If your engine has suddenly gotten very loud, you either have a hole in your muffler or an exhaust system leak. Both of these things can cause a loud engine, but we are going to talk about an exhaust system leak in this blog post. Automobile Diagnostics advises that your vehicle relies on the exhaust system to remove the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber to make room for more air and fuel. If the exhaust system is leaking or clogged, you will have one or more of the following problems with your automobile.
An Extremely Loud Engine
As we just mentioned, one sign that your exhaust system is leaking is an increase in your engine noise. Your engine will rumble like a racecar engine, especially when you pick up speed. Many people also report hearing popping sounds coming from the engine. If the exhaust leak is coming from the exhaust manifold, you may also hear loud hissing noises while the engine is running.
Acceleration/Engine Lag
If the exhaust leak is not removing the exhaust out of the combustion chamber effectively, your engine’s performance will suffer. Specifically, your vehicle’s acceleration will lag no matter how hard you push down on the accelerator. In addition, your engine performance will lag and stutter. In other words, you won’t be able to generate the normal horsepower in the engine.
Fuel Smells Inside the Car
This sign is a sign of a clogged or leaking exhaust system. In either case, you may start to smell your vehicle’s exhaust inside your car, truck, or utility vehicle. It’s important to understand that this can make driving your automobile very dangerous. As you know, carbon monoxide is found in vehicle exhaust, so you don’t want any of it backing up or leaking into your passenger cabin.
Reduction in Fuel Economy
Finally, when the exhaust is not removed completely from the combustion chamber, your fuel economy suffers. This is because your engine is struggling to keep fresh air and fuel ignited in the combustion chamber. Any time your engine isn’t running as it should be, it will use more fuel. Consequently, you may find that your vehicle has suddenly become a gas guzzler.
Don’t worry. Automobile Diagnostics in Columbia, IN, can help. Call us today to schedule an appointment for an exhaust system inspection. If your exhaust system is clogged or leaking, we can fix the problem and restore your engine’s performance.
