Wednesday, October 16, 2013
The Parts of an Exhaust System
The exhaust system included in all modern vehicles in the United States and other countries was designed to perform very specific tasks to control and reduce the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere. At the same time, this sophisticated system eliminates disturbingly loud noises generated by the engine.
What is the Exhaust System?
The exhaust system is the waste removal system for a motorized vehicle. Waste gases from the burning of fuel and air within the cylinders travel through a long pipe and eventually are ejected at the rear of the car. These gases are poisonous, and various emission control devices are integrated into the system to remove some of the toxic substances before the remainder is returned to the atmosphere outside the vehicle.
The PCV Valve
The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve (PCV valve) is used in the exhaust system to re-direct unburned gases from the lower parts of the engine back to the main engine, where they are re-burned. This helps cut pollution levels before toxins ever leave the engine, and increases fuel economy by making the most of these gases the second time through the system.
The Exhaust Manifold
The exhaust manifold is composed of a group of pipes that collect engine exhaust from the multiple cylinders, direct the gases away from the engine through the exhaust piping system and finally vent them to the outside via the tail pipe. This is the initial part of the exhaust system and its presence reduces wear and tear on the engine parts and improves overall efficiency.
The Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter is essentially a long cylinder that is connected to the exhaust pipe system just after the manifold to reduce toxic elements in the waste gas produced by the engine. It is typically filled with small ceramic beads or a complex webbed structure coated with a metal substance that interacts with pollutants to further reduce what is released into the air.
The Muffler
The remaining gases continue down the exhaust pipe and pass through a chambered unit called the muffler that controls noise coming from the engine and regulates the escaping gas just prior to reaching the tailpipe. An extra benefit of the muffler is that it helps keep the pressure balanced in the system, thereby improving engine efficiency further and protecting the catalytic converter from temperature changes that may cause damage.
The Tailpipe
The last part of the exhaust piping system, the tailpipe is where the remaining gases are expelled from the rear of the vehicle. This pipe is usually positioned to help direct escaping gases down and away from the vehicle to help safeguard that pollutants dont back up into the habitable parts of the vehicle.
