Exhaust Systems.

Mufflers rust from the inside out. Rust is caused by moisture in the exhaust. Moisture condenses in the muffler when the engine is shut off and the muffler starts to cool.

The longevity of muffler and pipes also depends on what kind of steel the components are made of, how pipes are routed under the car and where the muffler is located and whether or not the vehicle has a catalytic converter.

Original equipment pipes made of aluminumized steel generally last five to seven years, except in areas with a lot of road salt and moisture. In these areas, pipes may need replacing after three to five years. So if your coming down to Florida from up North this may be part of your problem.

Original equipment pipes made of stainless steel which are used from the converter forward on most cars and for the entire exhaust system on some)can last up to 10 years or more.

Most aftermarket pipes, by comparison, are made of ordinary steel which is good for about three to five years of service. Aluminumized and stainless pipes are better, but cost more.

With mufflers, stainless holds up the best, followed by doublesided galvanized steel. Single-sided galvanized and aluminumized hold up fairly well, while plain steel offers little or no corrosion resistance.

The best advice is to see a Modern Auto Air technician and allow us to check your system.

Or fill out our Trouble Shooter Page, and a Manager will contact you whenever you like give you a free estimate and schedule an appointment if you like.