A healthy exhaust system is critical if you are to maintain optimum fuel efficiency and engine performance, a quiet smooth running engine, and the health and welfare of the vehicle occupants. Under existing regulations the Police can warrant the removal of any vehicle from the roadways on the suspicion that it is producing excessive amounts of pollutant gases from the exhaust system. Your vehicle will also come under police scrutiny if your vehicle exhaust system is broken and excessively noisy. In addition, your vehicle will also fail its MOT test if the exhaust system has a fault resulting in incorrect emissions levels being recorded (your vehicles emission levels are by the vehicle manufacturers and enforced at the time of a MOT test).

The exhaust system has four main functions: to improve the performance of the engine, to improve fuel consumption, to control noise, and to direct exhaust fumes away from the engine and vehicle occupants. At Cottage Street Garage, we believe that motorists should have their exhaust system regularly checked (i.e. every 6 months). However, how long your exhaust system lasts depends on how far and how often you drive your car rather than the length of time it has been fitted (i.e. vehicles used for short trips tend to corrode their exhausts in a much shorter time and distance than cars used predominately for long journeys).

Indicators that there may be an issue with your exhaust system include:

• The exhaust silencer is often a part of the exhaust that needs attention first, where problems with your silencer is indicated by your exhaust making a loud roaring noise
• A hissing noise from your exhaust indicates a crack in the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipe or a leaking gasket
• A chugging noise could mean a blockage in the exhaust system
• A rattling noise from under the car could indicate that the exhaust system has become misaligned
• Loud metallic vibrations and noises from under the car usually indicate that something is touching the exhaust or that a clamp, mounting or support bracket that holds your exhaust system in place has become loose.

Other problems can be identified with a visual check, such as external rust, cracks in the pipe, holes around welding seams and joins between pipes. If you suspect that your exhaust system has any of these symptoms, consult Cottage Street Garage as quickly as possible to avoid brake failure.