If your car has an exhaust leak, it is not something you want to take lightly. The performance of your vehicle will be hindered. More importantly, it can potentially be deadly for you and your passengers if carbon monoxide and other harmful fumes are leaking inside the vehicle. If you have an exhaust leak, here are a few key things you need to know.
Source of the Leak
The exhaust system has many different components that remove the exhaust fumes from the engine, burn them off and then expel the reduced emissions out of the tail pipe. A leak can occur anywhere throughout the system. It could come from a manifold gasket, the catalytic converter, the muffler or somewhere within the pipes themselves. You will want a professional mechanic to inspect your vehicle and identify the source of the leak. Then, you will know what kind of repairs need to be made in order to resolve the leak.
Common Symptoms of Exhaust Leaks
There are several common signs that your vehicle has an exhaust leak. If you notice any of these as you are driving, it's cause for concern.
• Weak acceleration
• Reduced fuel economy
• Car (or sometimes just the gas pedal) is vibrating
• Car is running very loudly
• Burning smell (or heavy exhaust smell inside the car)
• Rattling noises
• Check engine light (usually tripped by an oxygen sensor)
Why You Want to Get Your Exhaust Leak Fixed
If you think you have an exhaust leak, it's best to get it looked at and repaired as soon as possible. If left unresolved, it will dramatically hinder the overall performance of your car. Over time, it can also lead to major damage in the engine and other important automotive systems. Trust us when we tell you that fixing an exhaust leak is much less expensive than replacing a blown engine.
Obviously, the other concern of driving with an exhaust leak is that the emissions process isn't working correctly. That means carbon monoxide and other harmful toxins are being released into the air. This is bad for the environment and it's especially bad for you and anyone else in or around the vehicle. These fumes can literally be deadly if you are overexposed, so don't take any chances if you might have an exhaust leak.
Exhaust Repairs at LightHouse Automotive
If you live in the Colorado Springs area and are in need of exhaust maintenance or repairs because of a leak, call LightHouse Automotive at (719) 465-0302 or schedule your service appointment online. Our expert technicians will identify the problem and provide professional repairs to make sure your exhaust system is running right. We can also help if you want to have a custom exhaust system installed!