tailpipe rusted off - too hot to drive it?

[connerm]

95 e300d. Tail pipe dropped off when I went over a speed bump today. I picked it up and drove home. So now hot exhaust is chugging straight out of the rear muffler.

Bumper and rear trunk well was warm. I really need to drive it tomorrow but not if its going to melt something like the bumper cover. Do you think its okay to drive?

[layback40]

Originally Posted by connerm

95 e300d. Tail pipe dropped off when I went over a speed bump today. I picked it up and drove home. So now hot exhaust is chugging straight out of the rear muffler.

Bumper and rear trunk well was warm. I really need to drive it tomorrow but not if its going to melt something like the bumper cover. Do you think its okay to drive?

Depends on how far you plan on driving. The heat out the pipe could be a problem. The exhaust gas could Get into the cabin & make you ill.
I would try & put it back up on & tie it in place with some wire. A leak is one thing, the pipe/muffler missing is another !!!

[97 SL320]

The exhaust gets much hotter than you would imagine when the car is being driven under a load. Not to mention carbon soot being blown about.

The short story is not to drive it until fixed.

If you really must drive, a sheetmetal shield formed over the top of the muffler would be a acceptable temp fix. ( sort of like a super sized exhaust tip that is open on the bottom, )

Last year the tail pipe on my gas pickup rotated to a position above the bed side body line. ( a hanger broke allowing the exhaust to flex then rotate ). The paint burned off and completely melted the tail light and wiring.

[connerm]

Thank you. I won't drive it until I fix it. I don't need to melt tail lights and bumpers.