Driving without an exhaust pipe might be something you’re doing intentionally or unintentionally. Perhaps your current set-up cracked when you hit a massive pothole, or maybe you removed it entirely to get a louder engine sound. Either way, you want to make sure this is safe.
It’s not safe to drive without an exhaust pipe. Instead of harmful engine gasses being released behind your car, they’ll be exiting at the bottom of your vehicle. This can cause dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide to leak into your cabin. Long-term carbon monoxide exposure can cause death.
The exhaust system of the car is so simple, yet also so complicated. So, let’s go over everything you need to know about what the exhaust pipe does and how this can be dangerous to you as a driver.
What the Exhaust System Does
The exhaust system is one of the most important systems found in a vehicle. Here’s a simple explanation of what this system does and why it’s so important.
- The first function of the exhaust system is to collect harmful gasses that build up in the engine. The piping will carry these harmful gasses away from the engine and will remove carbon monoxide in the process. The removal of gasses allows fresh air to enter the engine.
- As the gasses are carried away from the engine, they travel through a series of exhaust pipes that extend toward the back of the vehicle. The gasses eventually travel through the muffler, which reduces the sound produced by the gasses.
- The final step involves having the exhaust exit through the tailpipe, which is the pipe that sticks out at the back of your car.
That means an exhaust system:
- Allows your car to run quietly
- Prevents carbon monoxide from building in the engine or being released beneath the car
- Keeps a stream of fresh oxygen running into the engine
- Promotes a greater fuel economy
Without exhaust pipes within the exhaust system, the entire system wouldn’t exist.
Here’s a video reviewing exactly how this system works while highlighting the importance of each and every part of the exhaust system.
How Exhaust Pipes Become Damaged
If you’re driving without an exhaust pipe, it’s probably because your current exhaust pipe has been damaged in some way. Even though exhaust pipes are made of heavy-duty steel, they still become cracked or damaged with normal use.
Some may only last for five years.
Most damage caused to exhaust pipes will come from bad road conditions. Hitting a large pothole and causing your car to bottom out might directly damage the exhaust system on your car’s underbelly. Driving along roads with large rocks might also do the same.
Normal use might also cause cracking and wear and tear, but this isn’t as common.
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Signs of a Broken Exhaust
The problem with a broken exhaust pipe is that you might not know it’s broken. That’s because an exhaust pipe sits underneath your car and isn’t visible to you unless you put your car up on a lift at the shop.
Yet, there are a few tell-tale signs that your car’s exhaust pipe might be broken or damaged. Here’s a look at some key signs to look out for:
- A louder-than-normal engine sound
- Inability to accelerate efficiently
- Lack of fuel efficiency (decreased miles per gallon)
- A lingering smell of gasoline
- An exhaust pipe physically dragging on the ground
- Unusual sounds
The louder-than-normal engine sound might just be what you’re looking for if you drive a sports car or a muscle car. You also might think about getting rid of the entire system if it ends up breaking. Regardless of the reason, you shouldn’t ever drive without an exhaust pipe.
Dangers of Driving Without an Exhaust Pipe
Unfortunately, driving without an exhaust pipe poses dangers to you, others around you on the road, and your car. Driving without an exhaust pipe for too long is so dangerous that it might even turn deadly.
Here’s what you need to know about why it’s unsafe to drive without an exhaust pipe.
Carbon Monoxide & Carbon Dioxide Poisoning
The whole purpose of the exhaust system in your vehicle is to get rid of the harmful gasses that build up in your engine. The system purposely releases these gasses behind, above, or to the side of your car for one important reason: So it doesn’t leak into your car.
A faulty or broken exhaust pipe might cause your vehicle to release these harmful gasses beneath your car instead. As you breathe them in, you’re slowly poisoning yourself.
This can cause carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide poisoning.
Both of these gasses are odorless, tasteless, and invisible, so you won’t even notice that you’re breathing either in. Prolonged exposure might cause:
- Dizziness & vertigo
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Trouble thinking
- Seizures
- Brain damage
- Death
This is the exact reason that you’re supposed to open your garage door when you’re warming your car up in the winter months.
Fires & Engine Damage
One of the major dangers that come with exhaust gas is that it exits your engine at extremely high temperatures. A cracked, leaking, or non-existent exhaust pipe might expose nearby car parts to these high temperatures. This can cause your car to catch fire.
An improper exhaust pipe can also put the health of your engine at risk. Excessive heat and lack of back pressure can actually cause major pieces of your engine to become damaged, warped, or burned. This can eventually force an engine replacement in the not-too-distant future.
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Other Problems
As dangerous as it is to drive around with a broken exhaust pipe, it also can cause issues with how your car runs. The excess build-up of gas in your engine might cause your fuel economy to go out the window. In the process, your car is also releasing a greater amount of emissions and putting excess strain on your engine.
Then, there’s also the noise factor. A car with a faulty exhaust pipe will allow the gas to escape without traveling through the muffler first. This will cause your car’s engine to sound much louder, possibly loud enough to violate local noise ordinances.
Though these problems might not seem like a big deal right now, high emissions and a loud engine might cause your vehicle to fail inspection later on.
How Much to Fix Broken Exhaust Pipe
Now that you know you shouldn’t be driving around without an exhaust pipe (or even a broken one), you need to bring your car to the shop to get your exhaust pipe fixed.
Be prepared to spend a good amount of money on the replacement.
In most cases, you should expect to spend upwards of $500 to $800 to replace a broken exhaust pipe entirely. This includes the cost of parts as well as labor. Just keep in mind that pricing will vary depending on where you live as well as the make and model of your car.
In some cases, your exhaust pipe might only have a minor crack or scrape that doesn’t warrant a replacement. You might be able to have the crack welded shut by a mechanic for a mere $100 or less. This is a good short-term fix, but you might need to replace the pipe soon.
Conclusion
The exhaust pipe in your car is a minor piece of equipment that has a very important job. It keeps your car running quietly, your engine running smoothly, your emission levels low, and the air in your cabin clean. Without an exhaust pipe, you’re putting yourself at risk of breathing in deadly carbon monoxide as well as possible fires within your vehicle. So, be sure to replace or fix a broken exhaust pipe as soon as possible.
I hope this article has been helpful. Thanks for reading!
For more, check out Is It Safe To Drive Without An Oil Cap? | What To Know.
Jim James is a published author and expert on the outdoors and survivalism. Through avid research and hands-on experience, he has gained expertise on a wide variety of topics. His time spent at college taught him to become really good at figuring out answers to common problems. Often through extensive trial and error, Jim has continued to learn and increase his knowledge of a vast array of topics related to firearms, hunting, fishing, medical topics, cooking, games/gaming, and other subjects too numerous to name.
Jim has been teaching people a wide variety of survivalism topics for over five years and has a lifetime of experience fishing, camping, general survivalism, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up, he often spent more time on the water than on land! He has degrees in History, Anthropology, and Music from the University of Southern Mississippi. He extensively studied Southern History, nutrition, geopolitics, the Cold War, and nuclear policy strategies and safety as well as numerous other topics related to the content on survivalfreedom.com.