The exhaust system tucked away under your car requires diligent maintenance just like any other vital component. With the following Chevy exhaust maintenance guidelines, you’ll help your engine and entire car run more smoothly and efficiently.
Clean Your Exhaust Frequently
Regular cleans will combat corrosion and reduce the buildup of carbon deposits, which might otherwise restrict the outflow of fumes. Use an old rag, soap, water, degreaser, and polish to clean the outside of the pipes and as far into the tailpipes as possible. Frequent cleans are especially important during our icy Pennsylvanian winters, when snow and salty slush from the road can have a highly corrosive effect.
Protect Your Exhaust From Rust
Rust is one of the chief dangers any exhaust can face. Rapidly rising temperatures create condensation inside the exhaust pipes, which encourages rust. Consider applying temperature-resistant paint and rust inhibitors to protect the metal from external corrosion.
Also, regularly check your exhaust pipes for rust. If you catch minor rust early and remove it using an effective degreaser with steel wool, you’ll save your exhaust pipes from cracks and leaks down the road.
Avoid Short Drives of Under Five Miles
Internal rust is harder to spot. Your best defense against this threat is regular drives, which generate the heat required to remove internal puddles of moisture.
However, it’s important to take longer drives, ideally out on the highway. If you only make short trips of under five miles, the heating exhaust will create condensation, which then settles inside the exhaust when you stop driving. If you keep driving for another ten or twenty minutes instead, all the moisture will get thrust out of the tailpipe or evaporated away.
Discard Aggressive Driving Habits
The rapid accelerating and braking that characterizes aggressive driving has a detrimental impact on exhaust systems. If you adopt calmer driving habits, your exhaust, engine, transmission, and brakes will all suffer less strain and reward you with better long-term performance.
Idling is also harsh on the exhaust and should be avoided where possible. Overloading your car by carrying or towing too much weight could also cause premature wear and tear.
Book Regular Chevy Exhaust Maintenance
Without a trained eye or the ability to safely raise your car, it’s difficult to properly inspect an exhaust system. At least once a year, have a trusted technician thoroughly inspect and test the manifolds, catalytic converter, resonator, muffler, oxygen sensors, brackets, and every other exhaust component for cracks, corrosion, looseness, and abnormalities. Any issues can be quickly repaired to keep your exhaust and engine running efficiently.
Schedule an exhaust inspection today at Mike Kelly Chevrolet in Butler, PA. Our technicians are Chevrolet experts dedicated to quality work and great customer service.