What is an Exhaust Muffler?

Maybe you’re not familiar with what an exhaust muffler is, but I bet you've heard a bad one before. You know when you're casually cruising down the street and all of a sudden you hear something that sounds like Harley Davidson, but it's actually a car zooming by? That’s a car that’s had its exhaust muffler modified or removed completely. Yup. Pleasant sound, isn't it? An exhaust muffler is a part of your car’s exhaust system and is responsible for limiting the sound your car makes. Because you probably want to be able to have a conversation while driving. And the people around you do, too. The exhaust muffler is placed along the exhaust pipe, and reduces the sound of the exhaust that passes through it. There are two primary designs for exhaust mufflers. Reactive exhaust mufflers are built such that the sound waves collide with each other, lowering their volume in the process. Absorptive exhaust mufflers use materials to absorb much of the sound, and are more popular for sports cars, because they sound a little better and result in a higher-performance car. Many exhaust mufflers blend absorptive and reactive designs. Although modern exhaust mufflers are quite durable, they get a lot of use, and they deal with extreme temperatures. So, you may end up replacing yours eventually.

How urgent is an Exhaust Muffler replacement?

It doesn’t always happen, but sometimes, a busted muffler can let exhaust fumes into the cabin of your car. And that is an obvious health hazard.

In other words, you should get it replaced soon. You may have diminished performance and fuel efficiency, and, seriously, nobody wants their ear drums blasted.