You can in most cases smell an exhaust leak.
Any leaks in an exhaust system can smell like a gas leak, especially if the leak is before the catalytic converter.
If you begin to smell exhaust in the cabin, but it just smells vaguely musty and smoky like regular exhaust fumes, you may simply have an exhaust leak somewhere behind the catalytic converter.
This could be a damaged muffler or a cracked exhaust pipe.
You can also sometimes hear the exhaust leak as well.
An exhaust leak can be serious depending on how bad the exhaust leak is and where the exhaust leak is.
If the exhaust leak is at the exhaust manifolds attached to the engine then the exhaust leak is less serious although it can affect your engines performance.
If the exhaust leak is from your muffler or tailpipe under your car or vehicle then if it's just a small exhaust leak then it's not as serious.
However if the exhaust leak is really bad and under your vehicle then it can be and should be considered serious as the exhaust can leak under the car and into the vehicle.
That exhaust leak can then leak into the vehicle and cause carbon monoxide poisoning and even death.
So if you have an exhaust leak under your vehicle you should get the exhaust leak fixed as soon as possible but if you can't fix the exhaust leak right away you should leave the windows down if possible or at least keep the windows cracked down a little to allow fresh air into the vehicle.
An exhaust leak can cause dangerous gases to enter the atmosphere before being properly treated, which can cause problems like fumes in the cabin and failed emissions inspections.
Many of these harmful gases are odorless, which means that you won't realize they are leaking into the passenger cabin.
If you think you have an exhaust leak, it's best to get it looked at and repaired as soon as possible.
If left unresolved, the exhaust leak will dramatically hinder the overall performance of your car.
Over time, it can also lead to major damage in the engine and other important automotive systems.
Your vehicle's exhaust system keeps the car quiet and the exhaust fumes away from the cabin.
Furthermore, the system helps to keep the engine running properly, reduce emissions, and provide you with optimum fuel efficiency.
Driving with an exhaust leak is potentially dangerous as the fumes contain carbon monoxide.