Exhaust Tips and Tricks - How to Maintain and Extend the Life of Your Performance Exhaust System

Do you love your vehicle? Do you want it to run smoothly and last for a long time? If yes, then you need to take care of every part. There are lots of parts in your vehicle that need to be treated well in order to make them last long. One of the most important performance car parts is the exhaust system.

The exhaust system of your vehicle is responsible for passing off the exhaust gasses that are released while your vehicle is running and combusting fuel. Fuel combustion produces lots of gasses and noise which are controlled by the exhaust systems.

If you have a performance exhaust system in your car, it will make your vehicle run better while also controlling the exhaust gasses and noises. You need to make sure that this part works properly so your vehicle can run smoothly.

So, let’s see how you can keep this exhaust system in top-notch condition. If you follow every tip and trick that we are going to discuss here, then this will add many years to your vehicle.

Regular Inspection

The first and foremost thing that you have to make sure to make your vehicle last long is regular inspection. It is the key to everything. If you are getting your vehicle inspected regularly then it will function well and last longer than usual.

Regular inspections help in identifying any issue at an early stage so it can be treated as soon as possible. Treating the issues at an early stage prevents them from transforming into something bigger.

This also provides your vehicle with the professional maintenance and repair that needs to be done. It ensures that your vehicle runs smoothly without any malfunctioning.

Keep It Clean

Keeping your vehicle clean is also a highly important thing to do. Clean things always last longer than the dirty ones. We try to make our vehicles look clean, but are they actually clean? When you clean your car by yourself, do you clean the underbody as well, or just shine the visible areas?

If you regularly clean your car completely, including its underbody, there will be no dirt and grime build-up to harm the parts. You need to take your car to professional car washers so they can clean every part of it.

If you want to clean it on your own then you need the right cleaning supplies. To remove carbon build-up from stainless steel or chrome exhaust, use specialized metal cleaners and polish. You can also use a toothbrush to properly remove the soot and carbon from the exhaust.

Prevent Leaks

Your vehicle has lots of parts which include pipes to transfer fuel and exhaust gasses. Sometimes with excess use or any other reason, these pipes crack or fail and develop leaks. These leaks lead to fuel wastage and reduce your vehicle’s efficiency.

Leaks can also occur because of loose or over-tight bolts and joints. So make sure that the joints are fastened with proper pressure. In case you detect any leak in your vehicle’s exhaust system, contact a professional immediately before it gets worse.

Rust Prevention

Rust is one of the most common enemies of an exhaust system, especially if you live in areas with high humidity or if you drive in winter conditions where road salt is prevalent. You need to protect the exhaust system from getting rusty so it functions efficiently for a longer duration.

You can get the exhaust system coated with ceramic or other material to protect against corrosion. Regular car washes with an underspray option are recommended in any area where road salt is used.

Drive Smartly

How you drive your vehicle also affects its life. If you drive aggressively without paying attention to your car’s capabilities and limitations, then this can cause a lot of harm to your vehicle.

When you drive in the aggressive mode immediately after turning on the engine, the temperature rises instantly and affects the parts. Not only temperature but it also puts extra pressure on the exhaust system.

But this doesn’t mean that you should not enjoy your drive. The trick is to warm up your vehicle before driving aggressively. This will give the exhaust system some time to heat up and handle the rise in temperature.

Avoid Overloading

You may think that this is not something that can affect the exhaust system of your vehicle but it does. When your vehicle is suffering from overloading, it will have to put more pressure on the exhaust system to pass on the exhaust gasses.

All this process can affect your vehicle’s functioning and may harm its various parts. If you are doing it very rarely, then you don’t have to worry about it. However, if you regularly put extra and unnecessary loads on your vehicle, then it is something concerning.

You should pay attention to how you are using your vehicle. Don’t put too much pressure on your vehicle, it can harm not only the exhaust system but many more parts.

Invest in a High-quality Exhaust System

Well, of course, if your vehicle has a low-quality exhaust system that is either not built strongly or does not have any coating to prevent corrosion, or inferior steel, then it will wear out easily. In this case, you have to repair or replace the system frequently.

On the other hand, if you have a good-quality exhaust system, then it will come with an anti-corrosion coating and a strongly built body. It will not only last longer than the usual ones but also enhance your vehicle’s performance better than others.

Investing in a high-quality performance exhaust system is all you need. It may cost more than the basic ones, but it will save you a lot of money that you have to spend on frequent repairing and replacing.

Look for Warning Signs

If you are not sure how to detect the performance of your exhaust system, there are many signs that your car shows to tell you that something is not right. You can pay attention to these signs to find out the issue.

Some of the common issues that can help you identify any exhaust system malfunctioning are decreased fuel efficiency, warning lights to check the engine, and unusual noises or vibrations among others.

Another sign you can look for is some kind of smell caused by exhaust fumes. If you smell something like this in your car then this issue needs to be addressed immediately.

Bottom Line

The exhaust system of your vehicle may be something that you can not see properly but you can feel that it is working properly or not. We have discussed some warning signs that can help you identify this.

All the tips and tricks that we have discussed here can surely help you improve the health of your vehicle’s exhaust system as well as its lifetime. When the exhaust system lasts longer it will help you reduce the cost of frequent repairs. All you have to do is pay a little attention to your vehicle.

Clean it regularly, have regular inspections, take measures to prevent rust and leaks, and drive smartly to give your vehicle the care it needs. So, follow these exhaust system tips and extend the life of your performance exhaust system.