 | Jeff Lovell is the owner of Neptune Radiator and Auto Repair. He started a radiator repair shop in 1996 and has grown over the last 15 years into an automotive repair shop. With 3 ASE Certified technicians including 1 Master ASE Certified technician, they have over 40 years of combined experience. They do everything except glass and body repair. For more information please contact us at 620.231.5890 or visit us at 902 West 4th Street. |
Automotive Service & Repair
2012-01-30 11:18:39
Exhaust systems
Q: I am looking to improve the exhaust system on my car. What are your recommendations?
A: A well designed and maintained exhaust system is one of the best ways to increase energy efficiency and power. Considering that on a four stroke engine, only the power stroke- creates power. The other three, intake, compression and exhaust, absorb some of the power from the power stoke. When you minimize lost power, more of it is available to drive the wheels.
There are a few things you can do to improve your exhaust system. First, check your system for leaks and if you find any, get it repaired immediately. Next, replace your exhaust manifolds with headers. Then, replace your stock mufflers with two and a half inch pipes with minimal bends or performance mufflers. Finally, if you have a single exhaust system, consider replacing it with a dual exhaust.
There are a number of high performance mufflers from which to choose and you will likely want to do a little research and see which on is best for your needs. There are some distinct differences in price, build quality, and noise levels between the different makes and models. A glass pack or cherry bomb for example uses only absorption to reduce sound. For most guys, reducing the noise isn’t the objective and these produce the aggressive sound you would expect from a high performance vehicle.
Most cars come standard with a single exhaust system, which in most cases is sufficient. In this system, the exhaust tubes go into one collector, along one pipe and out one exhaust. However, one of the drawbacks of the system is that the diameter of the pipe is not large enough for maximum efficiency.
On a V6 or V8 engine, one option is to replace the single exhaust with a dual exhaust system, which includes two mufflers, catalytic converters, and tail pipes. Dual exhaust systems with narrower pipes produce more torque as the gases are forced through the pipes more quickly.
Two other options include crossover dual exhaust systems, where the pipe is shaped like an “x” and single to dual systems, which are modified single exhaust systems.
There are pros and cons to every choice, so it would be good to research your top choices before committing to anything .
