In detail: DIY repair of the resonator without welding from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
The muffler is an element of the exhaust system. The specified part, due to its location and functions performed during engine operation and driving, constantly experiences the negative effects of the environment and fuel combustion products. As a result, various muffler breakdowns are quite common. However, in most cases, you can repair the muffler yourself.
To understand the cause of a malfunction of a particular unit, it is necessary to clearly understand how it works and how it works. So, in general terms, almost everyone who has looked at the bottom of any car at least once has seen or familiar with the muffler is a kind of "reservoir" in front of the exhaust pipe. Technically speaking, a muffler is a part of the exhaust system of a car through which exhaust gases and combustion products of the fuel-air mixture pass, and sound vibrations that occur during the combustion of a fuel charge in the cylinders are damped. To put it simply, the main task of a muffler is to let the exhaust pass through itself and reduce the noise of a running engine.
The fact is that the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine are removed under high pressure and also have a high temperature. At the same time, air vibrations are created, which the human ear perceives as roars, pops and explosions. Thanks to the muffler, air vibrations are damped, the temperature and speed of the gases are reduced and the noise level is significantly lower. This is achieved by repeatedly changing the direction of the exhaust gas flow, narrowing and expanding it, interference and absorption of sound waves. As a result, most of the energy of sound waves is converted into heat. A car, depending on its make and model, can have up to five mufflers at the same time. In the simplest version, there are two of them: a preliminary, also known as a resonator (of a smaller size, installed immediately after the exhaust manifold) and the main or rear one - the one that is most often seen by ordinary people.
Video (click to play).
The main muffler is not just a box through which the exhaust pipe goes. It has a rather complex internal structure: chambers of different volumes (from two to four, and sometimes more), sound-absorbing material (for example, fiberglass), metal nets (to hold this material), and in many modern cars there is a catalyst for reduction of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Some models are factory fitted with straight-through mufflers. They do not have chambers that create a labyrinth for changing the direction of the flow of gases and therefore reduce the noise level significantly less. Usually installed on sports cars in order to achieve an increase in power. Often, forward flow can be observed on inexpensive civilian vehicles. The fact is that drivers install an element for tuning the motor. Note that in this case, apart from the "sporty" roar of the engine, it is practically impossible to achieve any significant effect.
In order to understand that the muffler is faulty, you will not have to undergo a technical inspection. The most important and noticeable sign of a breakdown is the powerful roar of the car when the engine is running. In addition, in the most neglected case, the driver learns about the malfunction after a loud bang, similar to an explosion. This is the case when the muffler breaks in the literal sense of the word. The reason should be looked for under the hood, in the ignition system.When it works intermittently, the unburned fuel-air mixture enters the muffler chambers and accumulates there, and then explodes. This can also happen when starting the engine or on the road. In this case, repairing the muffler with your own hands without welding is unlikely to work, but if you have one, you can reassemble everything and use the device for a long time.
In the more common case, a part of the exhaust system simply burns out in some places. That is, holes appear in the case. The reason for this is corrosion, both external and internal. Outside, the body is affected by various abrasives (dust, sand), water, frost. And from the inside - the exhaust gases, which, as already mentioned, have a high temperature, as well as high-frequency vibration. And, unfortunately, on modern cars, especially budget cars, the muffler is not made of the best materials. Of course, beginners may immediately have a question about why anti-corrosion protection is not used on the muffler. The answer is simple: high exhaust gas temperature.
So, after a fistula (hole) has appeared in the body and its location has been established, the best way to eliminate this problem is to apply a patch. It can be a piece of sheet metal welded in the usual way, or it can be a plate made of a special material. We are talking about a tape made of fiberglass, impregnated with epoxy resin or other adhesives that can withstand heating up to 1000 degrees. In addition, holes can be repaired with special sealants. All of these are sold in any specialty store.
Another affordable way to troubleshoot on your own, which even beginners can safely resort to, is to repair the muffler with cold welding. Cold welding is a special adhesive. It can be two-piece or one-piece. The two-part is liquid and similar to plasticine (the one-part has the same consistency). For the car, "cold welding" is produced with a special marking. The bottom line is that this substance is capable of combining almost any material. Breaking force - 120 kilograms per square centimeter. The main disadvantage is that after gluing it is necessary to wait about a day until the composition is completely solidified. And, in addition, this method is inconvenient at temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius, since the plastic-like composition becomes solid and requires additional heating.
Finally, we add that no matter what method of fixing the problem motorists would not resort to, it is necessary to thoroughly inspect the entire part.
However, the owners of old models can turn to the so-called "auto dismantling", where they often bring in old, removed from the register cars for sale for spare parts. Here you can find a completely functional muffler, which usually can be bought at a reasonable price and then installed on the car instead of the failed element.
