Functional Differences between Mufflers and Exhaust Systems
It’s not always easy to discern the differences between mufflers and exhaust systems . That’s probably because some of us are guilty of liberally swapping the terms whenever it suits us, but this practice needs to stop. End that confusion by remembering a muffler is a chamber for “muffling” the noise generated by the exhaust system. Then, drive that point home by knowing the full architecture of a top-of-the-line exhaust system. What is A Muffler? This chamber lives as an inline component within the exhaust system. It’s generally located at the end of the pipes, just before the tailpipe. Now, there might be a tailpipe extension down there, perhaps a couple of mechanical clamps supporting the additional pipe section, but this noise attenuator is still located at the rear end of the piping. It’s generally filled with chambers and perforated tubes. Functionally, this little devil should absorb sounds so that the car runs quietly. Realistically, at least on performance vehicles, th...