Your exhaust system – and mufflers in particular – is sophisticated, although you might not appreciate how much so at a quick glance below your car. Technically, your muffler has baffled passages that the exhaust gases move through to muffle engine noise. But if you were to cut away your muffler, you’d find some tubes with holes in them. Sounds simple, but inside your muffler, these elements work together to have the sound waves hit one another to reduce the noise. Your muffler is actually a finely tuned instrument.

Your car exhaust system is pretty complex. Excess noise could be from cracks or holes in manifolds or gaskets. Or on your muffler itself, excessive rust on a muffler, on holes in a muffler can cause a louder ride. Bad mufflers may also lead to increased pollution and even a rough idle. Decreased gas mileage and performance may also be a result of a poorly functioning exhaust system.