Your car’s exhaust system is working hard to keep your car’s engine running efficiently, quietly, and safely. When the exhaust isn’t doing those things, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Gulf Breeze Automotive has this information for you about what might clue you in to a problem with your car’s exhaust.
Your Car’s Gas Mileage Is Lower
Nobody wants low gas mileage. It means you’re spending a lot more on gas than you probably want to be spending, but it also means that there’s something in your car’s engine that is not working at optimal levels. There may be multiple issues, or simply a problem in one area, like the exhaust system. It helps to have diagnostic testing done to see what the main issues are.
You Can Smell Gas or Exhaust Fumes Inside the Car
Exhaust fumes and gas fumes are not healthy to breathe in, which is why one of the multiple functions of the exhaust system is to make those fumes less harmful. If you’re smelling raw gas or you’re getting a lot of exhaust fumes in the passenger cabin of your car, that means that something in the exhaust system is not working the way that it’s supposed to work. It’s not a good idea to drive your car at all if you’re smelling gas inside the car.
Your Car Is Loud
The exhaust system serves a couple of different functions. It funnels combusted gas fumes out of the engine, it converts those fumes into less toxic ones, and it reduces engine noise. Combustion is a pretty loud process, and your car’s exhaust system helps to reduce that noise by a good bit. When there’s a problem somewhere in the exhaust system, you’re likely to hear a lot more of that combustion noise.
You Can See the Check Engine Light
Remember that the exhaust system is actually key to keeping your engine running efficiently and it makes a lot more sense that the check engine light might show up if you’ve got a problem with the exhaust somewhere. Don’t ignore that warning light, though. Even if you don’t have a serious problem in the engine yet, you will if you don’t do something to resolve the exhaust issue soon.
Need to figure out what’s going on with your car’s exhaust system? Let Gulf Breeze Automotive in Gulf Breeze, FL help you narrow down the trouble. We can schedule an appointment for you and help you get back on the road safely.