It goes without saying that the engine is the heart of a car but the exhaust system is the lungs. The exhaust on every car is there to let the fumes coming from the engine exit more easily and without polluting as much as older vehicles did. These fumes enter the manifold first and then are sent to the catalytic converter which helps filter off harmful pollutants.
The exhaust gas is then sent through a resonator which helps reduce the vibrations and then it goes through a muffler which helps make your car quieter makes especially when you rev it. At last, the gases exit from your vehicle into the atmosphere. While performance exhaust systems work the same way they do so much quicker than a stock exhaust.
Advantages of a Performance Exhaust
Performance
What you get with a new performance aftermarket exhaust is an outright drastic change in acceleration be it from a standstill or while moving. A proper performance exhaust in Australia will definitely make your car more enjoyable both on the road and on the track no matter how much of a performance boost it offers.
Sound
Something that changes together with the performance of your car is sound. You can make your vehicle's exhaust note sound more aggressive or tone it down a bit. It's totally up to you just make sure to get the right system in order to achieve what you're aiming for.
Efficiency
Another factor that you might not take into consideration with performance exhaust systems is efficiency. You will also make for more efficient use of engine fumes if you have a turbocharged car. Regardless of the type of car you have, you'll definitely notice fuel being used more efficiently.
Appeal
A byproduct of a roaring exhaust and a fast car, you will also improve your vehicle's curb appeal. This will be especially the case if you go for an exhaust with a sporty design out the back, such as double exhaust tips.
Factors to Consider in a Performance Exhaust
Material
The main materials for a performance exhaust in Australia are steel, titanium and Inconel.
Steel is the go-to for most people as it's a tried and true material in the world of performance exhausts. It's durable and dependable while being light and not as expensive as Titanium.
Titanium exhausts are the lightest and strongest commercially available exhausts but also the most expensive while being able to withstand a lot of heat too.
An Inconel exhaust is quite a rare sight since it's mostly found on Formula 1 vehicles but it is able to withstand the most amount of heat.
Coatings
Steel exhausts come with different coatings on them and this makes for mild, aluminised and stainless steel exhausts. Mild steel exhausts are the most affordable but also the least corrosion-resistant while aluminised steel exhausts are a big step up from the former. The best are stainless steel exhausts since they are the lightest of the three and also the strongest and most corrosion-resistant too.
Diameter
The diameter of the piping also plays a big role in how well a performance exhaust is going to expel gasses. The larger the diameter of the pipes the more gasses can pass and the easier they can pass too. But keep in mind that an aftermarket exhaust system can have piping with too large of a diameter which can create what is known as back pressure.
Bends
The way an exhaust bends will tell you a lot about how well it's going to make engine fumes travel. Exhausts can be either mandrel or crush-bent. Crush-bent exhausts are what you'll want to avoid since they restrict airflow as they come with deformations where the exhaust bends. Mandrel-bent exhausts are superior since they allow for the best airflow as there is nothing to stand in the way of exhaust gasses as the bends are smooth.
Valve
You can either have an exhaust with a valve or without one. A valved aftermarket exhaust simply gives you the ability to muffle your vehicle or to let its growl be heard in all its glory. With the flick of a switch or press of a button, you can open the valve while on a track and then close it off while on the way home so you don't wake up your neighbours.
Connections
There are two ways to connect exhaust components together and those are with lap joints or butt joints. A lap joint or also known as a slip joint will have one pipe slip onto another. With a butt joint, you have two pipes that have the same diameter join together. Here you can weld them together, band hem with a clamp or use a pipe extender.
Crossover Pipes
If you go for a crossover system you will get an H or an X configuration This means you can get a system with the crossover pipes placed to look like the leather H which is a common practice or like the letter X. The latter is a far more advanced use case scenario since it makes for a more seamless path for exhaust gasses. A system with an H configuration provides good balance but it doesn't improve exhaust scavenging. Generally speaking, an X-pipe exhaust is therefore a much better option.
