How does a malfunctioning exhaust system affect fuel efficiency?

A couple of months ago, I noticed my car started to sound louder than usual, especially when accelerating. It wasn’t like a crazy noise, just this low rumble that got worse over time. Then I realized my gas mileage had dropped a lot — I was filling up the tank way more often. I took a look underneath and saw a small rusted spot on the exhaust pipe. I didn’t think something that small could actually mess with fuel efficiency, but now I’m not so sure. Could a bad exhaust really cause that much of a difference in how much fuel your car uses?

Yeah, that definitely sounds like it could be the exhaust system. I had the same issue with my old Honda — there was a small crack in the exhaust manifold, and it caused a lot of Engine noise plus a noticeable drop in fuel economy. What happens is that the car’s sensors get wrong readings from the leak, which makes the engine run less efficiently. I found a great explanation on a local site offering car repair and service in Bristol PA. They explain how a damaged exhaust can throw off the air-fuel balance, which ends up wasting gas and sometimes even harming the catalytic converter. After I fixed mine, the mileage improved a lot and the ride got much quieter too.

It’s kind of wild how something as small as a crack or leak can affect performance that much. Cars are way more sensitive than most people realize. Regular inspections really seem worth it if they can prevent issues like that — especially since small fixes cost way less than replacing a whole exhaust later.

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