The first internal combustion engine had a silencer attached, did you know that? The first combustion engine created by J. J. Étienne Lenoi in 1859 included a little metal reducer on the end of the exhaust intended to reduce backfiring, even though it wasn't up to modern standards and wasn't made to reduce emissions or sound. Since those early times, mufflers have developed and are now essential parts of every car used on UK roads.
Silencers of today have two purposes:
1. Minimising exhaust system noise coming from the exhaust pipes and from the exhaust ports
2. To assist in guiding exhaust gases away from the engine
Exhaust silencers are frequently believed to play a significant role in vehicle emissions, contrary to popular belief. Although the rear silencer has chambers that assist break up particulate emissions, catalytic converters, which are put before the rear silencer and can lessen hazardous chemical emissions from today's combustion engines, are responsible for controlling emissions. Silencers often stop being able to effectively "silence" the sound of the exhaust as they start to wear out.
Having said that, a damaged exhaust silencer may cause a failed MOT test. If your exhaust system isn't working properly, check MOT status and make an appointment with competent mechanic to carry out a full diagnostic and repairs. Engine misfires, a loud exhaust noise, and condensation in the exhaust pipe are common warning signs of a damaged exhaust silencer.
On most vehicles, exhaust silencers survive five to seven years on average, however they can wear out too soon for a variety of reasons, such as:
1. Being exposed to salt, either through saltwater in areas near oceans or on frequently icy or snowy roadways.
2. Being often struck as a result of speed bumps, narrow potholes, or other impacting objects.
3. Excessive use or alterations that the manufacturer does not advise.
If you are wondering if your car has ever failed a MOT test due to a faulty exhaust, go online and complete a MOT history checker.
What do they check on a MOT history?
The mileage that was noted during testing, the location of each test, what components failed each test or if they vehicle passed the MOT test, whether any components had minor issues (advisories) and when the vehicle's next MOT is scheduled to occur.
Does MOT status show straight away?
What is the turnaround time for a MOT to appear online? The MOT doesn't have any fixed timeframes for when your results should be made available online. However, customer reviews on the internet indicate that this occurs rather rapidly after the test, usually in less than a day.
Regardless of the precise source, damaged silencers frequently display a few universal signs that let the owner know something is wrong and that a professional certified mechanic should fix it or replace it.
Some of the tell-tale symptoms that a muffler is damaged, defective, or malfunctioning and needs to be replaced are listed below:
1. Engine is misfiring - Modern engines are finely tuned machines, and for them to operate properly and efficiently, each component must cooperate with all others. The exhaust system of the car, which starts at the exhaust valve chamber inside the cylinder head and travels via the exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter, and silencer before exiting through the exhaust pipe, is one of these systems. Vehicle performance may be affected by any of these damaged parts, which may result in engine misfiring. When the engine is decelerating, in particular, it might result in misfiring if the silencer develops a crack inside the unit and reduces its effectiveness. This can also result in a MOT test failure. To see if your car ever failed an emissions test due to this reason, go online and type 'check my MOT history' for a full list of your cars past failed and passed MOT test results.
2. Louder exhaust than usual - Loud exhaust noise is typically caused by an exhaust leak, which typically happens in the silencer rather than the exhaust components close to the engine. Engine exhaust is contained as it travels through the exhaust system and eventually exits through the silencer. There are several chambers inside the silencer that help to lessen the vibrations that come from the exhaust, which are frequently linked to sound. The pre-silenced exhaust leaks when the silencer is damaged or has a crack in it, amplifying the noise that comes from the exhaust system.Even though it is common for exhaust leaks to start before the exhaust silencer, silencer leaks are typically to blame for noisy exhaust. In either scenario, this problem needs to be examined and fixed by a trained mechanic. This is a frequent cause of a MOT test failure, as you will see if you check MOT history of a car.
3. Moisture from exhaust pipes - As the exhaust system, which includes the muffler, cools from engine operation, air moisture condenses inside the exhaust pipe and the silencer. The exhaust pipe and the exhaust silencer's outer shell are slowly destroyed by this moisture while it rests there. The exhaust pipe and the joints of your silencer rust over time from repeated warm-up and cool-down cycles, which leads to exhaust gas leaks and noise. It may be a clue that the silencer is beginning to wear down if you observe considerable condensation escaping from the exhaust pipe, particularly during the midday or warmer hours of the day.
Any of the aforementioned warning signs should be regarded seriously because the exhaust silencer is essential to the proper operation of your car, and they should prompt you to get in touch with a qualified mechanic as soon as possible.