Understand the exhaust pipe system

While it may seem that some car systems have a bigger and more important part to play, failure of any system might spell doom for your car either instantly, in the short or long run.
Looking at a car’s exhaust system, just by simple observation, it is not hard to discern that the fundamental purpose of the exhaust is to vent waste gases from the engine.
And yes, for the most part that is correct. The exhaust system also cleans out gases making them safer and cleaner for the environment.
The exhaust system will typically include a collection of pipes and parts welded and or bolted together from the engine all the way to the back.
First in line is the exhaust manifold that is attached directly to the side of the engine. It is a set of cast iron pipes that combine the exhaust flows into one single pipe. This single pipe connects to what is called the catalytic converter.
This is the most expensive and sought after part on any exhaust system. The catalytic converter cleans up some of the harmful chemicals from the waste gases, so you do not end up breathing them or having them damage the environment.
It is filled with treated ceramic honeycomb or beads that perform chemical magic turning the harmful gases into less harmful ones including but not limited to, nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapours. Some big engines can have two or even three of them.
The changed gases will next go through various pipes to the silencer, a tin-like enclosure right before the end of the exhaust system.

Noise level
If you have ever heard a car engine running without a silencer, you know what a huge difference a silencer can make to the noise level.
Think your cool quiet car rivalling a rally car when you have a damaged silencer. Inside it, you will find a deceivingly simple set of tubes with some holes in them. These tubes and holes are actually as finely tuned as a musical instrument.
They are designed to reflect the sound waves produced by the engine in such a way that they partially cancel themselves out.
Of course some are designed otherwise to produce that deep engine roars that impresses.
The final bit of the exhaust system is the pipe bit that is visible and where it vents to open air. It often ends with a straight or angled cut. Sometimes it may include some kind of a decorative tip.
The tip will then often be chrome, and it more than likely will be of larger pipe than that of the rest of the exhaust system.
With potholes abounding on the roads, ask your mechanic to inspect your car’s exhaust system when you take it for service or repair.
You might want them to tighten those annoying heat shields that continually get loose and rattle, and be on the lookout for any small exhaust leaks before they become a bigger and a more expensive problem.
You always see people drive cars that randomly sounds like rally cars. Christopher aka Topher, a popular exhaust maintenance mechanic at Nakawa, says because a problem with the exhaust system doesn’t stop the car from starting and moving, it attracts little attention from the grand scheme of car repairs.
He notes that a faulty exhaust system affects your fuel consumption negatively.
Some of the common repairs he makes come from the fact that many exhausts are not continuously and securely connected from the front to back and make one’s car sound loud or if it is not properly attached and held away from the chassis make metal to metal clanking as you drive.
The exhaust system is one that is reliable and rarely needs replacement however because most of the cars we drive are aged, it’s imperative you do preventive maintenance rather than repair the damage.

What to do when damaged
While exhaust systems are built specifically to withstand the high stress and heat conditions associated with the engine, they are still prone to corrosion and rust.
If you suspect that your vehicle may be having an issue with an exhaust pipe or tube, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician to determine if the car needs an exhaust pipe or tube replacement.
Exhaust systems rarely get damaged but will have serious effects on the car if they are not taken care of when they are damaged.