What are Car Exhausts For & How Do They Work?

You probably know that your car has an exhaust. But do you know why? What’s its purpose? And how does it go about achieving that?

Well, that’s what we’re here to answer.

So, what are car exhausts for?

As a by-product of the way that combustion engines work, exhaust fumes are created. Some of the gases that are produced, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, are toxic to humans - and would be harmful if they were to escape into the main cabin of a car.

This is where the exhaust comes in. A car’s exhaust system transports the fumes from the engine, moving them away from the cabin and keeping passengers safe. While this was the original, and key, function of exhausts as they were originally designed, in modern vehicles they also have a number of additional benefits. For example, they can reduce emissions, improve fuel economy, support engine performance, and help to generally make the noise of an engine quieter.

So, we know what they’re for - but how do they do it?

How do car exhausts work?

To understand how exhausts work, we must first start with the engine itself - as that’s where the exhaust gases are initially collected. Gases are gathered from the cylinder head by an exhaust manifold, which funnels them from the engine’s cylinders directly into a pipe.

Once moving through the pipe, the gases pass through a catalytic converter - which is designed to take the harmful components out of the gas, helping to make it safer for both people and the environment. .

Finally, the gas passes through a silencer, which reflects the sound waves produced by the engine in order for the noises to cancel each other out. It’s easy to tell when you’ve got a damaged silencer on your car; you’ll notice the noise!

Once the exhaust gases have passed through these phases, the fumes exit the car through the visible pipe at the rear - ensuring that all of the fumes stay away from the passengers in the main cabin.

Book a free exhaust check today

Now you know how your exhaust system works, do you know if yours is in the best possible condition? Well, we can help with that. Book in today for a free exhaust check at your local Tyre Pros centre, or simply pop in - no appointment required.