Exhaust System

The tubing used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine is called an exhaust system. The system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes. The exhaust gas may flow through one or more of the following, depending on the overall system design:
• Cylinder head and exhaust manifold
• A turbocharger to increase engine power
• A catalytic converter to reduce air pollution
• A muffler (North America)/silencer (Europe), to reduce noise
An exhaust is a series of pipes that links the engine to a silencer and a catalytic converter. Exhausts have four main functions:
• To control noise
• To direct exhaust fumes away from passengers
• To improve the performance of the engine
• To improve fuel consumption
The tailpipe is visible at the back of the car. The silencer joins into the tailpipe, then a couple more pipes join both to the catalytic converter and then to the engine. The silencer contains metal plates or tubes that have a series of holes bored into them. Exhaust gases leave the engine at very high pressures, and the holes in the silencer help to reduce that pressure so that they leave the car more quietly.
Exhausts can corrode from both the inside and outside. The lifetime of the exhaust depends on the distance and frequency of driving. Short trips tend to corrode exhausts faster than long journeys.
To better understand how exhaust systems work, here are descriptions of the various parts of the system:
• Manifold – also called header, is an assembly designed to collect the exhaust gas from two or more cylinders into one pipe. It is often made of cast iron in stock production cars.
• Header-back – or header-back, is the part of the exhaust system from the outlet of the header to the final vent to open air – everything from the header back.
• Turbo-back – or turbo-back is the part of the exhaust system from the outlet of a turbocharger to the final vent to open air.
• With or without catalytic converter – some systems eliminate the catalytic converter. This is illegal in some places if the vehicle is driven on public roads.
• Tailpipe and exhaust – is the end of the final length of an exhaust pipe where it vents to open air and is the only visible part of the exhaust system. It may end either straight or angled out, but it may also include a fancy tip which can sometimes be chromed.
• Lake pipes – are a type of aftermarket performance exhaust added by performance enthusiasts, although some cars were fitted with them from the factory.
Proper maintenance of the exhaust system must be observed to lessen degradation and corrosion which can lead to better vehicle performance.

Trading in That Used Car? Now is a Good Time!

The three year old car in your garage may not seem thrilling anymore, but some car dealers would think otherwise.

Car owners with well-maintained cars have an opportunity to take advantage of what industry analysts say is a record peak for used-car prices. The resale and trade-in values of used cars and late-model vehicles have been continuously rising due to demand exceeding supply, especially for fuel-efficient models.

Among the reasons for the increase in used-car values is the shortage of popular Japanese models. This is mainly due to production slowdowns following the earthquake last March. The sales collapse during the 2008 and 2009 financial crisis resulted to fewer two and three year old car models.

Last week, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) raised values again on many small- and medium-size cars. The resale value of a one-year old Honda Civic was at $ 14, 275 last May. This month, the same car model’s value is at $ 15, 950.

Kelley Blue Book, the largest automotive vehicle valuation company in the US, said that a three-year old Toyota Prius now has a resale value of $ 17,750, which is $ 6,050 higher than the value of a three-year old Toyota Prius a year ago.

However, the market for large sport utility vehicles do not share the same fate. The resale value of car models like Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe are down by 1% from a year ago, according to NADA.

Mid-size luxury cars like the Mercedes E-Class and the BMW 5-series are worth about 6% more than a year ago.

Japanese car makers are making an effort to ramp up production which means that brand new cars will probably be out pretty soon. And there’s an even bigger chance that these models will be distributed at discount deals to help the manufacturers get back the market share they lost. Analysts predict that when cheaper new cars make an appearance in the market, the prices of used-cars will moderate as well.

Fuel Efficient Cars of 2011

With 806 million cars around the world, the automotive industry is considered to be one of the world’s most important economic sector. The record-high fuel prices weakened the industry, and with few fuel-efficient models to offer, sales began to slide. This prompted automakers to address the fuel economy of their models. With the continuing rise of fuel prices, consumers are now more meticulous with their choices.

For those contemplating on buying a new car, here’s a list of the most fuel-efficient cars of 2011!

Volkswagen Golf TDI (Diesel)
Highway MPG: 42
City MPG: 30

A small family car, the new Volkswagen Golf has the optional Adaptive Chassis Control which allows the driver to switch between “normal”, “comfort” and “sports” modes. These modes affect the suspension, steering and accelerator behavior accordingly.

Honda Civic Hybrid
Highway MPG: 43
City MPG: 40

The Honda Civic Hybrid, the second best selling electric hybrid car in the US, provides an increase of 63% in fuel economy for city driving and 27% in highway driving when compared to a Civic 2006.

Honda Insight Hybrid
Highway MPG: 43
City MPG: 40

This compact hybrid electric vehicle was designed to move through air with minimal resistance, making it fuel efficient. For city driving, the average consumption is at 40 mpg while it goes at 43 mpg for highway driving. The aim of its development was to make hybrid technology more affordable to a wide range of consumers.

Toyota Prius Hybrid
Highway MPG: 48
City MPG: 51

Formerly a compact sedan, the new Toyota Prius Hybrid is now a hybrid electric mid-sized hatchback. CARB dubbed it as the cleanest vehicle sold in the US. Using the US EPA cycle, the estimated fuel-efficiency rating of the Toyota Prius is at 50 mpg making it one of the most efficient car powered by liquid fuel.

Nissan Leaf Electric
Highway MPG: 99
City MPG: 99

This five door mid-size hatchback electric car was given a combined gasoline equivalent rating of 99 mpg. As an all-electric car, the Nissan Leaf’s dependence on petroleum is reduced.

With the ever-changing prices of petroleum products, fuel efficiency is a must to consider when buying automobiles. The more miles a car gets per gallon of gasoline, the more money the owner can save. Plus, you’re doing the environment a huge favor!

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