Mostly every vehicle comes up with the part last in the exhaust system before tailpipe which is "MUFFLER"(NORTH AMERICA).It is well known for its another word "SILENCER"(UK, INDIA).Many people wanted to delete it since they believe that it hampers performance. Probably that may be the right guess but not always(it depends).Let's look into its purpose, types, working, pros and cons.
What is it for?
It is to decrease the noise emitted from the exhaust of an engine.
Mufflers(mostly stock mufflers) decrease the performance by increasing exhaust back pressure.Aftermarket mufflers may not hamper performance.
TYPES :
1.GLASS PACK OR STRAIGHT THROUGH:
The name itself indicates that it is a straight pipe.There is no baffling. Due to its straight design, it gives more HorsePower by decreasing the exhaust back pressure.Mostly we find this in 2 wheelers.
CONSTRUCTION:
Coming to its design, it starts with the perforated rounded metal(mostly steel) pipe inside, this pipe is wrapped with stainless steel wool, over steel wool fiberglass wool is provided. The whole thing is then covered with Aluminum or steel shell.Since it uses fiberglass wool it can also be called as glass pack muffler.
WORKING:
When the exhaust gas enters the glass pack muffler, initially the sound waves of exhaust gas will travel towards stainless steel wool through the perforations on the rounded metal pipe.At where actual energy conversion takes place.Here sound energy is converted into heat energy. Steel wool promotes the noise cancellation here and it also acts as a heat insulator but in order to minimize heat losses more, fiberglass is used which helps to retain heat inside it by acting as an insulating material.It can also eliminate the high-frequency sound waves if we use it instead of steel wool.The outer protection is given by coated aluminum or steel which is corrosion resistant. It instead of coating, exhaust wrap is used to cover the muffler.
ADVANTAGES:
1)less baffling.
2)gives more horsepower by decreasing back pressure since its a straight pipe design.
3)easily pumps out deep exhaust tones due to its simple design.
4)sound is quite low than the inlet.
5)Low cost than all.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)can't eliminate complete noise.
2)not suits for bigger engines.
2)CHAMBERED OR LOUVERED MUFFLER:
In this muffler, there are basically three chambers one follow the other.It is also having a simple design by providing baffles which will create low-pressure areas so that sound waves will cancel out each other.These can be used mostly for 4 wheelers but nowadays these are replaced mostly with turbo mufflers or even replaced with high-performance mufflers like Corsa RSC, vortex mufflers.
CONSTRUCTION:
Generally, it's a three-chambered design, in which the first and last chambers are having no baffles while in the second chamber, there are some well-constructed baffles as shown in the figure.The outer covering is made up of steel or Aluminium metal.
WORKING:
Initially, the gas enters the first chamber. At there, very high-frequency sound waves will cancel out each other.But the actual cancellation of sound waves will occur in the second chamber.Here a low-pressure area is created between the baffles so that high-frequency sound waves pulls in and cancel out each other.Due to the low pressure, there is an increase in exhaust flow in chamber two that means accelerating of exhaust flow.Then it passes through the third chamber (low-pressure balance chamber) which serves as an anti-reversion barrier to keep the atmospheric pressure from entering the muffler from behind.
ADVANTAGES:
1) Gives better performance than straight through muffler.
2) Always sounds great.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)Big size.
2)Generally, these won't eliminate low-frequency waves.
3)increases back pressure little bit.
3)TURBO MUFFLER:
These can be very useful to cancel out the noise as much as possible.These are mostly used for 4 or more wheelers.Here also sound cancellation takes places between the baffles.
CONSTRUCTION:
Here it is separated into chambers by the baffles.Mostly, the three-chambered design is considered.Baffles are connected through the perforated tubes.Mostly three pipes are used between the chambers.In addition to this, glass pack is also used in order to retain heat inside it, to get smooth exhaust flow.
