Learn All About Exhaust Muffler

An exhaust muffler (silencer) is a device that helps to reduce the noise which is emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The function of a muffler or silencer is to cool down exhaust gases by expansion and to minimize the noise of outgoing gases. The exhaust gas must be released into the atmosphere with minimum restriction. The limitation in the flow of exhaust gases can cause backpressure.

If you are willing to know more about the Car Exhaust Muffler, then you should visit our “What Is A Muffler And How Does It Work?” section.

The components of a car exhaust muffler start from the exhaust manifold that is attached to the cylinder block of the engine. The exhaust gases move from the exhaust manifold towards the catalytic converter where t3he exhaust gases are treated for emissions and finally they move on to the tailpipe. The tailpipe is located at the rear end of the car to keep the exhaust gases from entering the passenger cable. The exhaust muffler and its components along with the complete exhaust system are located underneath the vehicle.

The importance of a muffler or silencer is well known to most vehicle owners. However, if you’re not aware, a muffler or silencer is one of the integral parts of the exhaust system in your vehicle. It helps to reduce the noise that the combustion creates on the exhaust system. As the engine runs, fuel and air will be burnt inside the combustion chamber. Because of this, several emissions which include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen monoxide are formed. These emissions have to be removed from the exhaust system to make sure that the car is safe for passengers and the environment so that fuel efficiency is improved. There are 5 most common types of mufflers.

In order to find the right mufflers/silencers for your car, you will have to carry out proper research. See how the exhaust system works and what is its purpose?

1. Multiple Baffle Silencers - The exhaust gas escapes through holes in a multiple baffle silencer that is punched in the walls of the silencer tube. This results in muffling the sound through pulse reflection and is fairly restrictive.
2. Turbo Silencers - Turbo silencers follow an S-shaped path which permits the gas to enter the silencer prior to being pushed out into the tube. The gas flow is very poor and they are restrictive.
3. Straight-Through Silencers - A perforated tube is used by the straight-through silencers. Here, the gas is discharged from the silencer’s inlet to the outlet. This takes place with minimal flow restriction. The holes in the pipe will allow the gas to release silently.
4. Performance Silencers - Performance silencers will change how your car sounds with their resonating chamber in order to raise and tune the existing exhaust note. These types of silencers often have a deeper and more aggressive sound when compared to standard mufflers.
5. Silencer Inlets - Silencer Inlets are also known as “coffee can” exhaust pipes and they offer a distinct sound, increased horsepower because the exhaust gases pass straight through the queue, unlike the traditional muffler. The size of the silencer inlets depends on the existing exhaust system of your vehicle. In the case of the standard system, look at the owner’s manual and get the details of the car. In case you’re buying your own exhaust system, then make sure to check as to which inlet type works with the make and model of your car.

To know more about the types of Car Exhaust mufflers, you can always visit our “What Type Of Muffler Should I Choose?” section.

The materials that are used in the exhaust muffler and other system components mainly contain ferrous alloys. In order to coat the ferrous alloys, aluminium alloys are used to impart additional corrosion resistance. Sometimes, non-ferrous nickel and titanium alloys are used in exhaust system components. Ceramics are also used in exhaust systems in order to take advantage of their insulating properties. Ceramics and specialized metal alloys, albeit with different compositions and properties which are used in piping systems, are also commonly used in substrates for after-treatment devices.

The Ultimate Exhaust Muffler Buying Guide for you.

Mufflers or silencers are placed within the exhaust system, and they do not serve any primary exhaust function. They are usually made of sound-absorbing materials and reflect the sound waves so that each noise can be canceled. Whereas, the exhaust system will increase the performance of the engine by influencing the pressure waves. It takes away the exhaust gases that come out of the cylinder and moves them down the pipe. The movement of the pressure wave which is produced by the pressure spikes is controlled by the exhaust system.

The muffler is an acoustic soundproofing device that helps to reduce the sound of the engine through acoustic quieting. It contains a set of chambers or pipes with some holes in them. A resonator is fixed to the first chamber with a hole, and it has a certain amount of air with a specific length that has the capability to produce a wave that cancels out a certain frequency of sound. When the exhaust valve will open creating pulses, there will be a sudden burst of high-pressure gas which enters the exhaust system. The high-pressure gas molecules will start striking against the low-pressure molecules inside the pipe, which forces them to stack upon each other. As this takes place, they start piling up on the molecules a little away down the pipe. As a result, fields of low pressure will originate behind them, and the sound wave will move down the pipe acquiring more speed than the actual gases. When the exhaust gases and the sound waves enter the center pipe, they start bouncing and move through the hole into the main body of the muffler. Once the exhaust gases go through another set of holes in the next chamber to turn and finally leave the muffler from the last pipe.

