Subaru Exhaust System Maintenance: Enhancing Efficiency and Sound

The exhaust’s function is to dispose of the gases produced by combustion. Combustion uses a 14:1 mixture of air to fuel pressurized in a cylinder and then ignited at a precise moment to produce a controlled series of explosions. The process is then repeated in each cylinder, producing energy that lets your vehicle move. As your Los Angeles Subaru dealer, we want to tell you some signs you need exhaust maintenance.

 

Burning Plastic Smell

Burning plastic has a foul odor that is easily distinguishable. If you smell this stench coming from under your engine, you could have an exhaust problem. The exhaust system is sealed along its length, but time or damage from hard objects thrown up from the surface can create a leak in the system, and hot engine gases will escape.

Your engine compartment has a vast network of cables and wiring that carry electricity from the alternator to every electrical system. The wiring is protected against moisture, dirt, and heat by thick insulation. If hot gases leak from the exhaust underneath a wiring cluster, they can burn the plastic insulation and shut down electrical systems in the process. We’ll find and seal the leak and replace any damaged wiring. 

Clogged Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter is a vital part of your emissions control system. As we’ve seen, combustion produces a range of gases, and most of these gases are toxic and polluting. The exhaust gases are forced out of the engine and into the converter, which uses chemical reactions, intense pressure, and extreme heat to convert them to harmless gases and water.

The conversion process produces carbon as a byproduct, and this carbon can build up inside the converter and block the exit to the exhaust system. If this happens, the engine gases are forced back into your engine. This produces a strong fuel smell that can waft into your cabin. The gases increase pressure in your engine and will cause misfiring or stalling. Our technicians will clear the blockage to fix this issue. 

Banging Sounds

The exhaust system stretches underneath your Subaru from the engine to the tailpipe. Metal hangers support the system at strategic points along its length, and they’re securely bolted to the underside. The hangers and bolts are exposed to water and mud as you drive, and in time, this can generate rust that damages them.

Rusted bolts can break off, causing a hanger to loosen. The affected section of the exhaust will then bang against the underside of your vehicle while you are driving. We’ll examine the hangers and their bolts and replace any that are damaged.

If you have an exhaust problem, contact our service department at Puente Hills Subaru in City of Industry, CA. We’re here to help get your car and your exhaust system working like new again.

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