Even if you take excellent care of your motorized bike, over time you’ll start to notice that it doesn’t ride like it used to when you first got it. The engine might not start regularly or it might feel sluggish. One of the main causes of these engine problems is the buildup of rust and carbon in a motorized bike muffler.
The good news is that these issues can be fixed pretty easily. All you have to do is clean out your muffler, and you will be good to go and enjoy your ride again.
While this might seem like a complicated or time-consuming process, it is actually easier than you may think, and it will prevent long-term damage and other problems that stem from having a dirty muffler.
Photo: BikeBerry (Facebook)- Decreased exhaust manifold efficiency
- Reduced engine performance
- Increased bike weight
- Reduced bike speed
- Decreased muffler longevity
How Do I Clean My Muffler?
While it’s natural for your muffler to get covered with soot, grease, carbon, and dust over time, allowing this buildup will negatively influence your engine’s performance. Luckily, cleaning your muffler to remove this buildup only takes a few simple steps.Gather the Correct Supplies
Photo: Dirt Hammers- Safety goggles and protective gloves (make sure you wear these at all times while cleaning your exhaust)
- Commercial grade combustion chamber cleaner or degreaser
- Rust cleaning chemicals (check to make sure they are safe to use on a bike engine muffler)
- Grunge brush or heavy-duty sponge
- Screwdrivers
- Washcloth or small towel
Disassemble Your Exhaust
The next thing you will want to do is disassemble your exhaust and lay each part out so you can clean them one by one.
Use Combustion Chamber Cleaner or Degreaser
Use combustion chamber cleaner or degreaser to remove the heavy carbon buildup in your engine kit muffler, the exhaust tips, and every other part. It is best to let these chemicals sit for at least 15 minutes before you clean them off.Scrub Each Component
Using your grunge brushes or heavy-duty sponge, wipe the cleaner or degreaser off of each part. You will need to scrub hard to remove some of the grease and carbon buildup.
Scrape Off Excess Carbon Buildup
After you have cleaned a lot of the grease, you will want to use the screwdriver and your washcloth (with a bit of degreaser on it) to gently scrape away at any stubborn carbon remnants. Be careful not to damage your muffler as you do this.Use Rust Cleaner
After you have cleaned your exhaust thoroughly, apply a few coatings of rust cleaner to each part to remove rust.How Often Should I Clean My Muffler?
While cleaning your muffler is fairly easy to do, it can still take up a bit of your time. Ideally, you should clean your muffler properly every couple of months (or sooner if you ride daily).
If you want to clean your muffler less frequently, there are high-performance parts and upgrades you can install that will help reduce muffler buildup on your motorized bike. An upgraded expansion chamber or high-performance expansion chamber, for example, work especially well thanks to the way they circulate exhaust much more smoothly than a stock muffler would.
Tuned expansion chambers or baffle-less mufflers will improve airflow, expel excess exhaust that causes carbon and grease buildup, and help circulate exhaust for a smoother ride.
When Should I Replace My Muffler?
Regardless of your dedication to your 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine kit maintenance, at some point, your muffler will get to a point where cleaning it is not enough to keep it running properly.
Roughly every five to six years, you will need to completely replace your muffler. However, if you live in an area with uneven or salty roads, potholes, and other environmental features that will cause excess buildup and wear on your muffler, you may need to replace it earlier.
With these tips in mind, though, you should be able to make the most of your 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine exhaust and have a quality ride for years to come.
