How to Check a Muffler

Your vehicle’s muffler is part of the exhaust system, and it is responsible for quieting the sound of the engine as its waste is passed out of the system. The exhaust system is subject to high heat and pressure, not to mention water, salt, rocks and other hazards. The lightweight aluminum or steel is prone to damage and rusting, which is why you should check your muffler periodically to determine if it needs to be repaired or replaced. A visual inspection is the normal method of checking a muffler.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Jack, jack stands, ramps or lift
• Gloves
• Flashlight
• Safety glasses

1. Lift the vehicle by jacking it up, driving it up on ramps or using a lift. If you jack your vehicle up, place it securely on jack stands before going underneath. Jacks can collapse without warning, leading to serious injury or death. It may not be necessary to lift at all if you have a tall vehicle, such as a pickup truck.
2. Slide under your firmly supported vehicle. Bring a flashlight and a pair of gloves with you and wear safety glasses.
3. Locate the muffler, which is the final section of the exhaust system. Mufflers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but it will have a large center section with pipes running into it from the forward exhaust system, and it includes the tailpipes. There may be one, two or four tailpipes.
4. Check your muffler. Look for rust, dents, loose connections and holes. Dents and surface rust are not terminal for your muffler, but they are indicative of aging. Touch any rusty spots to determine how far through the metal the rust may be. Some holes can be repaired, but most cannot.
5. Feel around the top of the muffler for rust and holes as well. Use your flashlight to illuminate any dark areas. Watch out for sharp edges.
6. Look at the exhaust hangers to see if they are broken or missing. Exhaust hangers are normally thick rubber loops that mount the exhaust system to the vehicle.
7. Examine the exhaust section attachments. These are flanges where the various sections of the exhaust system are bolted together, and a complete muffler check looks for loose connections.
8. Slide yourself out from under the car. Your muffler check is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• If your muffler has any of the damage listed in the steps, you will probably have to replace it.
• Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from falling rust, stone chips or other road debris.
• Always ensure that your vehicle is stable before you go underneath it. Never go under a vehicle to check a muffler or perform any other maintenance if it is not firmly supported by a lift, jack stands or ramps.