As our vehicles age, most of us assume it is simply because the vehicle is old and as parts are worn – especially mufflers - they simply get louder. Mufflers are responsible for taming the noise output of vehicles and are an essential part of the overall exhaust system. All it takes is an inspection of the exhaust system to determine whether you need muffler repairs.
The first step in determining if you need muffler repairs, or exhaust system repairs in general, is a complete inspection by a trained professional. Muffler repair professionals will assess the entire exhaust system and determine if the muffler is the cause of the excessive noise or if repairs are needed at all.
When a muffler becomes damaged from normal use and the elements, such as salt on the roads during those Burke, VA winters, they often become rusty and will eventually rust through. If left unattended, the oxidation process – the rusting – will spread to other parts of the exhaust system connected to the muffler. As the other parts become rusty, they too will need repairs and can eventually lead to the replacement of the entire exhaust system.
Newer vehicles with an advanced computer system that regulates the operation of the vehicle will suffer as well from the need for muffler repairs. As the computer monitors the vehicles operation, it may read the failure in exhaust flow and attempt to compensate for that, resulting in poorer performance of the vehicle overall. Mufflers are responsible for more than just the noise escaping the vehicle after all.
Mufflers breakdown because of environmental factors such as road salt used on the Clifton, VA and surrounding Northern Virginia roads, and internal condensation also contributes to the demise of mufflers. When the vehicle is started – especially on cold days – the exhaust is hot and the exhaust system is cold, which causes condensation to form. Water and oxygen combine and lead to rust in the muffler and entire exhaust system, which in turn leads to exhaust system repairs.
The car care professionals at Wiygul Automotive Clinic are specially trained to examine exhaust systems and mufflers and can quickly determine if your vehicle is need of muffler repairs. Serving all of Northern Virginia, specifically the communities of Burke, VA, Fairfax Station, VA, Clifton, VA, Fairfax City, VA and Springfield, VA, Wiygul Automotive Clinic delivers quality service from trusted experts.
