So Fix it

Muffler tape is an inexpensive method to repair damage to a muffler that has been dragged on the ground or has rusted through. Muffler tape is not adhesive, instead using the heat of the exhaust system to bond to your current muffler.

Function

Muffler tape should be used to repair your muffler or exhaust system for a short time. You should take your vehicle to a dealership or exhaust specialty shop as soon as possible.

Types

Muffler tape may come in strips that can be wrapped around your exhaust or in a patch kit that requires trimming the tape to the proper size.

Benefits

Muffler tape can help silence your vehicle quickly, keeping emissions levels down and your vehicle quiet as you drive.

Installing

Once you wrap muffler tape around the exhaust, the heat near the muffler will cause the tape to bond to the exhaust system. You may need to add more muffler tape if any falls off or holes in the muffler remain uncovered.

Expert Insight

Muffler tape is not a permanent solution. Vehicles are regularly subjected to extreme temperature changes, and you may find that your muffler tape falls off after only a few days or weeks of use.

Believe it or not, its actually possible to tape a hole in a vehicles muffler, as long as the holes not too big. Generally speaking, if the holes larger than two inches in diameter, it cannot be adequately repaired with tape. The tape used to repair holes in a muffler isnt the kind of tape that youre used to using; its a special kind of tape, also referred to as a muffler bandage. This bandage material is made from fiberglass and a special resin that seals against the muffler once the pipe heats up.

Instructions

1

Park the vehicle and let it cool down for at least two hours before proceeding. The tailpipe can exceed temperatures of 250 degrees Fahrenheit, causing serious burns if not allowed to cool down.

2

Lift the rear of the vehicle with a jack and support it with two fixed jack stands. Locate the hole in the muffler and measure it with a tape measure. Verify that it doesnt exceed two inches in diameter. Holes larger than this are simply too difficult to bandage with muffler tape.

3

Clean the area around the hole with a wire brush to remove as much dirt, debris and surface rust as possible; this will ensure a better seal with the muffler bandage.

4

Open the muffler bandage kit and unravel the bandage. Wrap it around the muffler or pipe where the hole is several times in a similar fashion to an athletic bandage applied on a person.

5

Wrap the bandage with the wire included in the kit to secure the bandage to the exhaust pipe. Twist the wire together at the end and crimp it with a slip-joint pliers to ensure that it doesnt come loose.

6

Start the vehicle and allow it to run for 20 to 30 minutes; this heats up the bandage. Turn off the engine and let it cool down until the exhaust has cooled to room temperature; this completes the sealing process. Turn the vehicle back on and check the bandage for leaks.