How to Tell If You Have a Faulty Muffler That Needs Replacing

A faulty muffler can be hard to detect. Unfortunately, defective mufflers usually go undetected, for a healthy muffler is usually “out of sight and out of mind. But that is all the more reason you should check yours every now and then.

According to Kathryn Lively, you should take the following steps to ensure the health and safety of your muffler:

1. Observe your odometer.

Note the difference in your mileage values when you are filling up and calculate that difference. If you are noticing certain discrepancies, such as going through gas quickly and not seeming to see that big of a difference between the values you saw the last time you filled up, and the present moment, that could be the sign of a problem.

2. Watch for fumes.

Unusual smells in your car can mean a more serious problem than you realize. Lively stresses that you should have it checked immediately. If you don’t, serious bodily harm–or even death–could be the unfortunate result. If not that, the damage to your car could be so bad that your car’s repair bill could surprise you.

3. Listen for a change.

Listen for a change in the overall performance in your engine. And listen to the sounds it makes when you start your motor. If you are not that adept at hearing your motor, have a friend stand outside your car and listen for you. Ask them if they notice anything strange about your engine. If they say yes, take it seriously and seek help, right away.

4. Look for signs.

There is something you can do on a totally common sense level. Put a jack up under your car, and eye your muffler for a moment. Look for signs of rust or corrosion. Take pictures if it helps. If they are present, don’t wait for other symptoms to appear: Just go out and buy a new muffler. Don’t drive your car until you get one. That will only make the situation worse. Like the human body, a car “illness” left untreated only gets worse.

5. Watch for water draining.

Watch for water draining from your muffler–or liquid of any kind, for that matter. According to WikiHow, that could be indicative of a hole in your muffler. If there is a hole in your muffler, it’s time to get it replaced as soon as possible.

Source: Muffler Repair in Downriver Michigan

Save