A typical exhaust system consists of several units connected by metal tubes. These units are the exhaust manifold, the catalytic converter, the muffler, and tailpipes.
Exhaust manifold. Also known as the exhaust header, this is where the entire system begins. The manifold connects to the vehicle’s engine to catch the gases created by burning gasoline in the cylinders. The manifold consists of a series of pipes that seal to the engine’s exhaust ports with flanges.
Catalytic converter. The engine’s waste gases travel down a series of pipes to the catalytic converter from the manifold. The gases contain poisonous substances such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons. The catalytic converter holds metals such as palladium, rhodium, and platinum. When the gases flow past these metals, a chemical reaction removes up to 90 percent of the toxins.
Muffler. The cleaned gases then move through a pipe to the muffler, an oval or cylinder-shaped chamber designed to reduce the noise from your car’s engine. Inside the muffler is a series of tubes designed to reflect soundwaves as they pass through. Mufflers can sometimes produce backpressure because the flow rate of gases entering the muffler decreases through the unit. Backpressure can impact your vehicle’s performance.
Tailpipes. After the gases have been cleaned and the noise reduced, the remaining air flows through the tailpipe to the vehicle’s rear, where it’s discharged into the atmosphere.