A Fuss-free Maintenance Checklist for Your Car’s Exhaust System

A properly functional exhaust system is important for your car’s performance, especially when it comes to acceleration and fuel efficiency. It also maintains the proper emission standards. As a car owner, you will need to maintain your exhaust in proper running conditions.

Here’s how you can go about it!

Maintaining the exhaust system

Before going on any further, you have to understand that your car exhaust will wear out over time. Pre-emptive action is often the only way out. For this, regular maintenance is important.

There are numerous components to the exhaust system. You need to know the most common issues to them and provide the requisite maintenance.

A typical exhaust system may include the following –

• Headers.
• Muffler.
• Exhaust Pipe.
• Catalytic Converter.
• Manifold Gasket.

Point worth mentioning, each of these parts performs a specific function and therefore has typical issues to them.

Checking the exhaust system components

You can carry these easy checks even with layman’s mechanical knowledge. However, always wear eye-protection or rubber gloves before going for the check.

• Corrosion and rust in the exhaust pipe

Use a brush to scrape off any rust and look for the holes. They can pull in air from outside this system, thus leading to a backfire and harming your vehicle.

• Inspecting connections and joints

Look for a sign of soot or black marks around the flanges and connections. These are a tell-tale sign of escaping gas which can be fixed by tightening the clamps or replacing any rusted studs.

• Checking the supports

Supports are used to connect and suspend the exhaust manifold with the car. A loose support always poses a risk to this system. Check that they are in place, and have a right degree of flexibility.

• Problems with the catalytic converter

Try to observe whether you get a rattling sound while driving or not. It points towards a loose catalytic converter. Such sounds mean its time you take your car to professional service stations such as Jackson’s MOT Centre for an exhaust service in Northampton.

Cleaning steps for the system

The least you can do after checking the faults is clean the exhaust pipe and muffler, anything beyond which will need professional expertise. So, clean it up at recommended intervals in 4 simple steps.

Step 1 – Wipe off the maximum soot and dust that you can from its muffler with a towel or a rag.

Step 2 – Mix one tablespoon of dishwashing soap with a bowl of warm water. Dip the rag in this solution and remove any grease or oil stain on the muffler. Let it dry.

Step 3 – Apply a metal polish across the surface evenly.

Step 4 – Take a dry rag. Apply even pressure while cleaning to buff the area and bring back the shine.

There you are with a shiny exhaust system. It will ensure no rust formation for a long time.

Also, a properly functioning exhaust system is vital to pass the emission test conducted during an MOT in Northampton.

That’s all for today! Drive safe!

Tips to Help You Store Tyres the Right Way!

Do you keep an alternate set of tyres in stock?

If yes, then you must pay attention towards their maintenance. However, it’s common that car owners like you do not spare much thought on how they are storing those spare tyres in the garage.

Storing tyres the right way is not something which is very difficult to do. A little care towards them can make those tyres run a few extra miles for you and save you some money in the long run as well.

What is the right way of storing spare tyres?

1. Keeping them clean

That’s a necessary first step. Do NOT store tyres while they still have dirt and grime all over them.

During their normal use, tyres in Northampton or anywhere else in the UK collect brake dust and mud. Storing dirty tyres will lead to latent tyre damage. So, before storing those away, ensure to clean them using some mild soap, tyre brush, and water. You can either cleanse them while they are mounted on the rims or after dismounting them. Either way, do not use any tyre gloss when you plan to store them for a while.

2. Using airtight bags

Once you’re done with the cleaning, put those tyres in large black plastic bags. You will be better off if you ensure that the bags have limited air before you seal them. You can go the extra mile and use a vacuum cleaner to draw out air before sealing them with tape.

3. Keep them upright

Keeping your car tyres upright will put less stress on their structural rigidity. Experts at Jackson’s MOT Centre suggest avoiding stacking tyres on high racks. They also suggest stacking winter tyres inNorthampton on a dry plank.

4. Avoiding the UV rays

When the tyres are not in use, it becomes necessary to keep them away from the sun rays. Since black tyres absorb heat faster, they get overheated when kept under the sun. Thus, both the heat and the UV rays cause tyre breakdown.

5. Strictly avoid hot gases

It is always better to keep tyres away from machines that generate hot gases. Equipment such as furnaces, central vacuums, or basement pump near your stored tyres is a huge no.

Instead of storing just the tyres, if you’re keeping the whole vehicle in the garage for a while, give your tyres a vacation from their duty. Make sure you always take the tyres off the car before you store them. The weight of your car can cause severe damage to those tyres. Dismounting them will relieve them from the pressure and ensure proper functionality when you mount them again.

With this comprehensive guide on how to store your car tyres, you can keep them in good condition for years. Save the expenses of buying a new set of tyres and make the best of every single set over the years.