Mufflers damage easily in harsh weather. In northern states, most local and state governments use salt to de-ice the roads in winter months. Salt is a corrosive substance that eats away at the under body of your vehicle, especially the muffler or any exposed metal. Mufflers can also be damaged by road debris like rocks flying up and hitting the resonance chamber of the muffler. Once there’s a hole in the muffler, whether from rust or from road debris, you’ll need to repair the damage before it gets worse.
Things You’ll Need
- Muffler repair kit (high-temp bandage, epoxy and applicator)
- Container for mixing epoxy
- Nitrile gloves
- Safety glasses
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Put on the nitrile gloves and safety glasses to protect your eyes and hands.
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Squeeze the tube of epoxy into the mixing container.
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Squeeze the epoxy activator into the mixing container. Mix the epoxy and activator together with the applicator that came with the muffler repair kit.
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Unravel the high temperature bandage that came with your muffler repair kit and soak it in the epoxy for up to five minutes (exact time depends on your particular kit).
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Wrap the bandage around the outside of the muffler where the hole or the damage is. Make sure that you cover at least two inches in all directions beyond the area of the damage to ensure that the bandage can adhere to an undamaged section of the muffler.
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Allow the bandage to dry. Once the bandage is dry, the muffler should be fully sealed. Check for exhaust leaks by turning on your vehicle and visually inspecting for any exhaust leaks.