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What Are Headers?

Headers are an alternative to a ‘traditional’ exhaust manifold. Something which hot-rod enthusiasts are likely familiar with. Headers will also collect any exhaust gases from each cylinder, into one tube. But, tubes for headers are a lot longer than they would be for an exhaust manifest. This increases performance by reducing the pressure needed to force any exhaust gas through the system.

What Is A Cat-Back Exhaust?

‘Cat-Back Exhaust’ is a term regularly used by car-loving enthusiasts. But what exactly does it mean? It’s not used to describe a particular type of exhaust system, but more to refer to where you are making changes in your system.

A cat-back exhaust means that all the parts of the exhaust system behind your catalytic converter have been upgraded. In other words, from the ‘cat’ back.

Is a Turbocharger Part of the Exhaust System?

The simple answer is ‘kind of.’ A turbocharger can be thought of as a single fan.This fan has a dual set of blades. The blades are like two small wheels, which are separated by an extremely short axle.

One of the sets of blades is combined into the flow of exhaust gas which comes from the engine. These blades spin faster as the exhaust gas increases.

As the set of blades is connected to the other set of fan blades, it causes them to spin as well. But, the second set of fan blades forms part of the intake system, which sucks in more fresh air. This allows the engine cylinders to create more power.

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Muffler

A muffler is also known as a silencer, and it is located near the rear of an exhaust system. A muffler reduces any noise which comes from the fuel combustion process, as well as fumes from the exhaust system.

The way it does this is by using perforated tubes. They create opposing sound waves, and the sound waves cancel each other out.

What Does a Car Exhaust Muffler Do?

There are more things than waste gases which pass through your exhaust system. Sound waves also do. Excessive noise from the exhaust isn’t only an annoyance to your neighbours. They are also a public health issue and have been linked to causing major heart problems.

Mufflers use a few different strategies to reduce noise. Mufflers direct sound waves through chambers or tubes which are inside the muffler. This leads to most of the sound waves cancelling each other out. It’s also possible that inside the muffler, there are materials which help to absorb sound.

A muffler is also known as a silencer, and it is located near the rear of an exhaust system. A muffler reduces any noise which comes from the fuel combustion process, as well as fumes from the exhaust system.

The way it does this is by using perforated tubes. They create opposing sound waves, and the sound waves cancel each other out.

What Does a Car Exhaust Muffler Do?

There are more things than waste gases which pass through your exhaust system. Sound waves also do. Excessive noise from the exhaust isn’t only an annoyance to your neighbours. They are also a public health issue and have been linked to causing major heart problems.

Mufflers use a few different strategies to reduce noise. Mufflers direct sound waves through chambers or tubes which are inside the muffler. This leads to most of the sound waves cancelling each other out. It’s also possible that inside the muffler, there are materials which help to absorb sound.

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Exhaust Pipes

Each of the exhaust components mentioned above have one thing in common. They are linked by exhaust pipes. The function is to direct gas through all the parts of the car exhaust system, before the gas exits from the tailpipes at the end of the exhaust.

What Is An Exhaust Resonator?

There are some mufflers which have been designed to tune the engine to sound a certain way, much to the appeal of their drivers. A famous example is the in-your-face roar of a V8 engine. Its distinct sound comes from the design of the muffler.

Some cars also have separate exhaust resonators, to take exhaust noise to the next level. These resonators are in the exhaust system, toward the front of the muffler.

Keep in mind that an exhaust resonator isn’t designed to reduce the volume of the exhaust. Instead, it cancels out and removes any ‘annoying’ frequencies, while keeping the ‘good’ ones for drivers to enjoy at full volume.

What Are Exhaust Tips?

Exhaust tips are hardware which is at the end of the exhaust system. It is connected to the muffler’s outlet. Usually, it is a straight pipe for many cars. It’s also possible to add separate exhaust tips. They will improve the sound, look and even the performance of your car.

What Is A Dual Exhaust?

Now that we’ve covered exhaust tips, what is the difference between them and dual exhaust? Many ‘sporty’ vehicles have dual exhaust tips. They are part of a single exhaust system.

The extra tips only provide a benefit between the short distance of the actual exhaust outlets and the muffler.

But, what about a dual exhaust system? Instead of one exhaust system, it will have two independent exhaust systems.

In a standard V8 or V6 dual exhaust system, each bank of cylinders will have its own exhaust system. This leads to the engine not having to push gases from all eight or six cylinders through one exhaust pipe and into a single muffler.

Because of this, the engine wastes less power. Which means there is more power available to increase performance.