When your car has an exhaust system leak, it’s not going to be able to perform how you expect it to perform. Choisser Automotive Services has some clues for you that can help you to recognize when your car might have an exhaust leak.
You Might See More Exhaust Smoke than Usual
You’re typically not going to see much actual smoke coming from your car’s tailpipe unless something is wrong. So if you are seeing more exhaust smoke, that’s a big indication that there’s something happening in the exhaust system that needs further investigation. The most likely culprit is a leak of some sort.
The Car Might Sound Louder than Usual, Too
It’s also possible that your car sounds a little bit louder than it usually sounds. You might notice that while you’re driving, or it might be something you notice if the car is running and parked. Either way, if you’re noticing that your car sounds different to you, that’s something you really shouldn’t ignore. It might or might not be something big, but it does mean that there has been a change somewhere.
Check Your Gas Mileage
Your gas mileage can tell you more than you think about how well your car is running. Your car’s manufacturer gives you a range of gas mileage, depending on whether you’re doing a lot of stop-and-go driving or highway driving. Typically your actual gas mileage is going to land somewhere in the middle, especially if you’re doing a mix of those driving types. When you calculate your mileage, if it’s way off from where it should be, there’s a reason.
Don’t Drive the Car if You Smell Gas in the Passenger Compartment
It’s really important to remember that you shouldn’t smell exhaust fumes and especially gas fumes in the passenger area of the car. If you do, that means that there’s definitely a leak of some sort and it can get serious very quickly in terms of your health. Gas and exhaust fumes can cause headaches and respiratory problems, so if you’re smelling gas or exhaust inside the car, don’t drive the car.
An exhaust leak is nothing to play around with. Give us a call today at Choisser Automotive Services in Davidsonville, MD if you suspect that your car has an exhaust leak. We’ll do some testing and determine what’s going on so that you have the information you need to get your car repaired properly.