As the name suggests, a muffler serves to muffle the enormous amount of noise generated by your car’s engine. When a muffler malfunctions, you’ll soon hear the difference and in addition, your engine may suffer various problems. Here are a few warning signs that you might be in need of a new car muffler. You can have your muffler promptly repaired or replaced at your local Cadillac dealership.
Need a New Car Muffler? Visit Your Cadillac Dealership Today
Booming Engine Noises
Many drivers don’t realize just how incredibly loud a car’s engine can be until their muffler stops working. Without a muffler effectively subduing the sound waves passing along the exhaust pipes, the decibel level of engine noise will skyrocket.
This heightened noise level may well take you above the legal noise limit in your state. So any dramatic increase in engine noise should prompt you to visit a technician right away to have your car’s muffler inspected and repaired.
Smellier Exhaust Fumes
Although the catalytic converter is responsible for cleaning up the engine’s more toxic fumes, the muffler also helps a little in this regard. For this reason, a failing muffler can sometimes result in smellier exhaust fumes. You might notice the difference in air quality from inside the cabin while you’re driving.
Various Engine Problems
When any part of the exhaust system, including the muffler, becomes clogged up, it can cause engine trouble. This is because the airflow becomes restricted, which creates a backup of fumes that prevents as much oxygen from entering the engine at the front of the car.
This reduction in oxygen can cause the engine’s cylinders to misfire, among other issues. You’re likely to notice a drop in engine power and reduced gas mileage at the same time.
Holes, Rust, or Other Damage
If you visually inspect your muffler and notice excessive rust or dents and damage from impacts with potholes or curbs, then your muffler may need to be repaired or replaced. Rust is a particularly common issue with mufflers, as a great deal of condensation forms inside any vehicle’s exhaust system.
This water needs to escape, so it runs along the exhaust pipes and drips out of holes specially placed in the bottom of the muffler. All this water naturally forms rust over time, which can eventually eat away at the muffler’s frame.
Aging Muffler on Its Last Legs
Most mufflers last between five and seven years. So if your muffler is nearing this age, you can expect it to fail sometime in the near future. It’s a good idea to keep a closer eye on an aging muffler so that its eventual demise doesn’t take you by surprise.
Have your vehicle’s muffler examined or replaced by experienced technicians today at Service Cadillac. We’re a trusted local full-service dealership with a superb range of luxury Cadillac vehicles and a dedication to providing consistently exceptional customer service.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
