When you start your car, does it sound like your sitting in front row seats on the bleachers along the front stretch of your local dirt track racing association? You might be experiencing an exhaust leak.
Sometimes diagnosing an exhaust leak is just that simple. After hitting bottom crossing that bad set of railroad tracks, you left the muffler, or much of the exhaust system laying useless in the middle of the road. The noise of the engine, unrestricted as the exhaust flows freely into the atmosphere , is enough for you to realize you have a problem. It’s off to the muffler shop for repairs.
In many instances the situation is much less obvious. A small car with only a four cylinder engine, driven by that little old lady to church on Sundays can have a severe, and dangerous exhaust leak, and no one may realize it.
With the seams of the muffler rusted away, exhaust is escaping under the car. Because of her driving style, slow and easy, the noise level seems just fine. As it’s cold out she lets the car warm up for 20 minutes before leaving the house. All this time exhaust fumes are drifting up through numerous openings into the cabin of the car. With age, her sense of smell is reduced, as off she putters along, unaware that her car is filled with carbon monoxide. As she drifts off to sleep, the car crosses a set of railroad tracks. Unaware the lights are flashing, and the train is approaching at a high rate of speed. We all know what happens next.
A simple test could have avoided this disaster. With the engine running, place your hand (while wearing a glove) over the end of the tail pipe. You should feel the compression of the engine trying to push your hand away from the tail pipe.
If you feel no resistance, you have a bad exhaust leak. Pressure will take the easiest way out, and by plugging off the end of the pipe, it will force the exhaust to come out where there is a problem.
Some exhaust leaks are very small, and by nature make very little difference in how an engine sounds. They may also pass the hand on the pipe test as well. Some time, if you listen very carefully around the engine, you can hear the small puffs of exhaust escaping. So subtle, it may be impossible to identify where it’s coming from. These types of leaks are usually found where ever there are joints in the exhaust system.
Start at the exhaust manifold, look for black stains around each exhaust port as the exhaust manifold gasket may be the culprit. Caused by either a section of the gasket being blown away, or possibly the manifold itself being warped. Where ever there is a gap, you will see a black stain indicating where pressure is escaping.
Where ever there is a muffler clamp, there is potential for a leak. Follow the exhaust system from the engine back, looking for black stains. With the engine running you may be able to feel the exhaust as it puffs out through a leaking joint. Due take proper precautions, as the exhaust system is hot enough to cause serious burns, and always have your car on ramps rated to handle the load of your car before crawling under to work on it. Be sure the wheels are blocked and the parking brake is set.
Never ignore a leaking exhaust system, carbon monoxide is a deadly but odorless gas that can quickly incapacitate you, and will rapidly lead to your death. If your car is leaking exhaust, get it fixed at a reputable shop as soon as possible.
