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The engine pistons are in their cylinders, busy making explosions, creating heat, and generating hot, noxious gases. Road junk and highway hazards aside, there are parts of the engine that rely on and contribute to the exhaust system that are not exposed to the onslaught of the outside world. Before being repaired, you could hear his car coming a mile away. It blew a hole in and did such damage that the whole pipe system had to be replaced. What other stuff have you witnessed discarded or lost on America’s roads? Someone we know once ran over a wood 2×4 on the highway at night.
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Being on the underside of the car, these parts of the exhaust system are exposed to all kinds of hazards – road debris, crud, dirt, water, snow, ice, construction materials, old shoes, boxes. Many of the pipes and fitments, as well as the muffler and key parts of the exhaust system live under your car, probably the worst place to be, second only to where the oil dipstick has to spend most of its life.
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The exhaust then passes through the system of pipes, to the muffler, which all work to cool the exhaust and muffle the noise the system would make without all of these pieces in place. The catalytic converter filters out most of the pollutants, converting the exhaust to a less toxic byproduct of carbon dioxide and water vapor. As the engine burns gas to power your car, it emits gases containing water vapor, unburned fuel and acidic contaminants. Components are joined together with gaskets, or seals, to minimize leakage. Five primary parts – oxygen sensor, exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, and muffler – are involved. Your car’s exhaust system is a network of connected pipes and parts designed to filter and route emissions from the engine compartment toward the rear of the vehicle.
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From the cylinders through the manifold to the catalytic converter and beyond. The exhaust system has a lot of parts that can be damaged. Here are some reasons your exhaust system is acting up.
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