You might think that the function of exhaust is just to expel the residual gases, which is correct, but the process is not that simple. Many components have specific roles and are essential for this process. If you are a car enthusiast learning about the whole process can be very helpful for you if you want to up your car game.
Let’s see what components are there in the exhaust and their roles.
What’s the Function of An Exhaust System?
Let’s discuss the function of the exhaust system in the car for better understanding. The car needs to burn fuel and oxygen to generate power. Many toxic gases are produced during this process, which occupies the space in the combustion chamber.
We know that the more oxygen available for the combustion more power will be generated for the car. The exhaust system removes these gases and creates space for oxygen.
The gases generated during the combustion process are very harmful to the environment, so before removing them, the exhaust system has to filter them. Moreover, a lot of noise is generated during the combustion process. The exhaust system reduces this noise to the extreme, so you or other people are not irritated.
Exhaust Manifold
The first component of the exhaust system that’s connected to the engine is the exhaust manifold. The residual gases move to the exhaust manifold through cylinders and combine with other gases to become one. Typically there are four cylinders, but they can differ in many vehicles. The exhaust manifold collects the gasses from the engine and integrates them to form one.
Oxygen (O2) Sensor
We already know that for combustion to happen, a mixture of oxygen and fuel has to burn in the combustion chamber. There should be a balance in fuel and oxygen for maximum performance. But how the engine does know how much fuel should be injected into the combustion chamber.
This is where the O2 sensor comes to the rescue. It is placed right next to the exhaust manifold to check the percentage of the remaining O2 in the gases. The sensor sends the data to the car’s computer, adjusting the fuel output according to the data.
Catalytic Converter (CAT)
CAT is the component that converts toxic gases like carbon monoxides, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen before expelling them into the environment. CAT is an essential part of the exhaust system; otherwise, our atmosphere would be full of harmful gases.
Muffler
A muffler, in a sense, is a silencer that reduces the noise generated during the combustion process. During the combustion, some small explosion occurs, which creates sound waves, and these sound waves are silenced with the help of a muffler. You can see the importance of this component because most car owners want their cars to be very quiet.
Exhaust Pipe
The exhaust pipe is a metal pipe that covers all the exhaust system components and connects them. The gas passes through all parts via the pipe.
Exhaust Tip
The exhaust tip is the place from where the gases exit. The exhaust tip has no particular function, but aftermarket options are available if you want to upgrade.