What’s the most important component on a car? Is it the engine? Is it the wheels? What about the chassis?
If you’re running through a list of parts, then the exhaust might not feature too prominently. But the fact is that the exhaust plays an indispensable role in any four-stroke engine. Without exhausting the spent fumes, your cylinders can’t draw in new air. As such, repairing, or even upgrading, your exhaust can have a profound impact on the overall performance of the car.
But of course, the exhaust system on your car isn’t there to allow those gases to exit the engine: they’ll do that anyway. What it’s there to do is to direct the exhaust fumes away from the passenger compartment.
But exactly how might you look after your exhaust so that it lasts for as long as possible? Let’s take a look at some common measures.
Check the check engine light
Most modern cars have a means of telling you when there’s something wrong with the exhaust. They’ll often provide the necessary information well in advance of any noticeable symptoms, too. The On-board Diagnostics system, or OBD, is designed to continuously monitor the engine and other systems. When a problem is detected, the corresponding light will appear on the dashboard. You can buy systems to check the OBD yourself, or you can trust your local mechanic.
When you notice this light, it’s imperative that you get the car checked out by a professional as soon as possible. When it comes to preventative maintenance, it’s worth getting a service alongside your annual MOT. This will allow you to be sure that problems aren’t going to get any worse, and that all of your car’s systems, including the exhaust, are in good working order. You can book an MOT online, for the sake of convenience.
Check for leaks
You might also check your exhaust for leaks. The exhaust pipe isn’t just the little bit that sticks out of the end of your car; it’s a long pipe that runs along the entire length of it, by way of several metal tubes and boxes (these being the catalytic converter and a pair of silencers designed to reduce the noise. Pay attention, in particular, to any sections of the exhaust where there are joints, as these tend to be the earliest points of failure.
Bear in mind that exhaust pipes tend to deal with extreme changes in temperature. This is part of what makes them so vulnerable to breaking and cracking. As such, you should wait until the pipe has cooled before touching it.
Repair broken parts
An exhaust pipe, as we’ve seen, is actually comprised of several distinct parts. This complexity makes it more likely that something will break, at some point or other. But you needn’t replace the entire pipe: you can just patch up, or replace, the affected section.
