Your exhaust system is made up of many different parts: the piping, the manifold, the catalytic converter, and the muffler. When one or more of these parts breaks down, it can pose as a serious problem. Sometimes the exhaust pipe on your car will crack or malfunction because substances such as salt wear down the metal of the pipe and cause breakage, which could cause dangerous gas leaks and a lot of noise. If your exhaust pipe does indeed crack, you can patch it up as a temporary solution. However, you should replace it as soon as you can. Read on to learn how to fix cracks in exhaust pipes.
The first step you need to take when repairing the cracks in an exhaust pipe is to clean the area around the crack. This ensures that you will get a good solid seal around the affected area. You should turn your car on until the temperature is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, the metal should be warm to the touch.
You will need some special tape to patch up the crack. Remove the paper or plastic backing from both sides of the tape. Wrap up the broken area until it is completely covered. You should try to overlap it until the coverage is about an inch thick. You and secure the tape even further by wrapping a wire around it.
If you do not want to use tape and would prefer putty you should dampen the area around where you want to apply it. Administer the putty with a knife and press hard. You can put your car in idle for about 10 minutes to allow the putty to dry. This should hold you over until you can replace the pipe.
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