Many people often wonder why people would spend large amounts of money on an aftermarket exhaust system for their vehicle. Is it for the performance aspect? Is it for the sound and attention it creates? These questions have raised a debate for many years, and performance exhausts can be utilized for either reason. It is often wondered if these exhaust systems give better performance, and how they do this.
Many people purchase performance exhaust systems purely for the sound they provides. They like the low growl at idle and mean roar it gives off when accelerating. If you aren’t interested in the sound, then you are into the performance aspect of aftermarket exhaust systems. The difference in power they provide depends on two main factors.
The first main factor that determines the benefit of a performance exhaust is engine size. Many small compact tuner cars with small engines have been equipped with aftermarket performance exhaust components. In this case, it produces much more sound, but you don’t see much horsepower and torque improvement the majority of the time. This is because there really isn’t excessive backpressure in the exhaust system, so not much improvement can be made. With a big engine, there is a much higher volume of exhaust gas produced, so more gains can be had. Also, since they start off with more horsepower to begin with, they are naturally going to have a more significant amount of horsepower in proportion to a smaller engine. Neither engine is going to have a very large increase, and, if you want to feel a big difference, you should look elsewhere for modifications.
On the other hand, there is one case where a performance exhaust can provide a very significant performance gain. Turbocharged vehicles can be a great candidate for a larger exhaust system. When the exhaust gas can flow through the turbocharger with the least resistance possible, not only will you gain horsepower, but you will also gain a wider powerband. The turbocharger will spool faster which in turn will provide you with more power at a lower engine rpm. If you are looking to increase the power of your turbocharged vehicle, the first step to take is by a larger performance exhaust system, and there will be a significant noticeable change unlike a naturally aspirated vehicle.
There is a wide variety of performance exhaust components out there, and they range from relatively cheap to rather expensive. Headers are a common performance upgrade, especially for V8s, and can add a little bit of performance for not too much money. Catback exhaust systems are a popular choice for many import tuners, and it is basically just a larger, more free-flowing pipe and muffler after the catalytic converter. “Test pipes” are basically just a straight-through pipe where the catalytic converter was. These are illegal for street use, but turbocharged track and drag cars can see some significant gain from them. Some people choose to replace the whole exhaust system from the header all the way to the tail pipe for ultimate performance, but this can get very expensive. If you just want a performance exhaust for the sound, an aftermarket muffler is your cheapest option and will fit your needs nicely. If you want the performance value, I suggest starting with a catback exhaust system.
