Exhaust
systems have several key duties to perform. First they are designed to
move harmful gases away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle
through a series of pipes. A faulty, broken or leaking exhaust can be
very dangerous in stop and go traffic due to exhaust gases getting into
the vehicle. Secondly, todays exhaust systems have catalytic
converters which chemically changes some of the harmful engine gases
into less toxic elements. Finally the exhaust gases flow though series
baffles in a muffler which quiets engine noise and adds to driver
comfort.