It’s noisy
The sound of your exhaust is often telling of a problem and a loud exhaust nearly always requires maintenance.
The silencer – the part that sits furthest from the engine and keeps your exhaust quiet – is colder than the rest of the exhaust and therefore allows fumes to condense and become pools of corrosive acid. If this is damaged, it usually manifests itself in a loud roaring noise.
Any kind of rattling or clanking could be due to part of your exhaust working its way free and needing realignment, or that a bracket is loose. Chugging is indicative of a blockage somewhere in your exhaust network and hissing suggests that there’s a crack along the piping or a leaking gasket.
The exhaust piping is rusty
There are certain exhaust problems that you can diagnose yourself by simply taking a look. Cracks and holes can be identified, especially around piping joints. Rust is not always an indicator that your exhaust needs replacing, as it could be external only. Using a hard object, you can test this by gently poking the rusted areas of exhaust; if the piping falls through or buckles, you know that the rusting is internal and your exhaust needs replacing.
White or black smoke coming out of your exhaust
People assume that black smoke billowing from your exhaust indicates a problem with the exhaust itself, but it is more likely a sign of a poorly engine. Black smoke is an indicator that your engine is burning fuel too rapidly, whilst white smoke for a prolonged period could be evidence of leaking coolant.
Does your car exhaust need repairing or replacing? Contact the Sunrise experts at 01258 459798.