Fix It

The exhaust system of a car is designed to carry away the harmful and toxic gases produced by the engine. The quicker these gases can be channeled away from the engine, the better its performance. Even the smallest crack or hole in the exhaust can reduce the overall efficiency of the car. There are numerous ways to patch an exhaust; however, some are better than others.

Cut a Section Out

If there is only one small section of the exhaust pipe that is damaged, you can simply remove it. This is a simple procedure that can be done with basic tools. All that is needed is a pipe cutter, a welder and a good eye. The biggest problem with cutting away a section of the exhaust pipe is getting to it. Unless you have a sunken pit in the garage, some jacks may be necessary to raise the car. By cutting away the damaged section, and welding the remaining pipe back together, the exhaust will still be able to function. However, efficiency will be lost. Pieces of pipe can be purchased from garages that will join together and replace a damaged section of pipe. This can prevent the exhaust pipe from becoming too small.

Heat-Resistant Material

The problem with attempting to patch an exhaust without using proper equipment is that the exhaust heats up considerably. Most material applied to patch a hole in an exhaust will burn away after the car has driven a few miles. A creative solution is to use fire-retardant and heat-resistant clothing, available from work clothing outfitters. Basic heat-resistance gloves can withstand temperatures up to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. This is more than capable of coping with the 300 to 520 degrees Fahrenheit that is the average temperature of an exhaust. Using a glove or piece of material to stuff into a hole is only a temporary measure, however, as the material may become dislodged as the car travels.

Use a Bandage

Not the most creative solution, but one that works, is heatproof gum. A small crack or a hole can be quickly patched up by applying this versatile material, available from most garages and hardware suppliers. The heatproof gum can come as a paste, a gum or as an actual bandage that you can wrap around any damage on the exhaust. The material is treated to ensure it can withstand the temperatures of the exhaust, and some brands of heatproof gum are designed to act as a permanent solution rather than a temporary measure.

A vehicle exhaust system carries toxic fumes generated by the engine away from the passenger compartment. When an exhaust system leaks, exhaust fumes can flood into the passenger compartment, along high levels of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide cause headaches and can even cause passengers in the vehicle to become unconscious and eventually die.

Instructions

1

Raise the vehicle with a floor jack positioned at a secure point recommended by the vehicle owners manual. Stabilize the vehicle by placing a jack stand under each side of the vehicle frame. Lower the floor jack.

2

Remove loose dirt and debris from the area around the exhaust hole with a clean rag.

3

Scuff the area around the hole with 600-grit sandpaper.

4

Spray engine degreaser on the area surrounding the hole. Allow the cleaner to sit on the exhaust for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe the engine degreaser from the exhaust with a clean rag.

5

Wrap the exhaust pipe starting two inches to one side of the hole. Continue wrapping until you overlap and past the hole by two inches.

6

Cut the exhaust repair tape with a utility knife.

7

Run a plastic squeegee over the applied exhaust repair tape to remove air bubbles and secure the tape to the exhaust.

8

Raise the vehicle with the floor jack. Remove the floor jacks. Lower the floor jack.

The Ford Mustang was designed as an American muscle car, one that is meant to be raced. The H-pipe exhaust can help the driver of a Mustang enhance the horsepower of the car. H-pipes provide a combination of perfect air-flow and performance to deliver some extra power to the vehicle.

Instructions

Out with the Old

1

Lift the back of the vehicle with floor jacks and place it onto jack stands.

2

Cut the tailpipe right behind the muffler and pull out the tailpipes. The tailpipe will not come out in one piece. It might have to be swung around before you can remove it.

3

Remove the bolts connecting the muffler to the H-pipe and remove the muffler from the rubber hangers. Spray the hangers with WD-40 if they appear to be sticky, as this could help make the job a little smoother.

4

Remove the bolts that connect the old H-pipe and headers. Using a U-joint on your socket can be helpful, as the area is difficult to maneuver in.

5

Slide the H-pipe from the hangers. Use WD-40 when needed. Remove the O2 sensors from the old pipes.

In with the New

6

Slide the new H-pipe into the rubber hangers. If needed you can replace the rubber hangers, but in most cases these will be reusable. Be sure to line up the pipes with the header flanges and studs.

7

Bolt the new H-pipe loosely into place and hold the H-pipe in place with a floor jack while installing the rest of the exhaust system.

8

Install the pipes that attach to the H-pipe.

9

Slide the muffler into the hangers and use exhaust clamps to hold it into place.