Here are 3 of the biggest warning signs of car exhaust muffler problems:

1. Loud noises: One of the most obvious signs is a drastic change in the volume of your muffler. When it works properly, the muffler should work quietly in the background. If something goes wrong, it becomes a roaring monster. 
2. Decreased fuel economy: A well-tuned exhaust system will get better gas mileage. It is important to pay attention to how often you fill-up the tank. More trips than usual to the pump could mean that there is some issue with your vehicle. Newer vehicles have a computer sensor that helps in monitoring fuel economy and overall performance and also helps in catching a problem before it becomes serious. 
3. Bad smells: One of the biggest signs of a defective exhaust muffler is a bad smell. When working efficiently, your muffler funnels exhaust fumes outside and away from the vehicle. If there is a leak or other problem, those fumes could be circulating inside your car. It can be the most dangerous problem because exhaust fumes can be fatal with passing time.

The symptoms of a faulty exhaust muffler are as follows:

1. Engine is misfiring

In today’s engine, the machines are finely tuned, where every component has to work together to function effectively and efficiently. The exhaust begins at the exhaust valve chamber which is found inside the cylinder head. It flows into the exhaust headers, pipes, and then to the catalytic converter, and then muffler and goes out of the exhaust pipe. If any of these components are defective, the performance of the vehicle will be poor causing engine misfire. The engine will misfire if there is a hole inside the unit of the muffler and if it loses efficiency. This will eventually cause misfiring especially when it is under deceleration.

2. Exhaust is louder than normal

The exhaust noise will be louder due to exhaust leakage that commonly occurs in the muffler as opposed to the exhaust components as they are found near the engine. The engine exhaust will flow through the exhaust system. As it is contained, it will eventually flow through the muffler. A series of chambers are present inside the muffler that helps in reducing the vibrations coming through the exhaust which is commonly related to the sound. If the muffler is defective or has a hole in it, it will cause the pre-muffled exhaust to leak, increasing the sound which comes from the exhaust system. Though the exhaust leakage might take place before the muffler, in most cases, loud exhaust takes place because of a leak in the muffler itself. In both cases, a professional mechanic has to check and repair this issue.

3. Condensation from the exhaust pipes

When the exhaust system cools down from the engine being run, the moisture that is present in the air condenses inside the exhaust pipe and the muffler. This moisture will slowly eat away the exhaust pipe and the shell of the muffler. Eventually, the muffler will rust out and the exhaust gas leaks and there will be heavy noise. This is one of the signals that the muffler is wearing out. The muffler is a very important component, and if you come across any of the above warning, signs take it seriously and get it checked with a trained mechanic as quickly as possible.

Do you want to repair your car exhaust muffler on your own? In that case, you should have the correct tools which are required for repairing your exhaust muffler. Have a look at the most important tools which you might require repairing your exhaust muffler:

• Jack
• Safety Stands
• Wrenches
• Hacksaw
• Muffler Chisel
• Hammer
• Safety Glasses
• Parts Needed: Replacement Exhaust Pipe Or Muffler; Pipe Clamps

If customers trust a brand, then it would make them loyal, and if they are loyal, then they will surely buy more. We know well that customers want comfort, cheerfulness, as well as satisfaction in their lives and that’s the reason we offer top-quality auto parts brands to our customers. We provide a positive experience to our consumers from the brands which we are offering so that they can form an opinion that a particular auto parts brand is trustworthy and would give them peace of mind while they are purchasing it for their car. Here we have listed out some top brands for Exhaust Muffler.

• Walker USA Muffler
• Dynomax Muffler
• Design Engineering Muffler
• Flowmaster Muffler
• Gibson Performance Muffler
• Magnaflow Muffler
• Bosal Muffler
• Flowtech Muffler

To know more about top brand exhaust mufflers, visit our “Which Top Brand Mufflers Should I Choose?” section.

There might be a big-picture overview of Exhaust Muffler in your mind, and now it’s time to look at its related components.

• Hanger Strap
• Muffler Mounting Kits
• Muffler &Pipe Assembly
• Muffler strap

There are a ton of components that ought to be viewed when you are considering supplanting Exhaust Muffler. First, you need to choose that on the off chance that you require some related pieces of Exhaust Muffler or an entire Exhaust Muffler. At that point, after that, the following stage is to choose what sort of make just as kind of Exhaust Muffler you are really managing and afterward from where will you get a fresh out of the box new one. Simply remember that a fresh out of the box new Exhaust Muffler which would originate from a distribution center would cost substantially more than the one you will get in a junkyard. After that, the following point which ought to be considered is that from where you will get it supplanted and how rapidly it should be finished. The cost of a muffler can range from $100 on the low end and from $400 to $500 on the high end.

For more information, visit our “How Much Does A New Muffler Cost Me?” section.

Just like any other car part, mufflers can also wear out or get damaged. Mufflers are held in place tightly, with the help of clamps and rubber clamps, but at times they may be welded. In either case, you will have to take away the old muffler from the exhaust piping so as to fix the new one. Follow the right safety precautions when you jack up your vehicle.

