Your car’s exhaust system is an important part of your vehicle.  Its main function is to collect all of the fumes produced from burning fuel in your engine and carry them away to lead them out behind your car.  Along the way the fumes pass through a catalytic converter that converts some of the gasses and pollutants in the exhaust into less harmful ones through chemical reaction.  Probably the most noticeable function is to quiet the sounds being produced by your engine with mufflers and resonators.  Over time, all exhaust systems will rust and eventually start to leak.  Made from thin steel, exhaust pipes are heated up for long periods then cooled when the car isn’t running only to be heated back up next time you drive.  In addition to the constant heating and cooling, hot air escaping from your engine contains a lot of moisture which promotes rust.  After going through all of that every day, the exhaust still doesn’t have much shelter from the elements where it sits exposed on the underside of your car just inches from the ground.  Not only does it sound terrible, but a leaking exhaust increases pollution and is potentially harmful to your health if the toxic fumes leak into the passenger compartment.  Leaking exhaust systems can cause your oxygen sensors to get a bad reading causing a check engine light which could make you fail an emission/smog test, and decrease your gas mileage (not to mention that in most areas having a defective exhaust is a fineable offense). 

        If you start to hear a louder, raspy tone coming from your exhaust or if you start to smell exhaust fumes it is most likely time to replace at least part of the system.  FCP Groton has a large selection of exhaust parts and complete kits for a wide variety of vehicles to ensure that your exhaust system performs as intended.