WORKING:
When the gas enters the muffler through the first pipe, the sound waves will come out through the perforations and enters the chamber.Similarly, the gas will pass through the other pipes and leaves sound waves into the chambers.These sound waves will cancel each other and promote no sound.Finally, the exhaust gas will send out through the muffler and the tailpipe.The main principle here is to eliminate the noise by canceling the sound waves with each other
ADVANTAGES:
1)sounds better than glass pack and chambered.
2)Can eliminate low-frequency sound waves also.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)more back pressure is developed.
4)VORTEX MUFFLER(CHERRY BOMB):
Even though we have various mufflers as mentioned above.No one can perform better well in reducing the noise perfectly without hampering the performance.Either They may not reduce the noise perfectly without disturbing the horsepower STRAIGHT THROUGH MUFFLERS or they may reduce noise somewhat perfectly by reducing the horsepower like CHAMBERED, TURBO MUFFLERS.So here comes a new device which can give our requirement perfectly, that is VORTEX MUFFLER.
CONSTRUCTION:
It is the combination of STRAIGHT THROUGH, CHAMBERED, and TURBO mufflers.It is designed in such a way that it can perform like all the three mufflers as explained above.Like a straight through, it is almost having a straight through design and also has a thin perforated shell(steel), steel wool, fiberglass (for better insulation) along both sides of the muffler but this muffler is not in circular shape.It has a rectangular design with some width.Like chambered and turbo muffler, there are some baffles in the middle which will divert the flow of exhaust towards left and right and create a low-pressure area so that sounds waves will pull towards that zone(low-pressure area) from both the sides of the baffles and cancel out each other.
WORKING:
When the gas enters the muffler, initially some of the sound waves will enter the stainless steel wool through the perforations on the steel shell so that sound energy is converted into heat energy which will remain inside the muffler by the fiberglass wool.Some of the high-frequency sound waves will pull from both the sides of the baffles by the low-pressure waves created beneath the baffles so that they can cancel each other.
ADVANTAGES:
1)Less backpressure developed because of almost straight flow.
2)Since it is the combination of all the three mufflers, it sounds better than those.
3)Increases performance.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)The drawback of this muffler is that it won't eliminates the low-frequency sound waves perfectly resulting in the happening of exhaust drone.
2)Causes some low back pressure to happen.
5)RSC MUFFLER(CORSA):
RSC means Reflective Sound Cancellation.This can eliminate high-frequency sound waves along with low-frequency sound waves which cause exhaust drone at cruising speeds.
CONSTRUCTION:
It has a rectangular (or) a circular design in which the exhaust pipe passes in the middle. There are two holes in the pipe.On both the sides of the pipe, there are some series of sections are present.The entry and exit of the sections on each side of the pipe are connected to the holes in the pipe.Near the end of the muffler, the pipe is perforated around which a glass pack is used so that high-frequency sound waves will cancel out.
WORKING:
Initially, the low-frequency sound waves will enter both the sides through the first hole(A) on the pipe.They travel through the series of sections on both the sides of the pipe and again enters the pipe through second hole(B) with 180-degree phase change.The reflected sound waves from the sides of the pipe will cancel out each other.The point where the cancellation occurs is called the point of cancellation.Whereas the straight flow gas will have some high-frequency sound waves, those are eliminated at the end of the muffler.Through the perforations on the pipe, the high-frequency sound waves enter the fiberglass results in the conversion of sound energy into heat energy and that will trap by the fiberglass.So the output exhaust will have quite sound.
ADVANTAGES:
1)Eliminates low-frequency sound waves.
2)Increases engine efficiency, Torque, and HorsePower because of straight flow of exhaust gases.No restriction to exhaust gases causes no back pressure.
3)No drone.
DISADVANTAGES:
1) Acts mostly like a resonator( mainly for eliminating low-frequency sound waves ).
2) Not eliminate high-frequency sound waves completely.
3)During high speeds,won't eliminate noise completely.
