Your car’s exhaust system might be one of the areas you don’t think a lot about until something is definitely wrong. Miller Auto Care has some tips to help you start to notice when something might not be quite right with the exhaust sooner rather than later.
Fuel Mileage Is Going in the Wrong Direction
Your car’s fuel mileage can tell you a lot about what’s going on with the engine and with ancillary systems. If the fuel mileage is getting worse, that’s a sign that the engine is working harder than it needs to be working. Gas mileage can indicate that there could be a number of different issues going on, so it’s important to pay attention to some of these other signs as well.
Your Car’s Engine Sounds a Lot Louder
When the exhaust system is having trouble, you might notice that the engine itself sounds a lot louder than it typically sounds. This is an indication that there might be trouble specifically with the muffler, but there could be trouble elsewhere as well. It’s important if the sound of the engine changes that you get the situation checked out as soon as possible.
You’re Seeing a Lot More Smoke in the Exhaust
Another big indication of trouble can be when you start to see a lot more smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Ideally, you shouldn’t see a lot of smoke at all. So when you start to notice that the exhaust is full of visible smoke, that’s an indication that something has changed in how the exhaust system is functioning and that can be bad news.
The Check Engine Light Turned On
Your biggest warning sign of all is always the check engine light. If that turns on and you’re seeing or hearing other issues that are possibly related to the exhaust system, you need to get the exhaust system and the engine checked immediately. Waiting at all could cause serious engine damage that is irreversible. It’s far better to know what you’re up against before things go really wrong.
Miller Auto Care in Medford, OR is your one-stop shop for everything your car could need. Whether you’re having trouble with the exhaust system or something else, we can help you to get an accurate picture of what’s going on. Give us a call and we can take a closer look at what’s happening with your car.