Many people wonder if it's okay to drive around with a damaged or broken muffler. Some people even assume there are situations when it's okay to drive with a muffler half hanging off, duct-taped up, or no muffler at all. Here are just some of the reasons why you should never drive with a damaged muffler.

1. The Toxic Exhaust

The possibility of toxic exhaust fumes leaking into your car's ventilation system represents the largest reason for not driving with a broken or damaged muffler. You put yourself and others in serious - and potentially fatal - danger if this occurs while you drive.

A damaged muffler doesn't always indicate a problem with your overall exhaust system, so there's a chance you won't experience this particular hazard. Nevertheless, this is not something you should take any chances with.

Even without an exhaust leak, the carbon monoxide your muffler typically spews out and away from your vehicle may rise and enter your car. CO, when breathed in, can cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea. These are all things you want to avoid in general, and especially while driving. In extreme cases, you or someone else can completely lose consciousness.

2. The Terrible Smell

The CO from the exhaust is only one of the gases your car produces. While CO doesn't have an odor, the noxious smell of those other gases will irritate you.

In some cases, people may find the smell itself sickening, even if they're in no immediate danger from the toxins of the exhaust. The smells from the fumes your muffler isn't disposing of can become a dangerous distraction to you while you drive.

3. The Horrible Noise

Your muffler lowers the amount of noise created by your car's engine. A damaged or broken muffler can create the type of noise that can become a real distraction to you while you drive. The noise, often called exhaust drone, can also lead to legal troubles for you as well. Many municipalities issue tickets to drivers with broken, noisy mufflers.

The noise from a damaged muffler can also cause hearing problems for people in the car as well as those who hear it outside the car. Cases of permanent hearing loss do occur, especially for vehicle occupants who spend a lot of time around the noise.

4. The Reduced Fuel Economy

Your broken muffler can reduce the effectiveness of your exhaust system. The broken part can keep your car from being effective when siphoning the exhaust fumes out of your engine and will negatively affect your car engine's performance. In turn, your car will produce higher emissions and lose fuel economy.

The longer this goes on, the more damage your car will sustain. You'll pay more for gas and consumables as you'll have to fill up more often. You'll also pay more for repairs if you let the muffler problem become an exhaust problem, or let the exhaust problem become an engine problem.

5. The Environmental Damage

Your muffler helps to mitigate the air pollution produced by your car. The environment doesn't just mean the natural world around you. The environment also means the people who populate the world as well.

Your muffler doesn't directly reduce emissions, but it's an important part of the system that does. A muffler in disrepair can lessen the effectiveness of your exhaust system in several ways, leading to greater toxic emissions coming out of your car. These emissions can harm your family, friends, and anyone who is around your car while it's running.

More reasons not to drive with a damaged muffler exists besides these. However, each one of these reasons alone should give you the incentive to have your muffler repaired and exhaust system inspected immediately.