If you've got a loud car exhaust, it can be quite an annoying problem. While many people simply tune out the noise, some of us actually prefer taking proactive steps to eliminate the rattle.
In some parts of the country, having a loud exhaust is prohibited because it can be a public nuisance.
A loud exhaust can be a result of damage to the muffler, your catalytic converter/emission control system, the pipe before it, or any combination of the three. So, in order to reduce your exhaust noise, you must find out where the offending noise comes from and fix it.
In this article, we will show you some simple ways to make your car a lot quieter.
Why Is My Exhaust Loud? And How Can I Make it Quieter?
Worn Out Muffler
Your muffler is one of the most important parts of your exhaust system. It reduces the sound coming out of your tailpipe by trapping sound waves inside it through a series of chambers filled with metal baffles.
But if your muffler has holes or rust spots, this will make noise and can be annoying to your neighbors or fellow road users because it can be loud and sound like a truck's.
You can patch up holes in the muffler using muffler patch tape and an exhaust system sealer.
If the damage from the wear is too much to repair, then consider replacing the muffler. It's an easy and straightforward job that doesn't require any complex tools to do.
All you need is a jack, ratchets, a wrench, and lubricant. Just make sure you buy the right type of muffler (check your car manual or ask an expert).
Insecure Heat Shield on Catalytic Converter
Your car's catalytic converter needs a bit of heat to function properly. Your engine produces heat through the combustion process. However, excessive heat can also cause damage to it, so it needs the protection of a heat shield.
If the heat shield is not properly held in place, it can cause a lot of rattling.
You can tighten the shield by ensuring that the bolts are securely held in place and are not worn out.
Noisy Pipes Before the Muffler
The part before your muffler is called the collector. When your muffler gets old, it can make noise. The pipes before your muffler are susceptible to rusting and corrosion. When that happens, it can have a rattling sound at the end of it.
This will be annoying for you and for other road users.
If yours is causing noise, then you might need to replace them with high-quality pipes, like stainless steel. They're very cheap and can be bought at any automobile shop.
If you don't want to replace the pipes, then you should do some rust-proofing or welding on them. You can also use a muffler coating for this purpose.
Loose Exhaust Bolt
There are bolts that hold your muffler in place. They're located at the back of your car's bumper under the rear glass. If they become loose, they will make a rattling noise, which is not good for the engine.
So tighten them up if they're loose, or have a mechanic do it for you. It's a simple and easy task that won't cost you much.
Wrong Exhaust System
This problem happens when someone makes an exhaust modification or if they try to replace the whole system without consulting an expert. There are exhaust systems that will fit your car perfectly, but there are also those that won't.
So, if you want to know what's compatible with your car, ask an expert and they can give you a list of options.
Muffler Leak
A muffler leak is typically caused by old age and corrosion of the exhaust pipes.
Not only will this be quite noisy, but it can also cause serious damage to your car's engine. To fix a muffler leak, get your muffler replaced with one that's brand new. This job will require you to take apart your whole exhaust system, so it's not something you can do on your own.
Something Stuck in the Muffler
There are many things that can clog up your mufflers, like small sticks, leaves, or any other flying debris that somehow finds its way into the pipes. So if you have a hole or rust spot, this is something that can cause noise, as it can be a point of entry.
To remove a stuck object in a muffler, use a piece of wire or a small hook to pull out the item that's causing the problem. Be careful not to push the items up further though.
Wrong Exhaust Tips
If you don't have any exhaust tips at all, you might notice that there's something wrong. Exhaust tips that aren't shaped or cut properly will cause noise as the engine roars and struggle to push out all the hot air from inside the muffler.
So if you're thinking about customizing your car with fancy exhaust tips, make sure they fit correctly so there won't be any noise.
Fault With the Engine
If you've done everything to fix an exhaust system that's noisy and it still won't stop, then your engine could be in critical condition. At this point, it's very important that you take your car to a mechanic shop for repairs.
Unless they are able to fix the problem at its root cause, the noise will most likely come back.
Bottom Line: How to Make Exhaust Quieter
There are a number of things you can do to make your car's exhaust quieter. Some are easy to do, like tightening up loose pipes, while others may require a little more work, like replacing a rusted-out muffler.
But the bottom line is that if your car is making too much noise, there's probably something wrong with the exhaust system, and you’ll need to take it to a mechanic shop for repairs.
If you're looking for sound deadening material, check out the best sound deadening material for automotive use, or if you're in the market for sound-absorbing paint, here is an article on sound-absorbing paint and how it works.