Muffler: Victim of Winter (Muffler Repair)
May 5, 2024
So you almost got through the winter until, one day, your muffler started sounding like a dragster, loud and obnoxious. It's not surprising. All that road salt and brine can cause rust to punch holes in a muffler, and that should raise a big, red warning flag about the safety of your vehicle.
One big concern is carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that can drift into your cabin if your muffler is leaking. You've probably heard about people whose home furnaces have leaked carbon monoxide and overcome families inside. Carbon monoxide can first cause you to feel dizzy and nauseous. It can even render you unconscious—even kill you. So if your vehicle's muffler is leaking that gas, well, it's nothing to mess around with.
Oh, and how about that noise? You may get a ticket since many municipalities have laws against noisy exhausts.
Your muffler may be making a clunking or rattling sound when the engine's running or it may be spewing thick exhaust smoke. All of these symptoms are telling you to get to your vehicle service facility soon. A technician may find it's the muffler or another part of your exhaust system that is coming apart or is busted.
Sometimes the repair can be as simple as replacing a section of pipe or clamps, but sometimes you'll need to replace more components. Your service advisor can recommend several different options to try to help you meet your performance and budgetary needs.
You'll drive out with a vehicle that doesn't sound like a teenager trying to hotrod the family car, is a whole lot safer and sounds a lot less obnoxious in the process.
Charlie's Fast Lube Dexter
414 N 1 Mile Rd.
Dexter, Missouri 63841
573-614-7886
https://charliesfastlubedexter.com
Need Service?
More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Dexter

Wired! (Battery Cable Service)
January 25, 2026
Colder weather brings out the worst in a vehicle's battery. On a very cold day, you may have experienced that your engine cranks slowly when starting. But while it may be the battery itself, it may also be the parts that transfer the power to other the other electrical components, the battery c... More

Cool Running (Water Pump)
January 18, 2026
Your vehicle is like you in a way. When it gets hot, it needs to be cooled down. And one of the key parts to keeping it cool is the water pump. Now, that's a bit of a misnomer. It IS a pump, but it's pumping coolant, not pure water. Cooling off your engine is vital since it builds up heat whe... More

I Had No Idea! (Four Things You Didn't Know About Vehicles)
January 11, 2026
Bet you didn't know: Some of the earliest rearview mirrors were marketed as "Cop Spotters" so drivers would know when police were following them. Who wants a ticket, anyway? According to eBay Motors, Elmer Berger first patented a rearview mirror that was mounted on the front fenders, on the spare... More
