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Does bigger Exhaust Give More Power?

Writer's picture: William L. PadillaWilliam L. Padilla



People often replace factory-made exhaust systems with an after-market piece. And it is absolutely right to pick another exhaust system of your own choice. If you want to get a better look or sound, there are plenty of options for you. But does a bigger exhaust such as BMW M140i Performance Exhaust can offer more power?


Well, there are various factors involve in this equation for which you need a clear understanding.


You are clearly mistaken if you think more power can be achieved by simply fitting a bigger exhaust. This is a totally different story for which you must understand how an exhaust system works.


Getting More Power through Exhaust


We know that factory exhausts are more restrictive than after-market exhausts. But it doesn’t mean that fitting an after-market system will guarantee extra power. You can get extra power but depends on the make/model and exhaust system that you pick. Installing a new exhaust may offer just 2 horsepower or up to 50 horsepower.


The ratio of extra horsepower changes with the components of the exhaust system.


Parts of Exhaust System


Information about the parts of an exhaust system will help you understand how it works. Thus, you can know how an exhaust system can affect your car’s performance.


Header or Manifold


It is the initial part of the exhaust and vehicle owners often upgrade it. Usually, tubular headers are replaced with heavy cast manifolds. This is a good way to increase torque and get extra horsepower. The alteration enhances the airflow into the engine and also improves the exhaust gas flow.



Catalytic Converter


This component converts toxic hydrocarbons into less harmful gases. It converts incoming CO and NOx into H2O, CO2, O2, and N2.


Piping


Piping releases the gases away from your cabin, at the rear end of your car.


Muffler


The primary objective of a muffler is to reduce the noise. They direct the flow of exhaust gases as the last component of the exhaust system. Vehicle owners often buy aftermarket mufflers to get more power. You can get more power output through performance mufflers.


Don’t Rely on the Horsepower Factor


A vehicle’s power is measured in horsepower which we calculate by multiplying RPM by torque. If at 5,000 RPM, the added torque is 10 lb-ft, the new exhaust provides 9.5 horsepower. This seems a fairly good deal but let’s not forget the RPM factor. The new exhaust isn’t going to provide much power because engines usually don’t run at 5,000 RPM.


Expected Increase in Power


Honestly, you can only achieve from 2% to 5% power with a new exhaust. This is the most power that you should expect from your car after adding a new exhaust. It depends on your engine type as well. A small engine such as 1.8L 4-cylinder can get an increase of 3-5%. Whereas a larger engine such as 6.0L V8 can only achieve 2-3% extra horsepower.


Best Way to Increase power


You can only increase power to a certain limit through an after-market exhaust. But you can achieve more by combining different add-ons with your exhaust system. A power programmer, performance chip or an air intake can offer great results. You can easily achieve more power and expect great performance from your vehicle. However, don’t forget that your fuel economy may also increase a little.

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I am interested in topics about self-education, Social writing, motivation, and Technology. As a trained writer, I love discovering new ways to use my writing as a tool to further the education of others.

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