Your Exhaust Specialist
Exhaust Problems
Exhausts can fail for a number of reasons. There are a number of telltale signs of potential exhaust problems, Perth Alastair Reid Garages will be able to check and advise if further action is needed. If you notice any of the following you should have your exhaust checked.
Noises such as a rattling noise may indicate loose brackets holding the system in place. Alternatively, a roaring noise could be a potential problem with the silencer. Finally, hissing or popping could be a sign that one of the pipes is leaking.
You may also notice a change in emissions such as blue or white smoke. Blue smoke indicates a possible fault in the engine, putting burnt oil into the exhaust system. On the other hand, white smoke could be due to an internal coolant leak. In either case your vehicle will need to be examined. Make an appointment with Alastair Reid Garages for an exhaust inspection.
Smells, such as exhaust fumes in or around the vehicle may be the first sign of exhaust system leaks. Ensure you have this checked out promptly at Alastair Reid Garages in Perth to prevent further problems.
Also, don't ignore the importance of visual appearance as the presence of rust or corrosion on the pipe as well as cracks, especially where the pipes connect. This may indicate a problem. Visit Alastair Reid Garages either in Perth or Guildtown if you have any questions or you are uncertain if further action is required.
About your exhaust
We frequently take our car for granted as it just keeps going. However, when it goes wrong, we want it sorted as soon as possible. More so with the exhaust, as more than any other part of the car, the world knows when it goes wrong. Loud noises from under the car are normally the first and only indication that all is not well with the exhaust system. So why is this so?
This is the Alastair Reid Garages quick guide to exhausts on most makes of vehicle.
Here is a little about what our exhaust systems actually do in the car. There are 4 main constituent parts of any exhaust system.
Exhaust Manifold Connection
Connects the exhaust to the engine block and acts as a funnel. It collects exhaust gases from the different cylinders in the engine and guides them to a single pipe into the exhaust system. This single pipe is sometimes called the Front Pipe.
Silencer Box
The silencer is designed to absorb noise created by the engine combustion process by passing it through a series of baffles. The silencer will reduce the noise from the engine cylinders to a legal and environmentally acceptable level. The overall level of reduction and therefore the design of the silencer will vary with every model. Some vehicles have more than one silencer or have a split in the exhaust system to feed 2 silencers and tail pipes.
Catalytic Converters
Exhaust gases emitted from the engine contain harmful and poisonous gases that cause air pollution. When the gases reach the CAT they are exposed to a coating of precious metals which act as a catalyst on these gases, converting them from harmful to safe fumes. The CAT works better once it is at optimal operating temperature, before this some harmful gases may escape.
A catalytic converter is a vehicle emissions control device that converts toxic by-products of combustion in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine to less toxic substances by way of catalysed chemical reactions. The specific reactions vary with the type of catalyst installed. Most present-day vehicles that run on gasoline are fitted with a “three way” converter, so named because it converts the three main pollutants in car exhaust: carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen. The first two undergo catalytic combustion and the last is reduced back to nitrogen.
Tail PipeThe tail pipe is the part of the exhaust that extends from the back of the car. It allows free exit of the remaining exhaust gases into the atmosphere.
Diesel Filters
In Diesel engines the catalytic converter is replaced by a diesel particulate filter. These filters do require maintenance and can often lead to inefficient or poor running performance. Regular checks and cleaning are required. Alastair Reid will be able to advise on the best optimum performance and maintenance of your vehicle diesel filter.
A diesel particulate filter (or DPF) is a device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. Wall-flow diesel particulate filters usually remove 85% or more of the soot, and under certain conditions can attain soot removal efficiencies of close to 100%. Some filters are single-use, intended for disposal and replacement once full of accumulated ash. Others are designed to burn off the accumulated particulate either passively through the use of a catalyst or by active means such as a fuel burner which heats the filter to soot combustion temperatures; engine programming to run when the filter is full in a manner that elevates exhaust temperature or produces high amounts of NOx to oxidise the accumulated ash, or through other methods.
This is known as "filter regeneration". Cleaning is also required as part of periodic maintenance, and it must be done carefully to avoid damaging the filter. Failure of fuel injectors or turbochargers resulting in contamination of the filter with raw diesel or engine oil can also necessitate cleaning. The regeneration process occurs at road speeds higher than can generally be attained on city streets; vehicles driven exclusively at low speeds in urban traffic can require periodic trips at higher speeds to clean out the DPF.[2] If the driver ignores the warning light and waits too long to operate the vehicle above 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), the DPF may not regenerate properly, and continued operation past that point may spoil the DPF completely so it must be replaced.
Alastair Reid Garages will advise on the requirements of your diesel particulate filter, for all models. Contact 01738 622416or 01821 640368 to book an appointment.
Maintenance
Filters require more maintenance than catalytic converters. Ash, a by-product of oil consumption from the normal engine operation, builds up in the filter as it cannot be converted into a gas and pass through the walls of the filter. This increases the pressure before the filter. Warnings are given to the driver before filter restriction causes faults to become evident that impact on driveability or even damage to the engine. Regular filter maintenance is a necessity.
Alastair Reid Garages are able to advise on maintenance needs for diesel particulate filters on all models. Contact 01738 622416 or 01821 640368 to book an appointment.