QUICK REVIEW:
1)Glass pack:
a)Doesn't hamper performance due to its straight design.
b)Can't eliminate noise perfectly.
c)gives smooth flow.
d) noisier.
2)Chambered:
a) hamper performance.
b)Can eliminate high-frequency waves.
c)Drone is there due to the presence of low-frequency sound waves.
3)Turbo:
a) hamper performance.
b)Can eliminate both high and low-frequency sound waves.
c)Less noisy.
4)Vortex:
a)Almost straight flow, so may not hamper performance.
b)Eliminate all high-frequency sound waves but some of the low-frequency sound waves may not be canceled.
c)Exhaust drone will occur when cruising at low speeds.
d)Less noisy.
5)RSC:
a)Doesn't hamper performance.
b)Eliminate low-frequency sound waves completely but high-frequency sound waves may still be present.
c)If additional sound cancellation system provided like fiberglass wool results in cancellation of high-frequency sound waves also but high-frequency sound waves won't cancel out completely.
d)No drone.
e)Some noise will be there when reving at high speeds.
#From all the discussion above, we can conclude that a muffler may improve or hamper performance depends on its type, type of engine being used based on small, large or no of cylinders etc.This means suppose you have a small engine car with stock muffler by default. If you want to increase the performance then going to aftermarket mufflers like Vortex, RSC Corsa muffler is useless.They may or may not increase performance.Even if it increases, that would be very small.So don't believe that aftermarket mufflers always increases performance when replaced.But if someone asked me a question that "does mufflers hamper performance"?I'll say answer "YES" but not all mufflers, mostly straight through design mufflers like glass pack, vortex, RSC won't oppose the exhaust flow.So they won't decrease the horsepower and torque.But all other mufflers like chambered, the turbo will create back pressure so that performance will decrease when replaced.
You guys can observe that no muffler can do both the works like doesn't hamper performance and eliminate noise completely. So going for changes in the whole exhaust system is needed instead of changes in the only single muffler.To my knowledge, the header back exhaust system is the only exhaust system which can provide more efficiency, Torque and HorsePower along with less noise but we have to consider that what is the existing exhaust system type, whether it fits the vehicle, type of engine being used etc.We will discuss about the different exhaust systems in further posts#
TYPES :
1.GLASS PACK OR STRAIGHT THROUGH:
The name itself indicates that it is a straight pipe.There is no baffling. Due to its straight design, it gives more HorsePower by decreasing the exhaust back pressure.Mostly we find this in 2 wheelers.
CONSTRUCTION:
Coming to its design, it starts with the perforated rounded metal(mostly steel) pipe inside, this pipe is wrapped with stainless steel wool, over steel wool fiberglass wool is provided. The whole thing is then covered with Aluminum or steel shell.Since it uses fiberglass wool it can also be called as glass pack muffler.
WORKING:
When the exhaust gas enters the glass pack muffler, initially the sound waves of exhaust gas will travel towards stainless steel wool through the perforations on the rounded metal pipe.At where actual energy conversion takes place.Here sound energy is converted into heat energy. Steel wool promotes the noise cancellation here and it also acts as a heat insulator but in order to minimize heat losses more, fiberglass is used which helps to retain heat inside it by acting as an insulating material.It can also eliminate the high-frequency sound waves if we use it instead of steel wool.The outer protection is given by coated aluminum or steel which is corrosion resistant. It instead of coating, exhaust wrap is used to cover the muffler.
ADVANTAGES:
1)less baffling.
2)gives more horsepower by decreasing back pressure since its a straight pipe design.
3)easily pumps out deep exhaust tones due to its simple design.
4)sound is quite low than the inlet.
5)Low cost than all.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)can't eliminate complete noise.
2)not suits for bigger engines.
