What happens if you put a steel wool ball in a car's exhaust pipe?

[DamianLee]

Putting a steel wool ball in a car's exhaust pipe can prevent the engine from starting. The exhaust pipe is designed to expel the waste gases produced by the engine after combustion. Blocking the exhaust pipe will affect the exhaust flow and the normal operation of the engine. A car's exhaust system consists of three sections: the header, mid-pipe, and tailpipe. The header, also known as the exhaust manifold, is visible when you open the engine hood. It contains the catalytic converter, which reduces the levels of pollutants in the exhaust gases. The mid-pipe is the longer section running along the car's underbody. The tailpipe is the section near the rear bumper. An overly free-flowing exhaust system can reduce low-end torque but improve high-end power performance. Conversely, a restrictive exhaust system can enhance low-end torque but limit high-end power performance.