A vehicle works consistently throughout the entire year, but the hot summers can do a number, and so can the cold winters. The cold seems to find its way into every component of the car, including the exhaust system, and you need to be careful when this happens. Read on to learn about five tips for maintaining your exhaust system in the winter.
Most vehicles have their exhaust system on the bottom, as it’s good for diverting harmful fumes away from the cabin interior. However, this means that if you hit any bumps, you can potentially damage the exhaust system. This risk becomes even higher in the winter when the road has more of the following hazards:
The first step to protecting your exhaust system is to be on the lookout for these hazards when driving and avoid them to the best of your ability.
With the winter, your car is going to be cold all over. That means it’ll be cold in the interior and the exhaust system, and those components are therefore going to perform worse. Spending a little extra time warming up your car before taking it out on the road is important. You should run your vehicle for a few minutes to burn off any collected water vapor and ensure that your exhaust system is functional.
Keeping water out of the exhaust system is crucial, but there’s not always that much that you can do to avoid it. As mentioned, you can run your vehicle for a few minutes before driving to burn collected water vapor, but it doesn’t prevent more water from entering. In the winter, a lot of water can accumulate on the road and potentially corrode exposed parts of your exhaust system. You can’t directly prevent this, but you can keep an eye on your system and look for leaks. If your car is acting up but you can’t spot any leaks, it might be a good idea to get a professional to examine your exhaust.
It’s smart to avoid accelerating suddenly at all times of the year, but it’s even more important during the winter season. Sudden accelerations lead to premature aging of your exhaust system, and it’s even more dangerous in the winter when things work a little slower. Everything takes longer to move, so sudden accelerations can do a number on your vehicle’s catalytic converter and engine.
In addition to taking active measures to protect your exhaust system, you must know what to look for. In addition to leaks, look for decreased fuel economy or even increased engine noises. These are standard signs that something may be wrong with your muffler or the other exhaust system parts.
Maintaining your exhaust system in the winter is important, and here at Norcal Diesel Performance, we can help you do just that! We supply diesel exhaust systems for Fords and other vehicle exhaust parts, so if you encounter any exhaust issues, you can fix them in no time! Don’t hesitate to come to us if you experience any exhaust issues this winter!
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