Exhaust systems primarily carry waste gas from the engine through a series of pipes and filters so that when this gas finally leaves the tail pipe it is in a relatively harmless state. As soon as the exhaust gas leaves the cylinder chamber it enters the exhaust manifold which collects all the waste gases and channels it into a “down pipe”. Most modern vehicles have the catalytic converter placed along this down pipe section. From the catalytic converter the exhaust pipe runs down under the centre section of the vehicle towards the tailpipe at the rear of the car.

Maintenance:

The factory fitted exhausts parts fitted to new cars will usually last for at least five years, an improvement on vehicles made ten years ago that normally required at least one section replacing by its third birthday. Exhausts parts are normally replaced due to corrosion, often at the joints where the sections meet as well as the brackets that hold the units in place. If the corrosion has really taken hold then holes will start appearing, the engine noise will begin to get louder which will result in an MOT failure as the gases have not been through all the necessary stages to control the engine emissions.

Exhausts boxes can also need replacing due to the honey comb filter inside breaking down, meaning the gas will no longer be cleaned properly & harmful unprocessed fumes will escape into the atmosphere, a definite MOT emissions failure.