Summary:
- What is the difference between a silencer and a full exhaust system?
- Why choose a full exhaust system?
When you plan to modify your car’s exhaust, you do so with a specific objective: to improve its appearance, increase engine performance, strengthen its sound… Depending on your needs, several solutions may be available to you.
Is it relevant to change only certain parts of the exhaust system or should all the components that make it up be replaced? This is what we will look at in this article so that you have all the cards in hand to choose the exhaust that suits you!
But before we get to the heart of the matter, let’s take a moment to detail the different components of an exhaust system. Here are the parts that are usually found on the exhaust of a standard production car:
- Manifold (or header): it is attached to the cylinder head and collects the gases from each cylinder into a single tube
- Oxygen sensor (or lambda sensor): it measures the oxygen content in the gas
- Catalytic converter: it reduces the toxicity of gases by chemical reaction using precious metals
- Resonator: it blocks an undesirable resonance frequency over a given operating range
- Silencer (or muffler): it limits the engine noise by redirecting the gases through pipes equipped with insulating materials
- Tailpipe: it is attached to the silencer and rejects the gases to the outside, into the atmosphere
It should be noted that depending on the type of engine, some or all of these parts may be present in several copies.
1. What is the difference between a silencer and a full exhaust system?
Depending on the benefit sought, you can opt for a simple exhaust silencer or, on the contrary, choose a full exhaust. Let’s take a look at what these two distinct solutions offer:
The exhaust silencer
Replacing the rear silencer (or muffler) is the most attractive option in terms of price when you want to modify your exhaust. It is mounted at the end of the center exhaust (or center pipe) and generally incorporates a single or double tailpipe.
Most often designed in steel or stainless steel, the sports silencer adds character to the vehicle through its suggestive look and delivers a louder sound than the standard exhaust. Most often, it is also lighter than the original part it replaces.
However, the silencer alone does not significantly increase engine performance. Indeed, even if the tailpipes have a larger diameter, the other parts of the exhaust are not optimized accordingly. There may also be bends and restrictions in the exhaust system which have the effect of reducing the gas velocity.
If it proves to be economical, the silencer solution does offer limited gains. It’s up to you to define your priorities.
The full exhaust system
If you want to change the exhaust of your car, it may be advisable to replace all the other components at the same time to obtain a full exhaust system. Obviously, the amount invested will be higher than the previous option and the installation more complex, but the benefits will be more numerous.
This solution involves replacing the entire exhaust system. This can include many parts depending on the vehicle’s engine, including:
- Manifold
- Elbow
- Sports catalytic converter or decat
- Downpipe
- Front pipe
- Center pipe
- Particulate filter or resonator delete
- Silencer
- Tailpipe
Please note that the term “full exhaust system” may differ from one manufacturer to another and may, for example, only include the parts after the catalytic converter (catback) or the turbo (turboback) for vehicles fitted with them.
The full exhaust system significantly improves engine performance, in terms of power and torque, for better acceleration, etc. The gain is all the greater when combined with an intake kit and a tuned ECU. For even more performance, the injectors, camshaft(s), pistons, etc. should also be changed.
The whole point of full exhaust systems is to install parts with a larger diameter and fewer restrictions than the OE components, thanks in particular to the technique of bending the tubes. This has the effect of reducing the system’s back pressure, resulting in an engine that “exhale” more easily.
2. Why choose a full exhaust system?
As we have seen, there are many positive points to choosing a full exhaust system. First, the engine is able to produce more horsepower and torque (if the diameter of the pipes is adapted to the characteristics of the engine) thanks to a higher gas flow speed. The results are particularly convincing at high revs. The sound is also improved with not only a higher volume, but also a more aggressive tone.
The look of the vehicle can also be renewed for more sportiness and customization due to the large variety of silencers and tailpipes available on the market. Finally, weight savings are also very noticeable, as many components are usually made of lightweight materials such as stainless steel.
Regarding longevity, sports exhausts have a very good lifespan, as they are generally not very susceptible to rust and discoloration. On the other hand, it is advisable to pay attention to shocks and impacts (speed bumps in the case of a lowered car for example), these exhausts being likely to deform or bend more easily than the OE steel parts.
A full exhaust system can therefore be beneficial for a leisure car as well as a race car, as long as performance is a priority. For road or track use, however, be sure to comply with decibel regulations to avoid noise pollution!
It is possible to find full exhausts adapted to a specific car model. Manufacturers of performance parts generally have a large catalog and often guarantee assembly without modification. Specialists can also design custom exhausts for rare vehicles or more specific requests.
DriftShop offers you to order on internet your full exhaust system. Check out on this store the performance parts of the biggest brands, such as HKS, GReddy, Tomei, Cobra ou Milltek. These products are available at the best price for many vehicle models.
Photo sources: American Racing Headers / HKS / GReddy / Cobra / Milltek / Tomei