Why Should I Upgrade My Car’s Exhaust System?

An exhaust system is usually piping used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine. The entire system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes. Aftermarket exhaust parts can increase peak power by reducing the back pressure of the exhaust system. These parts can sometimes can void factory warranties, however there are provisions that prevent manufacturers from rejecting warranty claims if the aftermarket parts are of matching quality and specifications to the original parts.

So, we already mentioned that because of decreased back pressure, more power and torque can be gained from an engine. But to better understand its benefits, we will be tackling the parts that make a complete exhaust system from header to muffler tip.

Parts of an Exhaust System

Headers

Scavenging can be thought of as the opposite of backpressure. With efficient exhaust flow, the outgoing gases will create a vacuum behind the outgoing pulse. As the valves are opening between cylinder strokes, there is a sweet spot where the intake and exhaust valves are at least partially open at the same time.

Equal length headers ensure each the tube from the cylinder head to the collector is the same length, those exhaust pulses have the same distance to travel to get there. That way, there is always a clear path for the exiting exhaust to free up as much back pressure as possible for the next pulse coming back down that line, ensuring as close to ideal conditions for scavenging as possible.

Another reminder for tuning your car is to make the rest of your exhaust system less restrictive before you install headers. This means installing larger-diameter, mandrel-bent exhaust pipes, and it means using freer-flowing mufflers. There will be no benefit at all to putting headers on if the exhaust flow is only going to be choked further down the line.

Horsepower and torque is the biggest benefit to installing aftermarket headers. Another benefit is the driver’s ability to open the car’s exhaust, which generates an appealing sound.

Downpipes

An aftermarket downpipe ensures greater airflow and less interference, resulting in a cleaner engine, more horsepower and the loudest possible voice! Nonetheless, choosing a downpipe that suits exactly with your vehicle is critical. Only then does it produce the required improved outputs.

An after-market downpipe has less bends and thus removes this resistance and the factory restrictions. It’s not a choking point anymore for the performance of your car.

Cat-back Exhaust System

Cat-back exhaust refers to any part of the exhaust system that’s behind the catalytic converter. Typically, this includes the pipe connecting the pipe from the catalytic converter to the muffler, the muffler, and the tailpipe or exhaust tips. Cat-back exhaust systems generally use larger diameter pipe than the stock system. If the system is engineered more for show than functionality, it may be tuned to enhance the lower sounds that are lacking from high-RPM low-displacement engines.

Adding a cat-back aftermarket exhaust will bring many advantages, the first of which is more horsepower. Aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to flow freer than your stock exhaust, typically using larger diameter piping and bent mandrel higher-grade tubing for better flow. Such adjustments will result in the engine manifold having a decreased backpressure level, which ensures that the engine will breathe a little easier and produce more horsepower and torque.

Another benefit of installing cat-backs is a increase in fuel economy. This is the consequence that the engine does not have to work as hard to force exhaust gases into the piping. It reduces the engine load, resulting in higher performance and greater MPG. Usually, this improvement in fuel economy occurs while traveling at highway speeds, but can also also be observed while driving through town.

Some aftermarket cat-back exhaust systems, such as an exhaust system from Armytrix, even feature a valved muffler. A valved muffler means you can choose to route exhaust gases through or around the mufflers. That means you can effectively make your car louder or quieter whenever you please.

Resonators

These accessories are typically add-ons of an exhaust system. They are installed alongside the muffler in the exhaust pipe and work to reduce an otherwise taxing drone. When an exhaust pulse comes through the exhaust system, it creates a low-pressure area behind it. With a good design, this low-pressure area can help pull the exhaust pulses behind it for a better, faster flow. This is known as scavenging. A well-designed resonator will greatly improve scavenging efficiency which leads to much greater flow. And much greater airflow only leads to one thing: More Power!

Exhaust Tips

Exhaust tips can be connected to your tailpipe using screws. Some employ joints or clamps. The easiest to install are those that can be inserted in the tailpipe and they fit just like a glove. There are also many finishes that will make your exhaust tip more stylish. There is the traditional polished tip, or a carbon-fiber sleeved tip, then there is the JDM-style of burnt titanium which coats the exhaust tips will all the colors of the wind … or the rainbow.

Do you now understand the performance benefits of an aftermarket exhaust system for your car? Get your car’s horsepower numbers up with Vivid Racing’s large selection of performance exhaust parts. Buy online or give one of our world-class professionals a call at 1-480-966-3040.