How to Find a Car's Exhaust System

A car's exhaust system removes exhaust gases, which are formed when fuel is burned in the car's combustion chamber, out through the end of the tail pipe. The exhaust system must be performing properly, with no holes in the system, to ensure these gases do not harm individuals in the car. The following steps will show you how to find a car's exhaust system.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Locate the end of the car's exhaust pipe underneath one side or both sides of the rear bumper. Typically this pipe is made of steel, stainless steel or aluminized steel. The pipe attaches all the parts that make up the exhaust system.

2. Notice the muffler, which is attached to the exhaust pipe. The muffler keeps the noise level of the exhaust system down.

3. Follow the pipe from the muffler to the catalytic converter, which lies between the muffler and exhaust manifold. The catalytic converter is similar in appearance to the muffler but has a different function. It converts unsafe carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water vapor.

4. Observe the exhaust manifold next to the catalytic converter. The exhaust manifold is made of cast iron or tubular steel and is attached to the exhaust side of the cylinder head, combining the cylinder's exhaust to make one pipe. The exhaust manifold directs the exhaust gas from the cylinder head to the exhaust system.

5. Find the oxygen sensor, which is found in the exhaust manifold or in the exhaust pipe itself. This sensor is found in modern fuel-injected cars and measures how much oxygen is in the exhaust gas. It allows the computer to add or take away fuel to get an optimal mixture for the greatest fuel economy.