| A performance exhaust system is a must have | | | | common belief is that the less exhaust |
| for any modified car or truck. From mild to wild, | | | | backpressure, the better the performance. This |
| the exhaust note that a vehicle makes completes | | | | evaluation of the negative effects of exhaust |
| the overall image. There is, what seems to be, an | | | | backpressure seems legitimate. However, the |
| endless supply of choices for your aftermarket | | | | truth of the matter is that gasoline engines |
| exhaust system. However, one of the loudest, | | | | require some degree of backpressure for peak |
| best sounding, and cheapest choice, may not be | | | | performance and the broadest power curve. This |
| the best. That's right, the good ole straight pipe. | | | | is due to the nature of the internal combustion |
| Usually, the only requirement for straight piping a | | | | process. In a straight exhaust system setup, |
| car or truck is a sawzall and some creative | | | | backpressure is nearly eliminated. Therefore, |
| ingenuity. If you are unfamiliar with the term | | | | during the exhaust and intake valve overlap, or |
| "straight pipe", it simply refers to an exhaust | | | | the time when both valves are open, precious fuel |
| system that is unrestricted by mufflers (has had | | | | escapes through the exhaust system. This is |
| them removed), and in most cases the catalytic | | | | because the area of the combustion chamber |
| converters and any other resonator or sound | | | | surrounding the exhaust valve becomes a low |
| deadening device installed on the exhaust system. | | | | pressure zone once exhaust gases are forced out |
| Lame mans terms: It's loud! However, before you | | | | of the cylinder. As the intake valve opens (and |
| go hacking away at your exhaust system, there | | | | the exhaust valve is open, but in the process of |
| are some important things you should not about | | | | closing), fuel rushes into the cylinder and is |
| straight piping. Under most circumstances, it is | | | | attracted to this low pressure portion of the |
| usually more beneficial to run high performance | | | | cylinder. |
| mufflers rather than no mufflers at all. To begin | | | | Since the exhaust valves have not finished closing, |
| with, a straight exhaust system is a heavy | | | | fuel and air exit through the valve and out the |
| polluter; in both noise and greenhouse gases. The | | | | exhaust system. When a high performance |
| resulting volume of a straight exhaust system is | | | | muffler is used, enough backpressure is withstand |
| typically much louder than what is legal. And | | | | to eliminate the low pressure environment of the |
| removal of emissions equipment will send more | | | | cylinder surrounding the exhaust valve, therefore |
| harmful gases into the atmosphere. | | | | keeping fuel and air from rushing out of the |
| The common misconception is that a straight | | | | cylinder during the overlap time between the |
| exhaust will result in increased power. This be true | | | | exhaust and intake valves. It is as simple as this; |
| in some cases if you are comparing straight | | | | less fuel in the cylinder means weaker |
| exhaust to a stock muffler. But in comparison to | | | | combustion, which ultimately means less power. |
| a performance muffler, the muffler will more | | | | Low RPM horsepower and torque on a straight |
| often than not provide more power than the | | | | exhaust is virtually eliminated as well. For the best |
| straight exhaust. Furthermore, a straight exhaust | | | | all around performance, choose a quality |
| system can drastically alter your power curve. | | | | performance exhaust system over a straight |
| The reason people tend to believe this is because | | | | exhaust system. |