Car Exhaust Leak Repairs in Hamilton

What is an exhaust leak?

Your car’s exhaust is responsible for filtering and expelling petrol fumes from your car’s engine. An exhaust leak can cause these fumes to find their way out of the wrong part of your vehicle. This can lead to the fumes entering the car’s cabin. It can also affect engine performance and increase your car’s fuel consumption.

An exhaust leak can occur due to a damaged or worn-out component in the exhaust system, such as a cracked manifold, a rusted or punctured pipe, a broken gasket, or a damaged muffler. The leak can allow the toxic and harmful exhaust gases, such as carbon monoxide, to escape into the cabin of the car or the environment, which can pose a serious health risk to the passengers and other people nearby.

In addition to the health risks, an exhaust leak can also cause other problems, such as decreased fuel efficiency, reduced engine performance, increased noise, and an unpleasant smell. Therefore, it’s important to get any suspected exhaust leak checked and fixed as soon as possible by a qualified mechanic.

Driving with an exhaust leak >

Causes of an exhaust leak:

There are several different parts that can leak in your exhaust system. Common causes of an exhaust leak include:

Damaged / leaking muffler.
Damaged / leaking tailpipe.
Connecting exhaust pipes between mufflers
Malfunctioning catalytic converter (often accompanied by sulfur-like smell).
Problems with the exhaust manifold.

Exhaust manifold repairs in Hamilton

Catalytic converter replacement in Hamilton

Symptoms of an exhaust leak:

Exhaust smell inside your car – When the exhaust system is leaking, the gas can find their way into your car. This can produce a noticeable smell of very harmful exhaust fumes.
Rumbling noises – Another commons ign of an exhaust leak is a loud rumbling noise from beneath your car. Usually, a louder noise will mean the leak is closer to the engine.
Increased fuel consumption – If the leak is located close to the oxygen sensor, it will trick the sensor into thinking there is too much air and not enough fuel in the combustion mixture. The engine will then send more fuel, resulting in your fuel tank becoming empty much more quickly, costing you more money.
Check engine light – An exhaust leak can trigger the check engine light on your car’s dashboard. This is due to your car’s oxygen sensor detecting incorrect air/fuel levels.

Can you drive with an exhaust leak?

If your car has an exhaust leak, we recommend avoiding driving when possible.

Firstly, an exhaust leak can allow toxic and harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, to leak into the cabin of the car. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and in some cases, death in high concentrations.

Secondly, an exhaust leak can also affect the performance of the engine, leading to decreased fuel efficiency, reduced engine power, and increased engine noise. This can result in poor driving experience and potentially cause long-term damage to the engine.