Removing Your Old Muffler

Step 1

You must park your vehicle in a safe place to access the muffler. The surface must be flat firm so that it can support the vehicle on jack stands. Make sure not to place the vehicle on dirt, grass, or gravel surface. Make sure that the vehicle is stable while you place them on jack stands.

Step 2

Remove the battery before you start. You will have to loosen the nut bolts which hold the ground cable on the negative terminal with the help of a hand or socket wrench. Move the cable from the terminal and push it to the side of the battery so that it does not pop up and touch either of the battery terminals.

Step 3

As you disconnect the battery, the vehicle won’t get started while you are working. You can identify the negative terminal by looking at the letters “NEG” near the terminal. As the vehicle is parked on the stand, you must keep the wheel chocks in front of both the front wheels.

Step 4

Now find the jack points for the rear wheel of your vehicle. If you are not sure, you can always look at your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Once the vehicle is at the right place, place the stands beneath the vehicle so as to balance its weight. Use a penetrating fluid to spray the muffler clamps. If the muffler is not in place, it will be held tight with the help of a muffler clamp which is usually U-shaped.

Step 5

As the muffler gets exposed to road grime and water, it might be rusted. Spray the rust penetrator and leave it for a few minutes. If the muffler is fixed to the exhaust pipe, use a flange. You will have to use many applications of a rust penetrator so that you can remove the bolts.

Step 6

With the help of a socket wrench or hand, you must loosen the nuts on the muffler clamps. After that, change the clamps. If you are looking to use the muffler clamp again, spray the rust penetrator on them. Place the exhaust and muffler separately. Again, spray the area where the muffler pipe and exhaust piping meets.

Step 7

Now it will be easy for you to pull the muffler back, where the two pipes slip apart. If the pipes are too rusty, cut them. Even if the muffler was welded in place, cut the pipes.

Cutting Through Rusted Exhaust Components

Step 8

Put on suitable safety equipment. During the cutting process, the metal shavings and debris stuck in the car will eventually be removed. So, before you start something, eye protection is absolutely necessary. Wear heavy-duty gloves so that you can protect your hands from blades and sharp pieces. The cut-off tool can be the best option to remove a welded or rusted muffler.

Step 9

Now you will have to wrap the exhaust cutter around the pipe and try moving the handle front and back until the pipe is completely cut. With the help of a cut-saw or exhaust cutter cut the metal around the clamp. Wear your eye protection on, throughout the entire process. Make sure not to cut through the underlines as you might end up cutting the fuel pipe or brakes.

Step 10

Now, remove the hangers on the muffler from the rubber muffler mounts. The only thing which holds the exhaust pipes is the rubber muffled mounts. Now you will have to pull the muffler out from the backside of the vehicle so that the metal portion can be removed. The eyelet has a very large diameter and so you will have to pull it very hard.

Installing a New Muffler

Step 11

Now test the new muffler. Make sure that the pipe of the new muffler extends out and there is sufficient space. Also, cut off or separate the previous ones. Now you will have to check the diameter of the pipe and make sure it slides tightly into the pipe. You will have to purchase a new pipe if it doesn’t fit properly.

Step 12

If you are using an extension pipe, then protect it in a similar manner as you would protect the muffler pipe to the exhaust. Now fix the new muffler hangers in the rubber muffler mounts. In order to support the weight of the muffler, slide the metal hanger on the muffler into the rubber eyelet.

Step 13

Once the muffler is fixed, the rubber will avoid the muffler from rattling or creating a vibrating noise inside the cabin of the vehicle. The end of the new muffler pipe has to be coated in the exhaust sealant. So before you fix them, spray the exhaust sealant.

Step 14

Spray the sealant between the two pipes so that the chances of exhaust leakage are very minimal. You must allow the exhaust sealant to sit for a few minutes depending on the brand. Read the instructions before you use them.

Step 15

The exhaust must be slid together. Slide the muffler piping or adaptor over the exhaust pipe which is already present. The muffler must be placed directly beneath the rubber eyelet so that the eyelet hangs straight up and down. The pipe has to fit together. You will need an adaptor to fit the right size if both the pipes feel loose or wiggled.

Step 16

The pipes have to be protected with muffler clamps. Now push the muffler clamp over the area, so that one pipe is over the other. Using your hand or socket wrench, you will have to tighten the clamp until it is not possible to move the pipes back and forth. You can use a half-inch drive wrench to tighten the clamps and make sure it is sufficiently tight.

Step 17

Start the engine and check for any leakage. Make sure that the vehicle is protected with the right automatic transmission and all the standard transmissions are in neutral with the front wheels securely choked.

Step 18

Start your vehicle and look at the meeting point of the muffler and exhaust piping. If there is any leak, it will be visible. If you’re not sure of the leakage, ask your friend to hold on to the gas pedal and the leakage will be apparent. Allow the pipe to cool off if there is a leakage. You will have to take off the muffler clamp and make sure that both pipes are seated together properly before you re-tighten them.