2)CHAMBERED OR LOUVERED MUFFLER:
In this muffler, there are basically three chambers one follow the other.It is also having a simple design by providing baffles which will create low-pressure areas so that sound waves will cancel out each other.These can be used mostly for 4 wheelers but nowadays these are replaced mostly with turbo mufflers or even replaced with high-performance mufflers like Corsa RSC, vortex mufflers.
CONSTRUCTION:
Generally, it's a three-chambered design, in which the first and last chambers are having no baffles while in the second chamber, there are some well-constructed baffles as shown in the figure.The outer covering is made up of steel or Aluminium metal.
WORKING:
Initially, the gas enters the first chamber. At there, very high-frequency sound waves will cancel out each other.But the actual cancellation of sound waves will occur in the second chamber.Here a low-pressure area is created between the baffles so that high-frequency sound waves pulls in and cancel out each other.Due to the low pressure, there is an increase in exhaust flow in chamber two that means accelerating of exhaust flow.Then it passes through the third chamber (low-pressure balance chamber) which serves as an anti-reversion barrier to keep the atmospheric pressure from entering the muffler from behind.
ADVANTAGES:
1) Gives better performance than straight through muffler.
2) Always sounds great.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)Big size.
2)Generally, these won't eliminate low-frequency waves.
3)increases back pressure little bit.
3)TURBO MUFFLER:
These can be very useful to cancel out the noise as much as possible.These are mostly used for 4 or more wheelers.Here also sound cancellation takes places between the baffles.
CONSTRUCTION:
Here it is separated into chambers by the baffles.Mostly, the three-chambered design is considered.Baffles are connected through the perforated tubes.Mostly three pipes are used between the chambers.In addition to this, glass pack is also used in order to retain heat inside it, to get smooth exhaust flow.
WORKING:
When the gas enters the muffler through the first pipe, the sound waves will come out through the perforations and enters the chamber.Similarly, the gas will pass through the other pipes and leaves sound waves into the chambers.These sound waves will cancel each other and promote no sound.Finally, the exhaust gas will send out through the muffler and the tailpipe.The main principle here is to eliminate the noise by canceling the sound waves with each other
ADVANTAGES:
1)sounds better than glass pack and chambered.
2)Can eliminate low-frequency sound waves also.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)more back pressure is developed.
4)VORTEX MUFFLER(CHERRY BOMB):
Even though we have various mufflers as mentioned above.No one can perform better well in reducing the noise perfectly without hampering the performance.Either They may not reduce the noise perfectly without disturbing the horsepower STRAIGHT THROUGH MUFFLERS or they may reduce noise somewhat perfectly by reducing the horsepower like CHAMBERED, TURBO MUFFLERS.So here comes a new device which can give our requirement perfectly, that is VORTEX MUFFLER.
CONSTRUCTION:
It is the combination of STRAIGHT THROUGH, CHAMBERED, and TURBO mufflers.It is designed in such a way that it can perform like all the three mufflers as explained above.Like a straight through, it is almost having a straight through design and also has a thin perforated shell(steel), steel wool, fiberglass (for better insulation) along both sides of the muffler but this muffler is not in circular shape.It has a rectangular design with some width.Like chambered and turbo muffler, there are some baffles in the middle which will divert the flow of exhaust towards left and right and create a low-pressure area so that sounds waves will pull towards that zone(low-pressure area) from both the sides of the baffles and cancel out each other.
WORKING:
When the gas enters the muffler, initially some of the sound waves will enter the stainless steel wool through the perforations on the steel shell so that sound energy is converted into heat energy which will remain inside the muffler by the fiberglass wool.Some of the high-frequency sound waves will pull from both the sides of the baffles by the low-pressure waves created beneath the baffles so that they can cancel each other.
ADVANTAGES:
1)Less backpressure developed because of almost straight flow.
2)Since it is the combination of all the three mufflers, it sounds better than those.
3)Increases performance.
DISADVANTAGES:
1)The drawback of this muffler is that it won't eliminates the low-frequency sound waves perfectly resulting in the happening of exhaust drone.