10

Slide the new tailpipe into the rubber hangers and tighten all the bolts in the exhaust system once everything is lined up correctly. Install the new O2 sensors and plug in the O2 extensions.

The exhaust pipe of your car may accumulate rust due to extensive rain exposure. The rust will eat away at the metallic components and cause holes to form in the exhaust system. A damaged exhaust pipe may emit a loud noise as the engine is engaged. If your exhaust system has already formed rust, perform a few basic techniques to scrub the components clean. Avoid costly car repair bills by cleaning your exhaust pipe on a regular basis.

Instructions

1

Carry the rust-removal supplies to the back end of your vehicle. Kneel down to view the exhaust system found under the trunk of your car. Locate the cylinder-shaped component known as the exhaust pipe.

2

Spray the rust-removal product onto the exhaust pipe of your vehicle. Rub the piece of steel wool around the length of the exhaust pipe. Repeat the process until the pipe retains its original metallic color.

3

Rub the cotton cloth around the exhaust pipe to remove any debris. Examine the length of the pipe to ensure you have gotten rid of the accumulated rust. Repeat the scrubbing process if necessary.

In the pursuit of higher horsepower, one thing that you can do is to remove restrictions in your exhaust, making the exhaust gas flow smoother. Catalytic converters are restrictive, and many people install a straight pipe in their car or truck to eliminate the catalytic converter completely. This may not be legal depending on which state you live in; but if youre using the truck for drag racing purposes only, then it shouldnt be an issue.

Instructions

1

Raise the vehicle using the jack and secure it on jack stands. Double-check that the vehicle is secure prior to crawling underneath it.

2

Locate the catalytic converter on the exhaust. This is an oval section of exhaust that swells out from the rest of the tubing and, depending on the year, may have louvers or vents on the face. Use the reciprocating saw and the metal blades to cut the catalytic converter from the exhaust, making sure to keep the saw perpendicular to the tubing to have a nice, straight cut.

3

Hold the replacement exhaust tubing against the area where the catalytic converter was and mark the tubing with a permanent marker so you can cut it to length. Use the reciprocating saw to cut the replacement tubing to the mark.

4

Hold the exhaust tubing between the two cut sections of the stock exhaust and use the MIG welder to tack-weld the tubing in place. A tack weld is a small, quick weld that secures two pieces together but can be easily removed. Make sure the tubing is aligned correctly and there are minimal gaps in the joints between the tubing before proceeding.

5

Put the welding gloves and welding helmet on, then fully weld the exhaust tubing together, using the MIG welder. Make sure there are no gaps in the exhaust; otherwise, youll have an exhaust leak.

6

Lower the truck off of the jack stands with the jack.

EGR stands for "exhaust gas recirculation." An EGR pipe is a device used to return some of the exhaust from an engine back into the induction system (Reference 1: Overview).

EGR Pipe Benefits

EGR pipes have two major benefits. First, they increase fuel efficiency, which increases convenience and saves drivers money. Secondly, they produce reduced CO2 emissions compared to engines that lack an EGR valve. This may have a positive influence in retarding climate change.

EGR Pipes for 307 Engines

EGR pipes for 307 engines are a kind of diaphragm valve. These valves operate according a pneumatic or air pressure-powered system.

Matching Engines and Cost

As of February 2011, many makes of car use the 307 engine, and thus can use the EGR pipe made for such engines. These include GM, Chrysler, Ford and Peugeot. The valve is available for approximately 100 Euros or $138.

Full exhaust systems are made of multiple components including the exhaust manifold, front pipe, catalytic converter, muffler and tailpipe. Exhaust gases travel through piping of varying size before released into the air. Exhaust pipe specifications determine flow, gas velocity and backpressure.

Exhaust Flow

Piping diameter directly relates to exhaust flow. If exhaust gasses are constricted by overly small piping, the engine will work harder to expel exhaust, which causes top-end power loss and poor gas mileage. Large piping allows ample flow, but can reduce pressure within the system, which slows exhaust velocity.

Exhaust Velocity

Power and fuel efficiency will also be lost if a lack of exhaust velocity is caused by overly large piping. Low velocity causes torque loss, which is why "Super Chevy Magazine" said piping specs a bit small are better than excessively large piping. Balance between flow and velocity must be met through piping specifications.

Piping Obstructions

Backpressure is caused when exhaust gasses return to the engines cylinder heads. A manageable amount of backpressure is OK, but too much backpressure causes engine power loss, overheating and a decrease in fuel efficiency. Obstructions or collapsed materials within exhaust piping create excessive backpressure.