I’ve been writing about car maintenance and operation for several years now. Lately I’ve been getting the same question from a number of readers. “Hey Mike, what is a tailpipe, and how do I use it?” Today, I’ll be answering that exact question and trust me, it’s even easier than you think!
I believe a lot of readers have come up with this question while driving around wondering “What is that pipe coming out of the car in front of me?” We’ve almost all had this question, especially since tailpipes are on almost every car.
These types of car questions are pretty common. I know that not all of us have both a father and an uncle who were mechanics like I do! So when you have an important car question to ask, but you don’t want to run down to your local mechanic to ask since you’re afraid he might laugh at you, that’s where I come in!
In a nutshell, the tailpipe is the part of the car that helps to remove the exhaust (the undesirable gasses coming from the vehicle’s engine) from the vehicle. When you start your car and drive around, these gasses leave through the tailpipe of the car so that they don’t build up in the engine.
So now, the million dollar question: How do I use a tailpipe? It’s simple! The tailpipe is automatically installed by the car manufacturer prior to you buying your vehicle. As long as you or mechanic doesn’t remove or close the tailpipe, it’s already being used by your vehicle. Note that there is no knob, switch, or button on your dashboard that enables or disables the tailpipe. It’s always working!
Now, you may have heard the phrase “take it up the tailpipe.” When we talk about vehicle operation and maintenance, you don’t want to insert or place anything into the tailpipe. This can block the gasses from leaving the engine and create problems from your engine. It might even make sense to clean out your tailpipe on occasion to make sure nothing has found its way in.
I hope I answered all of your driving questions and, as always: Drive safe friends!
