A Straightforward Guide to Performance Exhaust Systems for Beginners

When most people think to improve the total power output of their car or. acceleration speeds, they think of the engine. While this is not a surprise, a more affordable and simple approach is to start with the exhaust. Going for an aftermarket exhaust gives you plenty of options when it comes to both performance and looks. It can fit everyone’s budget.

This is simply because it comes in different forms and that’s because you can change parts of your exhaust for better performance if you want to. The exhaust fumes that are actually coming from the engine are thus going to flow a lot easier through and exit without many stop points. But how do you get that with your car?

What Matters in a Performance Exhaust System

Source: youtube.com/@XForcePerformanceExhaust

Diameter

The first thing you should consider with an aftermarket exhaust system is the diameter of the piping. If you’re performance and only performance you should go for a larger diameter piping than what comes on the stock system. Large performance exhaust systems are able to provide a free-flowing path for engine fumes and thus they don’t end up suffocating it.

Down Pipes

The downpipe is what can hold up some of those engine gasses too. This is why you should look to get a less restrictive middle section that doesn’t have a lot of bends especially if you have a turbocharged engine..

Manifold

The manifold or header is another component you should look to replace as it determines how quickly the gasses from the engine are going to enter the exhaust system. Shorter tubing means quicker entrance but it doesn’t always result in a less restrictive path as it can easily be affected by the suction of the turbo. Make sure the tubing of the manifold is at the sweet spot for your car which is typically a bit shorter than stock.

Materials

The material the new performance exhaust system or components are made of affects longevity. If you want the most tried and true solution in this case, you should go for stainless steel. This exhaust material is the most long-lasting as it’s strong and has the best corrosion protection. But you can also go for titanium if you can spend a bit more which makes for the most indestructible performance exhaust system or component that you’ll come across.

Resonator

If you want to make your new performance upgrade less apparent then you can go for a resonator. While resonators do reduce the number of frequencies coming through the exhaust they don’t affect the flow of gasses as much as some other components, say mufflers. You won’t experience as much or no drone with a resonator, depending on your setup.

Coating

Alongside different materials, you can also have different coatings on your new system. These coatings can help prolong the lifespan of said system or components even more and protect it from varying temperatures much better than what you usually get.

Bends

There are two ways the piping of an aftermarket exhaust for sale can be bent and that is either by crush or mandrel bending. Crush bending is the more affordable route while mandrel bending creates fewer restrictions for engine fumes. Have a guess which ones are better. That’s it its mandrel bends.

Keep Your Performance Exhaust in Shape

Source: youtube.com/@XForcePerformanceExhaust

Cat

Other than connection points, the cat or catalytic converter is one of the weakest areas or rather components on an aftermarket exhaust for sale. This is an advanced filter of sorts that helps keep the environment healthier by reducing emissions. But like every filter it needs to be cleaned from time to time which involves driving your vehicle at a certain speed for a certain time once in a while. Mind you, a failing catalytic converter also affects performance.

Leaks

Yes, even performance exhaust systems can leak but since they don’t have any sort of liquid this refers to the gases it needs to propel out the tailpipes. A leaky exhaust will definitely make your car operate in a poor manner and depending on the loose gasket or hole in the exhaust it can affect performance a tiny bit or severely. This is why you should take a lot at the exhaust once in a blue moon to make sure no rust is eating away at ti or anything is loose.

Driving

To preserve your performance exhaust even more you should mind your driving too. While you can drive spiritedly when you desire make sure you also drive defensively when traffic calls for it. This means you should throw your car around every corner or change gears at the highest RPM possible. This also helps preserve the gearbox.

Sounds

Unusual sounds coming from the exhaust are going to be hissing, rumbling or rattling noises which can mean a whole host of things. It could be that a hanger is loose or that you have a punctured component. It could also mean that you need to replace the whole system but before you get to this point other signs will appear like a burning smell.

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