The Exhaust system is constantly in use whilst driving, making it one of the hardest working components on a vehicle, parts of it, at times, will reach temperatures of over 1000 degrees centigrade. It has to perform a multitude of tasks, silencing noise, preventing gas leakage into the passenger compartment and contributing to maximum engine power with minimum fuel consumption.
Corrosion of exhausts works from the outside in and from the inside out. External corrosion is worsened by weather conditions particularly when salt is spread on the roads in winter. Internally, acids produced during the combustion process normally pass through the exhaust system as gas, but on short journeys exhaust system temperatures are lower allowing the gas to condense on the inside walls, forming a very acidic liquid which attacks the insides of the exhaust system.
Catalytic Converters are now fitted on all cars to remove harmful pollutants from the exhaust gasses. It is a very important part of the engine performance system and is controlled by the engine management
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