Exhaust Maintenance Guide And Its Link With The Mot Test

Every component of a vehicle is essential but some parts are considerable due to safety concerns. If these components do not work well, a car owner may face disastrous results.

According to different studies, the bad health of a vehicle may be responsible for road accidents. Therefore, you have to keep your car free of faults if you want proper road safety. The Government of the UK wants car drivers to follow strict safety rules. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport or MOT Test Northamptonis mandatory for car drivers. This annual test ensures that every vehicle on the roads is safe and follows safety standards.

During the test, the MOT technician uses a list of car parts to declare the final results. They check these parts for mechanical faults. If mechanical faults are present in the system of your vehicle, you have to repair the issue to get the MOT certificate.

Some components included in the MOT test are lights, seats, seatbelts, brakes, tyres, number plate, windscreen wipers, exhaust system etc.

In this blog, we will talk about the maintenance of exhaust system. You must maintain the exhaust system of your vehicle to avoid possible risk factors. Moreover, you have to keep your exhaust system healthy to avoid negative results after the MOT test.

What Are The Main Functions?

Combustion engines in the vehicles have been using an exhaust pipe for many years. The main role of older exhaust pipes includes gathering harmful gases from the cylinders and releasing them into the air.

Nowadays vehicles come with exhaust systems that are available to perform multiple functions in a vehicle.

Today’s effective exhaust systems eliminate harmful substances and decrease emissions. Moreover, exhaust systems save car owners and other road users from noise pollution by regulating sounds in a combustion engine.

Parts Of An Exhaust System

The exhaust system in a vehicle comes with multiple parts. These parts function with each other to increase the efficiency of the car engine.

Have a look at the common parts!

Tailpipe:

You may observe this last part of the exhaust system by looking at the back of your car. An exhaust system may come with 1 to 3 tailpipes. An exhaust system releases harmful gases into the air with the help of a tailpipe.

Oxygen sensor:

As the name suggests, the oxygen sensor is a device that measures the level of oxygen in the exhaust emissions.

This safety component generates a voltage signal that reaches the engine control module. This signal is important for the adjustment of air/fuel mixture.

Catalytic converter:

A catalytic converter is linked to the exhaust pipe. You will observe a catalytic core and a metal housing in this component.

The main function of this component is to break down harmful substances present in the gases like nitrogen and carbon oxides. After breaking down the harmful substances, the catalytic converter converts nitrogen and carbon oxides into water and carbon dioxide.

Muffler:

The primary goal of a muffler is to regulate noise in the exhaust system. Mufflers come with different types of silencers to reduce noise and vibrations.

If the exhaust system is not working well, it will show several warning signs. You can detect these warning signs to make proper decisions.

Let us have a look at the warning signs.

Abnormal sounds:

This is the most noticeable sign in an exhaust system that is not working appropriately. These sounds may come from different sources like exhaust pipes, mufflers, or exhaust manifolds.

Problems in the manifold

Cracks between the cylinder branches and failure of studs and bolts may lead to gasket failure. Moreover, the leaking problem may take place in the manifold and this issue may cause a burning smell from the engine bay.

Problems in the muffler:

Issues in the muffler take place mainly because of corrosion. A faulty muffler starts to generate a hissing sound as a warning signal.

Problems in the exhaust pipe:

Like the muffler, the exhaust pipe is also prone to rust because of its exposure to heat, moisture, and road salt. Strange knocking sounds may come from this part as a warning signal.

Performance of car engine:

Poor performance of the car engine can be a warning sign of faults in the exhaust system. However, other reasons may affect the car engine’s performance but you have to check your exhaust system at the same time.

Common maintenance steps for the exhaust system

Visual inspection

Check your exhaust visually to detect the signs like rust and damage. Rust may affect the strength and efficiency of pipes and muffler. Therefore, you must look at this issue. You have to eliminate the damage signs as well.

Cleaning the exhaust system:

Do not clean your exhaust system with abrasive cleaners due to the risk of damage. You can use mild soap and water to clean your exhaust system.

Cleaners are available in the market to remove carbon deposits. Use these cleaners cautiously to enhance the efficiency of the exhaust system.

Detect leaking:

If your exhaust generates unusual sounds like hissing or popping noise, these signs indicate leaking in the system.

See a professional

You cannot access every part of your exhaust system. Therefore, you need the help of a mechanic to check this vital component. If your mechanic finds system faults, you must visit a garage soon for proper Exhaust Repair Northampton. If you maintain the exhaust system regularly, you can satisfy the MOT technician to get the MOT certificate.