Wrong muffler failed?

D

Dave Sherman

Joined
Jan 3, 2006
Messages
2,175
Location
Ohio
Wife's car had the muffler replaced two years ago. Seam had split, and it was audible. Last week she wanted me to drive it because it "sounded loud". Indeed, it would have made some kid with a riced out Civic jealous. Muffler had rusted badly in two years, and had a good sized hole where the seams failed. Shop had me bring it over to evaluate it, and they'll replace it, our cost is only labor. I'm almost certain I heard the guy behind the counter telling the tech that it's the wrong muffler, hence the failure.

So, stupid question. How does the "wrong" muffler fail? I didn't see anything wrong with the installation, I just chalked it up to defective muffler that wasn't well made.
 
I don't get it, either. Sounds like the muffler must have been junk to begin with if it just came apart in two years. If it was so grossly undersized that it burst under excessive back pressure, it would have run terribly as well.
 
Are we talking about the Pilot...?

Other than possibly having a weep hole in the wrong place or not having one when it should or having had a mild steel or aluminized muffler installed where stainless is called for i don't know how the "wrong" muffler causes it to fail.

Any more details (muffler part numbers - application)?
 
Yeah, I'm thinking you had the regular cheap 1 year muffler installed instead of the lifetime one. The one year warranty is probably regular steel and half the price of a stainless steel muffler. So they put in the cheap muffler instead of the expensive one and charged you for the expensive one.
 
In the old days when I drove my father's Dart, the muffler would typically only last 2 years before rust holes formed. He had it replaced once at Sears and got the lifetime warranty. I must have gotten a free muffler off Sears half a dozen times. I hope I can get that thing back on the road one of these days before Sears is gone, just to get another free muffler. And yes, I have the receipt.
 
Thanks all, it was for a 2013 Equinox. I figured if it was because of excessive backpressure it would have run poorly. Must have been the non-stainless muffler, since I'm pretty sure the old one was stainless. Oh well, they'll fix it tomorrow and we won't be getting dirty looks from everyone she drives by. Hopefully this one lasts longer, it was supposed to have a lifetime warranty.
 
atikovi said:
In the old days when I drove my father's Dart, the muffler would typically only last 2 years before rust holes formed. He had it replaced once at Sears and got the lifetime warranty. I must have gotten a free muffler off Sears half a dozen times. I hope I can get that thing back on the road one of these days before Sears is gone, just to get another free muffler. And yes, I have the receipt.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I used to have mufflers replaced every two years also before stainless steel became the norm and every other corner had a muffler shop. Now all those muffler shops are gone.

You better hurry with Sears though, they're just down to 21 stores and they'll probably be gone next year. I think there's just one store left in Maryland.

https://brostocks.com/2021/11/20/how-many-sears-stores-are-left/
 
Not sure who your original shop was, but somebody would be catching HADES for that if it was me! Charged for a lifetime muffler, but put on a 1 year?? Not sure I would allow that shop to touch anything of mine ever again!
 
Mufflers that aren't stainless will fail in 2-3 years.

Stainless mufflers should last longer.

Magnaflow makes an exhaust for your 2013 Equinox :)

Dave Sherman said:
Thanks all, it was for a 2013 Equinox. I figured if it was because of excessive backpressure it would have run poorly. Must have been the non-stainless muffler, since I'm pretty sure the old one was stainless. Oh well, they'll fix it tomorrow and we won't be getting dirty looks from everyone she drives by. Hopefully this one lasts longer, it was supposed to have a lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

Wow a 2013 should be able to still have its original exhaust intact, since they probably used stainless from the factory! Stainless exhausts became popular as OE in the mid 2000s.
 
Mufflers are typically sized and designed by the OEM specifically for the engine. The velocity and flow can have a lot to do with how long a muffler will last. Low flow slow scavenge mufflers where gases and condensation that stay in the muffler longer will lead to corrosion starting earlier, and accelerating from there. Toyota had premature muffler / exhaust system failures in the mid 2000s with the RAV4. Some dealers at the time suspected they were using a muffler from a larger engine vehicle that purportedly caused the mufflers to corrode prematurely because the velocity back pressure was too low for the engine and pipe length. Toyota issued a recall in states where there was a higher concentration of road salt exposure since that also contributed to the problem, but truth be told it was a problem in other locations too.
 
I bought a stainless steel muffler for my LeSabre when it fell off and dragged the rest home,lol. Well, it has been two years and it is all rotted out and time for a new one. Not sure what it will take for Advance to give me a new one under warranty, but it is lifetime and I intend to use it. Funny thing is that it is the stainless part that has a rust hole in it, not the aluminized ends. Either way, I am not taking no for an answer.

I wish my muffler was never replaced because if it was still the factory setup it would still be good. No idea why it was replaced in the first place aside from the previous owner being elderly. Probably sold it to her just to make a buck. My Bonneville still has the factory setup, while it doesn't look great at almost 200k, there are no holes and it will probably outlast the car. Might have to look and see if I can find one at a junk yard.
 
Guys, another thing that I forgot to mention.....my apologies. You are probably aware that catalytic converters produce a lot of condensation and some sulphuric acid. The acid also contributes to stainless steel degradation. Another tip.....if you have a 90% plus gas furnace in your home, please make sure the condensate drain lines are clear and free running or you will prematurely corrode the furnace heat exchanger just like your catalytic converter may be doing to your muffler.
 
Cheap mufflers and a harsh environment = no good.

21 years and 245k miles and my Camry's muffler is like new. Same with the 25 years and 154k miles for my Jeep.
 
Too bad coffee cans are now plastic and not the heavy metal they used to be. Many a muffler with holes were fixed with coffee cans and wire.

I haven’t had a muffler exhaust problem in years. Decades even.
 
I guess this thread is almost done..... with that let me post a piece of history and humor. This Midas commercial aired in 1975. Notice what the Midas guy says towards the end of the commercial about cars qualify for the lifetime muffler guarantee.

 
I remember that commercial. At that time I had a 1929 Ford deluxe Town Sedan with 46K original Texas miles. Original upholstery was still perfect.
 
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