going through your exhaust system.

The first O2 sensor was used by Volvo in the late 1970s. Due to federal emission laws in 1981, oxygen sensors became virtually mandatory in all vehicles' exhaust system components.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER

This vital part of your exhaust system converts harmful carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into water vapor and carbon dioxide. Some catalytic converters also reduce harmful nitrogen oxides.

HANGERS

The exhaust system hangers, that can also be referred to as exhaust supports, are the mounts that are used to secure and support the exhaust pipes to the underside of the vehicle. For your exhaust system’s overall health, even a single broken hanger can be dangerous. When one hanger breaks, there’s increased pressure on the others.

If your exhaust system has a broken hanger, it need to be replaced immediately by your local professional repair shop.

EXHAUST JOINTS

Clamps and joints can be damaged when there’s a lot of movement in the exhaust system. Fortunately, cracked welded joints at a muffler or resonator joint can be replaced. In other cases, clamped joints may not be cracked, but are leaking exhaust fumes. In this case, an exhaust pipe sealer can be applied to the affected area to cure or the pipe itself can be replaced.

MUFFLER

The muffler may not seem essential to your car’s exhaust system, but all of your neighbors are happy you have it. That’s because the one thing that keeps your car running quietly is the muffler. Since the combustion process is a series of small explosions that create a lot of noise, your muffler helps quiet the sound.

How do I tell if my Exhaust System is Leaking?

An exhaust leak can not only harm your car’s efficiency, but it can also cause serious problems for you and your family’s health. Even though the exhaust system does not house any moving parts, any of the components we mentioned can become worn out due to the constant temperature changes it experiences.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, or suspect something is wrong with your exhaust system, bring it to the professionals at Christian Brothers Automotive.

• Rumbling Engine Noise – One of the most common signs of an exhaust leak, an increasingly loud rumbling noise coming from the engine should not be ignored. The noise gets louder when accelerated, due to an increase in exhaust production, especially when you increase speed on the highway. This noise occurs when the exhaust smoke comes through a small hole or crack in the pipes of your exhaust system.

• Decrease in Fuel Economy – If you experience an exhaust leak, your average fuel economy can drop nearly 40 percent – or more! Due to your O2 sensor not being able to take correct readings, your system will believe more oxygen is being produced which will result in more gas being burnt through, thus lowering your mileage.

• Vibrating Gas Pedal – Another sign of exhaust system issues can come with a vibrating gas pedal. When exhaust fumes aren’t being emitted correctly, things can get a bit shaky. Often times, these vibrations and shaking sensations can creep into your gas pedal or even your steering wheel! Depending on how severe the leak is, various engine rumbling and vibration usually go hand in hand.

Christian Brothers Automotive Exhaust System Services

Your car’s exhaust system is immensely important. Frequent checks of your exhaust system components are essential to ensure the safety of you and your family. Put your faith in the hands of the friendly auto repair experts at Christian Brothers Automotive.

Regardless of the service you need, our professional and friendly auto mechanics are ready to serve you. From routine maintenance, or something more involved such as an engine repair, our team is here for you when you need us.