Plastic bag stuck to hot exhaust

Maintenance/Repairs
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1

(‘04 Camry. I don’t see where to enter the year when creating new topic.)
This big ol’ plastic bag (“contractors bag”, I think) blew under the car as I was coming to a stop at a red light. Sure enough, it got stuck to some hot part of the exhaust system. (I think it’s not the catalytic converter – the part is bulge-y, but only several inches long. Maybe a resonator?) I have pulled most of it loose. A couple of square inches of un-melted bag are still stuck, and, of course, there is a bunch of charred material on the hot part.

I THINK I don’t have to worry about anything except the odor until the remnants melt and char away, but I’d like some reassurance from you experts that I am not a rolling fire hazard.

2

You remove as much of the plastic as you can, and let the rest burn off.

You just have to tolerate the smell until that happens.

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Tester

4 Likes
3

Tester,

Thanks for confirming that I’m doing it right.

4

I would think a half hour of running time should be enough to cook it down, but if it’s really cold where you are it might take longer.

5

50-deg-F today, 78-deg-F tomorrow, but we have no plans to drive anywhere. :smile:

Thanks for the tip.