The Reality of a “Muffler Delete”

Author

Javaughn Barrow

The sound of an exhaust can be a very intoxicating thing or it could be very obnoxious. Even though most cars come quiet today in stock form, I think you’ll find that when enhancing the experience of your driving machine a good exhaust sound is a key factor in doing so. A muffler delete might help.

Tons of sports/supercars today are very fun and a special thing to own these days, especially if you have the money. The cars today are so good, what makes it hard to get into one is more about choice than anything else; there are so many good options at every level. That being said, one of the things that make these sports/supercars such a special experience to have, that all combustion engine cars have in common…Exhaust Sound! 

Topics discussed:

What is an exhaust sound?

Simply put, a combustion engine makes mini explosions every second, the sound plus the exhaust gasses from those explosions gets routed through what you would call an exhaust system. An Exhaust System is a connection of pipes essentially creating a pathway for the gasses and combustion sound to exit the car. The sound you hear is the result of the engine’s combustion process and exhaust gasses moving throughout the system, hence “Exhaust Sound”.

In broader terms the “Sound” is the result of a combination of engine components working together to make a properly functioning combustion engine.This is why it pays to have a good sounding exhaust for fun/enjoyment. Sound as one of your five senses is a part of your human experience and a good sound coupled with a good driving experience…well you get where I’m going with this. 

What is an exhaust drone?

For us to talk about exhaust drone let first talk about mufflers. A muffler is the part of the exhaust system that is responsible for muffling the sound of the exhaust. Think of it as a silencer.

Most cars come with a catalytic converter, resonator, a mid muffler and a rear muffler. The resonator is kind of like the muffler but instead of muffling the sound the resonator tunes it for a more pleasant note. The catalytic converter simply reduces the emissions coming from the engine’s combustion. All four parts play a key role on how exhaust sounds come out of combustion engines for everyday living. It’s not every day you want to wake up to Loud noises, especially if it doesn’t sound good.

This is where we get to the exhaust drone. This happens when you attempt a muffler delete and resonator delete to get more sound out of your car for your spirited driving sessions, but when it comes to normal driving especially at low RPMs it’s still a bit too loud and it becomes irritable instead of enjoyable. 

How do I get a good exhaust note?

There are a few ways to get a good exhaust note. One way is to get an aftermarket exhaust system which can cost a pretty penny, but if you have the money manufacturers like borla, magnaflow, flowmaster, Armytrix etc. can help you out. They have different variations ranging from different prices.

Another way that’s more cost effective which most car enthusiasts use is a rear muffler delete or a mid muffler delete. This could be coupled with a cold air intake for more induction sound at a higher than stock sound or you can do either separately.

Getting rid of just the muffler will get you a higher pitch exhaust note. Prices total for muffler delete ranges from $150 – $250. The price range for a resonator delete is similar to muffler delete costs as well. However, once you have the muffler delete cost considered, if you keep going after getting rid of the muffler you can do a resonator delete. Along with that you can also get rid of the cats (catalytic converter) for what we would call a Straight piped system.

Straight pipes?

“Straight pipe” is basically all the piping throughout the exhaust system with no resistance along the way, no cats, no res (resonator) and no mufflers. Getting as loud as you can straight from the engine. This method more than likely may cause an exhaust drone. This is why at this level you’re better off going with an aftermarket exhaust manufacturer. They know what they’re doing when it comes to a straight piped system and can get you the sound you are looking for without the drone.

Cold air intakes are  another modification you can do for engine induction sound, not necessarily exhaust sound because the intake happens before the engine combustion, which happens before the exhaust. 

Air Intakes

Air intakes are the part of the engine cooling system which sucks in clean air to then feed to the engine for combustion. You can imagine that makes a nice whooshing sound signifying a flow of air. A “Cold Air Intake” replaces the stock intake, which often has the air filter surrounded by a box.

The cold air intake has an open concept instead around the air filter, a bit further away from the engine. This is specifically for a higher chance of sucking in colder air which is oxygen rich. Oxygen rich air boosts your engine’s Horsepower, and the wider pipes in a cold air intake system allows for better flow and more sounds simultaneously. Cold air intakes prices have a wider range from $40 – $2,000, so if you’re looking for the more cost effective route, I would recommend a DIY installation depending on your situation.

What is a muffler vs exhaust?

Many get the term muffler and exhaust confused but they’re different. The exhaust is the byproduct from engine combustion flowing through the “exhaust system”. You can look at the exhaust as being something that comes out the tail end of a car in most scenarios, and although there is a muffler toward the tail end of an exhaust system the two can get confused.

But remember the muffler is meant to quiet the sounds generated by engine combustion. Although you can get aftermarket mufflers to enhance exhaust sound, ultimately the purpose of it is to distort sound in a way that makes it quieter. It can also be louder with a custom muffler or even a different type of exhaust note. 

Conclusion

In this article I’ve gone through a few phrases like “exhaust sound”, “exhaust note”, “exhaust system” . Hopefully you’re at the point where you have an understanding for these labels and also have a good idea for muffler delete cost, resonator delete prices etc. So the next time you hear someone talking about exhaust sound, you’ll think of this article. Oh and if you do decide to explore modding your exhaust sound remember to have fun!

Javaughn Barrow

Hello! My name is Javaughn Barrow, a young car enthusiast who writes all the articles for Karcandy.com. I’ve written over 50 articles about automobiles. With each article, I deepen my understanding and expertise in writing and the automotive world. Ever since childhood, I’ve always had a strong passion for cars. All types shapes and sizes were interesting to me. I’d spend most of my time after school researching cars and the more I found out about them the more exciting it was. In my teens, I created a fan page about corvettes posting content at least ten times a day! Yes, I was crazy about it. The page ended up garnering over 40k followers! After a while, I wanted more than a fan page. I wanted to express my passion differently. I wanted to create more helpful content, higher-quality content. My first car was a 2013 VW CC Sport. Learned very quickly car ownership wasn’t as expected. I spent a lot of time replacing control arms, cam position sensors, brake rotors, brake pads, etc. Walking away with more information than I knew before. As I was growing in my automotive journey I was learning about writing. Starting by writing a detailed outline about 300 words long then I would pay a professional to write a full 1000-word article and learn from them getting familiar with the process of writing. The moment I realized I could use my writing skills to express my passion for cars and help people simultaneously, I started Karcandy.com. I realized with my unique perspective coupled with my hard work discipline and work ethic I can create a space online to help bridge the gap between the complicated and simple in the automotive world. I’m motivated by the challenges and work it will take to create such a space. My work ethic is something I choose to refine and make better each day. I think it’s important to push myself and stay committed to my evolution as a human and this website is only one of the results of that.

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