Any vehicle’s exhaust system is a crucial component. In order to keep passengers safe, it directs dangerous fumes and exhaust gases from the engine to the back of the car. This keeps the interior of your automobile, truck, or race car free of lowered sound and carbon monoxide poisoning. There are numerous types of exhaust systems, materials, and mufflers available, each offering a different sound, appearance, and route.
There are stock and after-market exhaust systems which covers the broad idea of exhaust systems. The diameter of the pipes is the primary distinction between a stock and aftermarket exhaust. Depending on the use, different diameter ranges are offered on aftermarket exhaust systems. To move more air, these systems often provide alternatives with greater diameters. Once more, factors like engine size, rpm, and application will determine the optimum diameter size.
The pipe bends are the second key distinction between factory and aftermarket exhaust systems. Crush bending, a method, is often used to create stock exhaust pipes. Despite being a quick and simple approach, crush bending also results in performance-robbing constraints at the pipe bends. Mandrel bending is a technique used by producers of aftermarket exhaust to get rid of these limits. This procedure involves inserting a flexible rod into the exhaust pipe. This flexible rod keeps the pipe walls from collapsing or kinking as it is bent. The ultimate result is a pipe with a constant diameter and no constricted kinks in the bends.
How Does an Exhaust System Work?
In order to keep exhaust gases, noise, and fumes away from the passengers, an exhaust system connects to the engine at the cylinder heads using manifolds or headers. All passenger cars have to have a catalytic converter in their exhaust systems beginning in the 1975 model year.
The catalytic converter, which is installed after the exhaust manifold(s), assists in converting the hazardous gases (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide) that pass through its honeycomb of platinum, rhodium, and palladium metals into less hazardous gases (water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen). A pipe connects the catalytic converter to the muffler. This pipe segment may be an X-pipe, an H-pipe, or a regular pipe.
Depending on the application, X and H-pipes balance exhaust pulses on dual exhaust systems and enhance either low- or high-end torque and horsepower. After the intermediate pipe, a muffler is placed to lower engine noise levels. Mufflers can be built with a performance gain or loss in exchange for a louder or quieter design. After the muffler, some automobiles use resonators to assist tune out the frequency that causes resonance within the car at the specific engine and driving speeds. A tailpipe that ends beneath the rear bumper is located behind the muffler or resonator.
Types of exhaust systems available in the market
1) DUAL REAR EXIT
In general, sportier cars have dual rear exit exhaust systems, or they can be added to make a car appear sportier. The exhaust is given a deeper note, which amplifies the engine’s sound. Two exhaust pipes on the car’s opposing sides are used in this system. The pipes don’t arc around the wheels like they do in other systems.
2) SINGLE EXIT PIPE
Single-outlet exhaust systems are the most typical kind. They are typically on automobiles and trucks you purchase from a dealer. Although they are not the most effective pipes, they are the least expensive to produce and install. The car’s passenger side will always be where the pipe exits.
3) OPPOSITE DUAL EXHAUST
Contrasting twin exhaust systems function somewhat differently whereas dual rear exhaust systems do not bend. They encircle the wheel, utilizing the bend to further the filtering operation. They are particularly prevalent on vehicles that carry heavy loads, such as boats or trailers.
4) DUAL-SIDE EXHAUST
A dual-side exhaust system contains two pipes adjacent to one another on one side, as the name suggests. Compared to single exit pipes, the two pipes are more effective at expelling gases. They have the appearance and sound of high-performance systems and provide some performance improvement.
Which exhaust is the best for you?
The aftermarket manufacturers offer a wide variety of exhaust systems. The first choice you need to make when selecting an exhaust system is which parts you want to replace. A cat-back system, which replaces everything that bolts to the back of the catalytic converter and includes everything to the rear of the car, is the best choice the majority of the time. Because they are in constant touch with the elements under the car while driving, the exhaust pieces in these kits are the most vulnerable to rust and corrosion.
The next choice is what kind of material the system’s components will be comprised of. The majority of exhaust kits are constructed from aluminized steel, which helps prevent rust and is less expensive than stainless steel, which is more expensive. Stainless steel exhaust kits, on the other hand, use high-quality parts and last for a very long time—often the entire life of the vehicle. They can also be polished for show cars and are frequently offered polished.
The final consideration when selecting an exhaust system is the sound your car should have. The mufflers included in the kit will have the most control over the sound level and personality of your vehicle, whether you prefer a quiet exhaust system or that racetrack “roar”.
Cleaning your exhaust
When an exhaust system is cool to the touch, it can be cleaned on the outside with a moderate detergent and water solution. A bristle brush can be used for further cleaning. Only the exhaust system must be taken apart and disassembled in order to clean the interior of the exhaust pipe components. Due to the difficulty of accessing them and the nature of the materials, they are constructed of, catalytic converters, resonators, and mufflers should be replaced rather than cleaned internally.