2)Causes some low back pressure to happen.
5)RSC MUFFLER(CORSA):
RSC means Reflective Sound Cancellation.This can eliminate high-frequency sound waves along with low-frequency sound waves which cause exhaust drone at cruising speeds.
CONSTRUCTION:
It has a rectangular (or) a circular design in which the exhaust pipe passes in the middle. There are two holes in the pipe.On both the sides of the pipe, there are some series of sections are present.The entry and exit of the sections on each side of the pipe are connected to the holes in the pipe.Near the end of the muffler, the pipe is perforated around which a glass pack is used so that high-frequency sound waves will cancel out.
WORKING:
Initially, the low-frequency sound waves will enter both the sides through the first hole(A) on the pipe.They travel through the series of sections on both the sides of the pipe and again enters the pipe through second hole(B) with 180-degree phase change.The reflected sound waves from the sides of the pipe will cancel out each other.The point where the cancellation occurs is called the point of cancellation.Whereas the straight flow gas will have some high-frequency sound waves, those are eliminated at the end of the muffler.Through the perforations on the pipe, the high-frequency sound waves enter the fiberglass results in the conversion of sound energy into heat energy and that will trap by the fiberglass.So the output exhaust will have quite sound.
ADVANTAGES:
1)Eliminates low-frequency sound waves.
2)Increases engine efficiency, Torque, and HorsePower because of straight flow of exhaust gases.No restriction to exhaust gases causes no back pressure.
3)No drone.
DISADVANTAGES:
1) Acts mostly like a resonator( mainly for eliminating low-frequency sound waves ).
2) Not eliminate high-frequency sound waves completely.
3)During high speeds,won't eliminate noise completely.
QUICK REVIEW:
1)Glass pack:
a)Doesn't hamper performance due to its straight design.
b)Can't eliminate noise perfectly.
c)gives smooth flow.
d) noisier.
2)Chambered:
a) hamper performance.
b)Can eliminate high-frequency waves.
c)Drone is there due to the presence of low-frequency sound waves.
3)Turbo:
a) hamper performance.
b)Can eliminate both high and low-frequency sound waves.
c)Less noisy.
4)Vortex:
a)Almost straight flow, so may not hamper performance.
b)Eliminate all high-frequency sound waves but some of the low-frequency sound waves may not be canceled.
c)Exhaust drone will occur when cruising at low speeds.
d)Less noisy.
5)RSC:
a)Doesn't hamper performance.
b)Eliminate low-frequency sound waves completely but high-frequency sound waves may still be present.
c)If additional sound cancellation system provided like fiberglass wool results in cancellation of high-frequency sound waves also but high-frequency sound waves won't cancel out completely.
d)No drone.
e)Some noise will be there when reving at high speeds.
#From all the discussion above, we can conclude that a muffler may improve or hamper performance depends on its type, type of engine being used based on small, large or no of cylinders etc.This means suppose you have a small engine car with stock muffler by default. If you want to increase the performance then going to aftermarket mufflers like Vortex, RSC Corsa muffler is useless.They may or may not increase performance.Even if it increases, that would be very small.So don't believe that aftermarket mufflers always increases performance when replaced.But if someone asked me a question that "does mufflers hamper performance"?I'll say answer "YES" but not all mufflers, mostly straight through design mufflers like glass pack, vortex, RSC won't oppose the exhaust flow.So they won't decrease the horsepower and torque.But all other mufflers like chambered, the turbo will create back pressure so that performance will decrease when replaced.
You guys can observe that no muffler can do both the works like doesn't hamper performance and eliminate noise completely. So going for changes in the whole exhaust system is needed instead of changes in the only single muffler.To my knowledge, the header back exhaust system is the only exhaust system which can provide more efficiency, Torque and HorsePower along with less noise but we have to consider that what is the existing exhaust system type, whether it fits the vehicle, type of engine being used etc.We will discuss about the different exhaust systems in further posts#
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