Mufflers & Exhaust - Avondale

The function of an exhaust system is not just to minimize engine sound, but also to redirect lethal fumes away from your car. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odor free chemical that could escape from an unsecured exhaust system. If the carbon monoxide is breathed in it could cause really severe health hazards. For your safety as well as the safety of your travelers, it is necessary to have your exhaust system examined and maintained on a regular basis. Effectively functioning exhaust systems could also help in protecting the environment from unsafe emissions released into the environment.

A noisy car may be an indicator that it's time for a new muffler or exhaust system. Pinpointing signs of rust, wear and damage may protect against cracks and punctures in the exhaust system. The state of Illinois calls for emissions testing for your vehicle to pass. Checking for compliance prior to registering your vehicle could save you money and time, prior to your emissions testing.

When A New Muffler Is Needed:

• Loud thumps, growls & bangs
• Rust
• A vibration or shaking of your muffler when idling
• Your muffler is hanging lower than ideal

If you experience an abnormally loud sound coming from your vehicle, it is important to get your exhaust system inspected instantly.

New Vehicle Exhaust

While your exhaust system helps reduce noise output from your vehicle, it also significantly reduces harmful emissions from being released into the air. When your muffler and exhaust system functions properly, it significantly reduces your vehicle’s harmful impact on the environment. It also significantly improves the functionality of your vehicle.

Your vehicle’s exhaust system involves several components. The exhaust manifolds right behind the engine collect exhaust gases and connect to cylinder heads. Gases collected by your vehicle’s exhaust manifolds are analyzed by oxygen sensors and refined by catalytic converters before being muffled by the mufflers. By the time these gases reach the muffler, the emissions system has made your car run smoother, quieter and cleaner.

If any of the components of your vehicle’s exhaust system fail, your gas mileage and quality of air around you can be affected. The expert team at VMB Auto Clinic can inspect and repair your entire exhaust system to ensure your vehicle is running cleanly.

Catalytic Converter Replacement

Located on the underside of your vehicle, the catalytic converter helps clean up vehicle emissions before expelling them into the environment. Catalytic converters contain honeycomb-like structures coated with platinum and palladium that help minimize the harmful effects of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxide produced by your vehicle’s engine. These harmful elements pass through two stages: the reduction catalyst stage and the oxidation catalyst stage. During the reduction catalyst stage, nitrogen oxide is converted into oxygen and nitrogen gases while carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon is oxidized in the oxidation catalyst stage. The catalytic converter also relies on the oxygen sensor to detect the correct level of oxygen introduced in the oxidation catalyst stage.

Routine exhaust system maintenance can help ensure your catalytic converter is always working optimally and reduce the likelihood of it releasing harmful and often deadly chemicals into the environment, or into the cabin of your vehicle.