While the job of exhaust in your car is extended to enhance engine performance, drive away the fumes from passengers, and improve engine performance, Do Exhaust tips change the sound? Well! Exhaust tips are only cosmetics. However, specific types of exhaust tips like turndown or oversized exhaust tips may slightly impact engine performance, but this isn’t very important.
| An exhaust tip with a resonator can make a difference in the sound. |
According to Fundamentals of Automotive Technology, while exhaust tips’ main job is to remove exhaust gases, some aftermarket exhaust tips that come with a built-in resonator can significantly make a difference to the sound. Cleaning exhaust tips can also help with changing the sound.
So, in this article, let’s find out why people invest in exhaust tips and can any exhaust tip can affect your vehicle’s sound.
How Exhaust Tips with Resonator Make the Difference?
The main job of the resonator is to ease the muffler’s task. In addition to a muffler, a resonator is responsible for removing high-pitching noises at a particular frequency. But it does not affect the volume. It only helps with smoother exhaust notes.
Resonator also improves the power and performance of your engine but restricts the exhaust gas flow.
| If you have opted for resonator delete from the exhaust, then using an exhaust tip with a resonator can help control the car’s obnoxious exhaust sound. |
Why Do People Opt for Resonator Delete?
The main job of resonator delete is to make the car’s exhaust sound loud. Deleting the resonator or replacing it with a pipe helps improve your car’s power production. It also helps with more efficiency, higher vehicle performance and fuel mileage.
Here are some benefits of resonator delete:
1. Makes Your Vehicle Lighter
Once you remove the resonator, the overall weight of your car reduces. It, in turn, increases the towing capacity of your vehicle, resulting in better fuel efficiency.
2. Gives a Louder Tone to Engine
If you are obsessed with the obnoxiously loud sound of your car, that can only be possible with a resonator delete. Your car truly sounds like a muscle car.
3. Increase the Horsepower and Torque
The presence of a resonator restricts the exhaust gas flow and thus robs some torque and horsepower. Resonator delete helps gain back that horsepower and torque, inducing the exhaust system’s power and performance.
Does the Diameter of Exhaust Tips Make Any Difference?
Yes, the diameter of exhaust tips makes a significant amount of difference. Wider the exhaust tip, the higher the throaty sound your car will produce. A wider exhaust tip allows more fumes to exit and thus helps the engine to make a full sound.
Hence the restrictive exhaust becomes louder with the larger piping. If your car does not have any restrictive exhaust. The larger diameter helps deepen the tone.
| An exhaust tip with a diameter between 1.5 to 4 inches can create a decent amount of difference in sound. |
On the other hand, the small tips help with a more raspy sound. For softer sound, intercooler tips are highly preferred. These are the exhaust tips with cut holes over its body. I also appreciate the stylish looks of your vehicle.
Single Wall Vs. Double Wall: Which Exhaust Tip is Better?
A single wall exhaust tip comes with one piece of metal rounded for tips with a thinner look and cut at each end. The double wall tip has a smooth finish as another metal layer wraps over it. It is more expensive but adds a vibrant look to your car.
Coming to performance, both of these exhaust tips are identical. Although few people claim that the double-walled exhaust tips may have a fuller sound than the single wall, there is no conclusive evidence.
Way to Change Exhaust Sound
If you focus on changing the exhaust sound, changing the exhaust tip with an aftermarket dual-walled or flared tip may increase the sound output. Consider employing the resonated tips lined with a sound dampening or fiberglass material to reduce the sound output.
| Pro Tip: Roush F-150 Cat-Back Exhaust is the top Sounding Exhaust for F150 |
Here are some other proven ways to improve the exhaust sound:
Installing a Resonator instead of the catalytic converter
A resonator is responsible for bouncing off the sound waves in chamber walls resulting in the dampening effect of exhaust presence. The net exhaust volume will increase if you replace the catalytic converter with a resonator. Catalytic converter dampens the exhaust sound; thus, removing catalytic converter in many states is not legal.
Replacing the Muffler
The most critical factor that regulates the exhaust sound is the muffler. It allows all exhaust gases to vent off with little obstruction, producing some audible exhaust presence. Mufflers with multiple chambers allow dampening, leading to mellow sound production. It is because each cylinder fires separately; thus, each one partially balances or cancels out the sound produced by the other.
Mufflers are responsible for forcing exhaust gases by restricting them. Choose mufflers with linings that can absorb the sound waves leading to dampening sound output.
Installing Cross Pipes
For dual exhaust systems without any intermingling of gases, using a cross pipe can help. As the pipe allows the intermingling of gases from one exhaust to another, the overall gas production by exhaust at intermittent rates allows the mellowing of total sound. You may choose the cross pipes, y-pipes, X-pipe, or H-pipe options.
Using Straight Exhaust
A straight exhaust system allows all the gases to pass through the engine to its exhaust tail without any obstruction. Thus these designs reduce the obstruction to sound waves leading to a throaty, growl sound.
