Okay so I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 L RWD. So this is a relatively new problem, it happened right after I changed the transmission fluids and filter, I turned it on and I noticed that the exhaust pipes were getting abnormally hot to the point of smoking (my windows even started fogging up) which I immediately turned the engine off in fear of a fire hazard. What might you think that could've happened for the exhaust system to start acting this way? When I changed the transmission fluids and filter I made sure everything went back the way it did, I thought that maybe I may have put too much transmission oil, but I checked the dip stick and it said it was fine! It never did this before, what can I do to fix it? Thanks!!

 

Any transmission fluid leaking onto exhaust?
It could be that you got ATF on the exhaust when changing pan, then it burns off.

 

If you crawl under there with a flashlight, you should be able to see where it leaked on to the exhaust. Clean it off with a wire brush. You probably just dripped a little bit of the ATF on it. If it happens again after you clean it, you'll know where to look for the leak.

 

Did you smell anything burning when it happened?

 

I cleaned off the muffler but it still radiates a tone of heat up through the floorboards.