For U Solution

While the muffler on your Chevy S-10 pickup does cut down the noise coming out of your exhaust, it also helps provide the proper back pressure and flow of exhaust gases out of the engine. The muffler and exhaust are designed to work with the engine to scavenge gases and allow more air and fuel to be fed in. If the exhaust has too much back pressure, it will reduce the intake capacity, and the engine in your S-10 will not run properly.

Instructions

1

Raise the rear of the truck off the ground using a jack then position a set of jack stands under the frame to support the truck. Remove the jack and set it aside.

2

Locate the muffler at the rear of the truck. It connects to a flange at the rear of the catalytic converter and has several rubber hangers supporting it.

3

Locate the two retaining bolts that join the muffler to the back of the catalytic converter. Remove the bolts by turning them counterclockwise with a ratchet and socket then separate the two flanges. Let the front of the muffler hang down.

4

Move to the body of the muffler and locate the two rubber isolators that support the muffler from above it on the frame. Remove the rubber isolators from the hanger pins on the muffler and lower the muffler down then remove it from under the truck.

5

Position a new muffler under your S-10 and raise it up to the rubber isolators. Push the mounting pins on the muffler into the rubber isolators on the frame.

6

Raise the front of the muffler up and mate the flange on the muffler to the flange on the catalytic converter. Install the two mounting bolts in the flanges and tighten the flange mounting bolts to 30 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

7

Support the rear of the truck with a jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the truck to the ground and start the engine, listening for leaks in the exhaust.

The tailpipe of your vehicle extends off the muffler. It is not uncommon to see smoke coming from the tailpipe, which is the last component and exit of a vehicles exhaust system. Smoke is not always a cause for concern, but always note the color. Color and odor of the exhaust smoke are sometimes the first clues in diagnosing problems with the vehicles exhaust and cooling systems.

White Smoke

Every vehicle is likely to show a small amount of white smoke when first started, especially on cold mornings. As long as the smoke disappears as the engine warms up, there is no need to worry. Its the result of cold fuel and steam as the manifold heats up, and the white is actually the steam burning off.

Coolant Leaks

Theres a more serious problem if your vehicle continues to emit white smoke after it is fully warmed up. This indicates the presence of either water or coolant antifreeze in the combustion chamber. Since these substances are not supposed to be burned during internal combustion, they can cause serious problems with your engine -- often indicating a damaged head gasket -- that are costly to repair.

Checking for Leaks

The odor of the smoke can indicate if you have a coolant leak. If antifreeze is present in the combustion chamber, the white smoke will have a sweet smell. Also check your oil. Milky oil indicates the presence of coolant but can also mean nothing; heavy humidity can cause moisture to form in the crankcase, resulting in a similar symptom. Do not attempt to drive your car if the oil looks more like a milkshake than motor oil, as this is a sign of excessive water or coolant in the oil.

Moisture

Water coming from the tail pipe is usually nothing to be concerned about. It indicates condensation buildup, or is the byproduct of the steam when first starting the vehicle. Most exhaust systems dispel small amounts of water through the tail pipe. Water from the muffler itself is also a normal occurrence, and is likely coming from the weep hole. This water is a byproduct of the catalytic converter, which helps control the vehicles emissions.

Automotive mufflers come in several shapes and sizes. They vary from universal replacements to performance mufflers. Direct fit mufflers are those that best match your cars original muffler in size, shape and hanger placement.

Size

There are two elements to the size of a muffler. The first is the size of the pipe inlet and outlet. The more closely these match those of your original muffler, the easier it is to install. The second size factor is length. A direct fit muffler should be the same length as your OEM muffler.

Shape

A direct fit muffler should be the same shape as your original muffler. Whether your original is round or oval, it is designed to fit into a specific area on the underside of your vehicle.

Hanger Placement

A muffler is held in place by hangers. The direct fit muffler should have fasteners or brackets that fit the original hangers that come with your vehicle. This makes installation quick and easy, and eliminates the need for costly modifications or additional hangers.

You could drive your car without a muffler and it would still operate. However, the noise level would be damaging to your ears and create noise pollution for other car drivers on the road with you. Adding a muffler has several advantages: noise reduction, better engine efficiency and reduced engine heat.

