exhaust
Loading your saved state.
exhaust
The device on a combustion engine, especially in vehicles, that collects exhaust gases and directs them outward.
Mein altes Auto ist sehr laut, weil der Auspuff ein Loch hat.
My old car is very loud because the exhaust has a hole in it.
The word is made up of 'aus' (out) and 'Puff', an onomatopoeic word for a dull sound. So the 'Auspuff' is literally the part that the engine's 'puff' noises come out of.
Man hört am lauten Geräusch, dass etwas mit dem Auspuff nicht stimmt.
You can tell from the loud noise that something is wrong with the exhaust.
In everyday language, people often talk about problems with the exhaust. Common adjectives are 'kaputt' (broken), 'rostig' (rusty), or 'laut' (loud). A typical problem is to have 'ein Loch im Auspuff' (a hole in the exhaust).
Wegen des rostigen Auspuffs hat mein Auto die Prüfung nicht bestanden.
Because of the rusty exhaust, my car did not pass the inspection.
This word is used almost exclusively in connection with vehicles with combustion engines, such as cars, motorcycles, or mopeds. Exhaust gases come out of the exhaust.
Im Winter sieht man oft weißen Rauch aus dem Auspuff kommen.
In winter, you often see white smoke coming out of the exhaust.
silencer / muffler
'Auspuff' and 'Schalldämpfer' both belong to the exhaust system of a car or motorcycle. In everyday language, 'Auspuff' often means the whole device through which exhaust gases are directed outward. 'Schalldämpfer' is more specifically a component that makes the noise of the exhaust gases quieter. The words can be confused because the muffler is part of the exhaust and both are located underneath or at the back of the vehicle. When speaking generally about a car, people usually say 'Auspuff'. When it is specifically about reducing noise or this individual part, 'Schalldämpfer' is more precise.
Am Morgen war der Auspuff plötzlich sehr laut, also fuhr Tom in die Werkstatt.
In the morning, the exhaust suddenly became very loud, so Tom drove to the repair shop.
Der Mechaniker tauscht den Schalldämpfer aus, weil das Motorrad zu laut ist.
The mechanic is replacing the muffler because the motorcycle is too loud.