How To Choose The Best Exhaust System For Your Truck | JEGS (2024)

FAQs

How to choose the best exhaust system? ›

A good rule is to choose an exhaust pipe with a diameter proportional to your engine's horsepower. However, ensure that the piping diameter is relatively wider than the stock. If your car's engine has 400 horsepower, choose an aftermarket exhaust with a piping diameter of about 4'.

A cold air intake is one of the best options for getting a resonant, deep-sounding exhaust note from your vehicle. When you rev your engine and finally release the throttle, you'll hear the sound of air flowing through your intake and changing the notes of your engine to a louder, more aggressive sound.

Cat-back exhausts

These are full exhaust systems from the catalytic converter to the exhaust pipe at the back of the car. As well as the muffler and tail pipe, you'll also get the mid and intermediate pipes. These are the best sounding exhausts that will also give you some power gains.

Turbo Back Exhaust

The advantages of a Turbo-Back Exhaust include: Increased Horsepower: By optimising exhaust gas flow and reducing restrictions, a Turbo-Back system allows for a greater amount of gases to exit the turbocharger, resulting in improved horsepower.

The quick and easy way to choose what diameter pipe you will need from the headers to the mufflers is to go back to the old rule of thumb, that for every 100 horsepower = 1” of total pipe diameter is needed across the system. For example, a 500 horsepower engine needs a 2.5″ dual exhaust (2.5″ x 2 = 5″).

2.5" may flow enough for 300-350 h.p. without being a restriction. 3" is usually capable of flowing 500-600 h.p. before becoming a restriction.

What Exhaust Tips Sound Best? The best exhaust tips for sound are called “Megaphone” exhaust tips. The design of these tips incorporates an elongated funnel shape to amplify sound. The length of Megaphone tips ranges from 12 to 30 inches.

Attach an exhaust tip to your tailpipe to amplify your engine's sound. Whether you want a smooth purr or aggressive roar, these small but mighty components allow you to customize and increase the volume of your vehicle. Choose a larger tip for a deep, hearty sound, or opt for a smaller tip for more rasp.

Question: How much horsepower can I expect to gain? Answer: It's different for every car, but typically expected gains are in the average range of 10%. Replacing the muffler/exhaust with a MagnaFlow will help your engine increase power by being able to expel exhaust gases quicker.

How much HP does catback exhaust add? ›

However, that doesn't mean that adding an after-market exhaust will always result in more power. Depending upon your vehicle and the system you choose, an after-market exhaust can add as much as 50 horsepower or as little as 2 or 3 horsepower. Here's how you can figure out what to expect.

Long-tube headers make their power in the mid- to high-RPM range and are superior to both stock and most aftermarket shorty headers. If you can get long-tube headers to fit, you'll usually realize the most power gains.

Pay attention to the following areas: Welds – look for breaks, cracks or corrosion. Pipe connections – check for improper alignment or burned gaskets. Clamp connections – ensure there are no leaks.

Proper exhaust-pipe size is a function of both engine output and displacement. The higher the engine's output, the larger the pipes should be. Likewise, larger engine displacements call for bigger pipes.

We usually find that the 4” exhaust systems work the best up to 450-500 hp applications and typically have more bottom end torque compared to the 5” within this power range. Over 500 hp can benefit even more from a 5” exhaust system to maximize airflow for any turbo capable of the 500hp+ mark.

Dual exhaust systems provide a car with a more deep, throatier sound when the engine is running. Some individuals favor this. Even when it is not in use, it makes a loud, strong noise. Sometimes, but not always, people mistakenly believe that a louder sound indicates higher engine performance.