Noise Reduction

Noise is considered a type of pollution and there are laws against it. Your automobile produces noise when the engine is cranked and running, but your muffler serves to reduce the noise of your cars motor. Some mufflers eliminate the noise altogether, others reduce the sound it makes considerably. Therefore, a major advantage of having a muffler is noise reduction, as well as the prevention of getting a ticket for having a noisy car. In addition, your hearing--and that of other drivers--is not damaged by the loud sounds that would be heard on the roadways if automobiles did not have some type of muffler.

Engine Efficiency

Your car uses less gas and experiences less mechanical problems when it runs efficiently. As it burns gas, your vehicle engine must get rid of exhaust gases. One way it does this is through the use of a muffler system. Typically the muffler system is made up of metal chambers and baffles, and your vehicle uses these to redirect or slow air flow from your engine. However, this muffler system process can cause pressure on your engine too. This is known as back pressure and reduces engine efficiency. Back pressure occurs when exhaust gases are redirected back to the engine, which then must use energy to force the gases out of the vehicle again.

But some mufflers, such as the glass fiber-filled muffler, can increase engine efficiency by eliminating this potential back pressure. These mufflers allow your engine to focus on moving your car forward instead of trying to remove exhaust gases at the same time.

Considerations

The muffler type favored in North America--built with metal chambers and baffles--offers you a longer-lasting product compared to the glass and wool fiber-filled mufflers typically used in Japan and Europe. However, fiber-filled mufflers, especially glass ones, reduce engine noise more and offer better engine heat reduction as well, according to research reported on the Ohio State University website.

Replacing a muffler can be a rewarding job that is quickly completed with a few tools---or it can be the task from Hades. A simple look at the muffler will help you determine which way the job will likely go and help make the decision about doing it yourself easier. If its held on with bolted flanges, it should go well. Replacing a muffler held on with U clamps might require special tools and be a job better left to experts.

Taking Off a Flanged Muffler

A muffler held to the pipe with bolted flanges will have one of two bolt arrangements securing the flanges together. Look closely at the flange. What looks like a bolt may actually be a stud and will require much more care to remove. Examine both ends of the bolt to see if it or the nut is welded to one flange. If it is, care must be taken to get the nut off without damaging the stud. Use a penetrating oil or heat to help break up rust on the threads before attempting to remove the bolt or nut.

Some bolts are through bolts and can turn freely in the flange holes once loosened slightly. If you are certain your muffler flange uses these bolts, you may find it is easier to cut them in half and replace them with a new bolt. Use a reciprocating saw or hand hacksaw to cut them.

Once the flange is unbolted spray the rubber hangers with a light oil, such as WD40 and remove them from the brackets on the muffler. This is easily done with a pair of arc joint pliers.

Removing a Clamped-On Muffler

Be aware that replacing this muffler will be difficult. You must cut the U clamps off and then separate both ends of the muffler from the pipes. Generally, this will require careful work with a hammer and chisel. An air hammer with a chisel designed to split the pipes is much faster if you have access to this tool, and a cutting torch is much faster, but this is not the place to learn to use one.

Once the muffler nipple is split, you can work the pipe out of it. It isnt easy to do because of rust and the deformation of the pipe caused by the clamp. Avoid hammering on the pipes, try to remove them with twisting and pulling. It may be necessary to split the muffler nipple in two or three places before the pipe will separate from it.

Installing the New Muffler

Use a new gasket when installing a flanged muffler. Place the bolts through the flange and use them to hold the gasket while you slide the muffler in place. Tighten the bolts securely but dont over tighten. Finish up by lubing the rubber hangers and pushing them on to the muffler brackets.

If your muffler is secured to the exhaust pipes with U clamps, it will be necessary to install the muffler on to the pipe a distance equal to the length of the nipple on the muffler. Slide the muffler on while twisting and pushing it in place. If it does not readily slide on to the pipe, you may need to rent a pipe expander and enlarge the nipple slightly. Once the pipes are installed in the muffler ends, install the proper-sized U clamp and tighten securely.

Check your work

The last step in replacing your own muffler is to start the engine and check for leaks. If any are found simply tighten the clamps or bolts tighter. This should eliminate the leaks.