Of the many different systems in your vehicle, the exhaust system is perhaps the most mysterious for people because it’s largely one that we don’t have much contact with. Sure, we know that it’s responsible for carrying fumes away from our engines and release them into the air, but aside from that, there’s not a whole lot people realize when it comes to the sheer depth and importance of this vehicle system.
Because of the lack of knowledge about exhaust systems, there’s also a lack of urgency that comes with a realization that you might need exhaust repair in Madison, TN—after all, what could possibly be so urgent about a broken muffler or other exhaust component? Well, as it turns out, a lot can go wrong if you’re not diligent in fixing your exhaust system when it’s in need of repairs!
But, to understand why an exhaust system is so important, we first need to understand all of the components associated with it and what its function is. So, the next time you’re in for exhaust repair in Madison, TN and are given a diagnosis, check it against these components to get a better understanding of what’s wrong with your vehicle:
- Exhaust manifold: This is the very beginning of your exhaust system and it actually starts with your engine! The exhaust manifold connects your engine, via the cylinder heads, to the rest of the exhaust system so that blow-by gasses can be properly jettisoned away from the engine.
- Oxygen sensor: As gasses are moved away from your engine, they need to pass through an oxygen sensor, which will analyze the gasses for different chemical levels. If there’s too high or low of an oxygen ratio detected by your oxygen sensor, a signal will be sent to your engine to adjust the amount of fuel being injected into the engine, which will in turn balance the oxygen ratio that’s being exhausted from your vehicle.
- Catalytic converter: This is where true emission reduction in a vehicle takes place! Gasses that are carried away from the engine are subjected to the catalytic converter, which neutralizes some of the chemical elements within the gaseous mixture via oxidation or reduction. This is perhaps the most important part of your vehicle’s exhaust system.
- Muffler: As the name might imply, this component of your exhaust system serves to reduce the noise associated with the entire exhaust dispensing process. It’s also the component that most people are familiar with because it’s visible via the tailpipe of our vehicles! Without it, vehicles get a whole lot louder when blow-by gasses are being processed.
While it may look simple enough, broken down into four main components, your vehicle’s exhaust system is actually quite in-depth and tremendously important to the smooth operation of your auto. If there’s a problem with any one of these things—especially components near the beginning of the process—your auto might be in for some serious consequences, such as a drop in fuel economy or failing its emissions tests, to name a couple.