Exhaust Flow
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
Exhaust flow, in a perfect world, your engine would combust all its fuel and then convert any leftover, dirty bits into a source of power. However, engine waste does exist and it’s called pollution. Some fuel will always remain unused or unburned, and so it is removed from your engine in the form of exhaust flow.
The exhaust first exits the engine and goes through the exhaust manifold. From there, it flows through interconnected pipes until it exits at the tailpipe near the bumper. The pipes help cool the exhaust some, but their main job is to move it out of the engine and through the catalytic converter (“cat”) and on to the muffler.
The cat is very close to the engine because it requires a high operating temperature to work best. In many cases, the manufacturer places the cat right after the manifold, so the heat from the engine warms the cat and bring it up to working temps quickly. After the gases pass through the cat, 90% of the exhaust flow toxins are burned up and removed before moving through the pipes to the muffler.
The muffler and resonator are situated beyond the cat, and there are many different ways to configure them. Some will dampen the exhaust sound as much as possible, while others are specifically designed for aggressive tones. After this portion, the exhaust finally leaves the vehicle at the tailpipe.
With all those chemicals swirling around, it’s impressive that the exhaust system actually works as well as it does. A well-maintained exhaust system lasts between two to three years, but the pipes will inevitably wear out. On the outside, they’re vulnerable to debris and other road conditions, such as snow, ice and road salt. However, most of the damage is internal, and it can’t be seen until the pipes have corroded with rust.
Because the engine combusts fuel to make power, unwanted byproducts are left over that can’t be burned — that’s why you need an exhaust system. Unfortunately, there’s really no way to keep the insides of your exhaust pipes clean. Acidic moisture, corrosive chemicals, and other debris will always build up over time. And when an exhaust pipe rots out or a connection becomes loose, you get an exhaust leak.
A leak is immediately apparent because it usually accompanied by a loud, obnoxious sound and, possibly, drivability issues (like inconsistent power to your ride). Even more serious is a leak that occurs before the exhaust makes it to the catalytic converter — all those deadly chemicals are spilling everywhere into the atmosphere now. It’s always a good idea to get leaks fixed as soon as possible!
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