Unless you’re an expert on cars—and if you’re a customer of Lou’s Custom Exhaust, you might be—you probably don’t know a ton about exhaust systems and mufflers. A muffler is a thing that muffles the sound, right? That is its name, after all. While that’s not technically wrong, your muffler does a lot more than just muffle the engine noise. It is an essential part of your exhaust system and contributes a lot to ensure that your engine runs properly. If your car needs a muffler replacement, and that’s a repair you’ve never dealt with before, we’re sure you have some questions.
Let us answer your questions about muffler replacement and repair.
How long does a muffler last?
Nothing lasts forever, especially car parts that have hot gases running through them on a regular basis. A muffler typically lasts anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 miles, or 2 to 4 years in average driving conditions. If you live in a wet climate or along a coastline where the air is salty, that can shorten a muffler’s lifespan. The same is true for roads that have a lot of salt on them in the winter. Have your muffler checked out if your town uses more salt than sand to treat the roads in the wintertime.
What happens if I don’t replace a damaged muffler?
You might think that all a damaged muffler does is make your car run louder, so what’s the big deal? Well, the increased noise isn’t really the problem with a damaged muffler, it’s a symptom of the other problems. If your muffler is damaged, it’s not expelling the exhaust fumes from your engine correctly. Carbon monoxide can leak into the cabin of your car, unburnt fuel can damage your catalytic converter, and excess oxygen can cause your engine to burn too much fuel. Your fuel efficiency will also get worse, and you risk major damage to your engine.
Is a muffler replacement expensive?
The cost of a muffler replacement depends on your vehicle and which muffler you choose. An aftermarket muffler will only cost $25 to $50, while a mid-range muffler runs between $50 and $100. A high-performance muffler, however, can cost anywhere from $300 to $500.
