hole in muffler... jb weld?
 

?ok so my car had started making a funny exhaust sounding noise so after a lil bit of sliding around under my car i found a spot on my muffler... looks like maybe stick got launched up and hit the bottom of my muffler and put a line shaped dent in it and at a couple spots along the line there are some holes...

its not really a problem... beyond the annoying sounds it makes sometimes... and a friend said it might cause problems with passing inspection...

I'm wondering if I could just JB weld the holes and then everything would be alright, or something similar to that

or if i would have to get a new muffler, and how much that would cost?


its a 93 ford explorer automatic, 4x4, 4.0 litre v6 engine...

yes it will cause a problem with inspection, because all exhaust fumes need to be exited behind the furthest seat back in the vehicle, and most likely the muffler is right under the back seat of an explorer.
Straight up muffler replacement isnt expensive, you could go with a cheap glass pack, but they are loud and blatty, but very cheap, or you can go for a regular muffler, and that should run you between 20-50 bucks for a muffler, plus 10 dollars a weld. So it'll cost around 50 bucks all said and done.
As for JB weld, im sure it will work given proper cure times. but im not sure of the heat resistance of it. But then again they may have some high temp JB weld that i dont know about.

well thats good that its not too expensive...

I think i'll give the JB weld a try the website says that for the automotive mix withstands temps greater then 300 deg Celsius

dunno what temp mufflers get up to... but it wont hurt anything by trying...

jb weld is really good stuff, but make sure u give it 24 hours to dry, if u dont , the first time u start up the car the exhaust pressure will blow the hole right back open. Really, you should just get a new muffler, its not that expensive. Besides even with jb weld, ur muffler is gonna completely wear out at somepoint.

I don't recommend a JB Weld repair for your muffler. It's not really a good hole filler for sheet metal, but more intended for cast metal repairs. If you want to extend the service life of that muffler, get an exhaust bandage... there are some higher quality ones available... even some that get dipped in an epoxy-like substance before application. Once fully cured, the repair will probably outlast the rest of your exhaust system.

A decent quality replacement for the muffler should run $40-$50. Complete from the converter, @ $70 ( if you DIY). If you plan on keeping the truck, I recommend this course of action.

I used JBweld to fix a hole I knocked in my oil pan one time. It held for about six months before it started coming loose and leaking again.

dont some muffler shops still have one of those "buy a muffler and well replace it for the life of the car" like the midas ppl used to do? not sure but it might help.

would it be something i could do myself?

ive got a basic tool kit(socket wrench set, few diff screwdrivers, some pliars and whatnot) and the local autozone will lemme use their tools...


if i have to weld then i couldnt, dont have access to welding equipment.

u dont HAVE to weld its just a better method. you can use those U clamps or even better band clamps for exhausts, just make sure u have a lil exhaust wrap around, to cover up and spots that didnt get sealed witht he clamp

You could always goo for a good old tin can, hose clamp, and mufffler bandage installation.

Unless you want it to look nice.

I used something like this years ago in a similar situation. The muffler was good, but had a hole in it. Worked like a charm.

http://www.saft7.com/techtips/knalpo...tbolong-02.jpg

In my experience, JB Weld does not work for exhaust repairs. Could have been a problem with my usage though. I was using it on some newly purchased headers and and was not able to let the car sit for 24hrs.

There are wraps and stuff out there you can use but I don't know how effective they are. I would think going to a little muffler shop and having them put a new muffler on would be the easiest bet. Might be more expensive, but I don't think they're all that unreasonable and could probably be done in an hour. Plus, then you don't have to worry about the JB Weld failing or your wrap coming off.

used JB to fix my hot tub heater...pin hole leak... worked great....

xoxoxoo

You did it wrong, JB doesn't tolerate extreme temperatures well until it cures. You could probably fix a Space Shuttle with some JB Weld (and maybe thermal tape.) A discussion like this came up on Something Awful's car subforum, and three or four people mentioned JB Weld oil pan repairs that held up for several years and outlasted their cars in some cases.

I think if I was planning on keeping the car I would get a new muffler put under it.
And if you don't wanna shell out the dough for that right now then you might search at a junkyard/salvage yard for a used one and then just pay to have it put on.

I kind of figured I was using it wrong, it was probably 10 years ago and I was just a kid trying to hop up my Mustang. But that kind of left a bad taste in my mouth and I can't say I've ever heard anything really good about it for anything other than minor quick fixes in any of the shops I've worked in. I know I've never seen it used in the last truck shop I worked in and I have yet to see it in the fleet shop I'm at now.

Those holes will be killing your gas mileage and the responsiveness of your engine. I'd get a new muffler