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.

Differences between Mufflers and Exhaust Systems

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, the pressure waves generated by the fast-moving gases are aggressively tuned by aftermarket mufflers so that they create a throaty roar.

Functional Differences

Aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to enhance cars by intelligently shaping certain performance curves. They improve engine breathing by widening the bores of the pipes, then assume a profile that accelerates the gas stream towards the tailpipe. Emission control takes place here as well, with O2 sensors and a catalytic converter taking charge of this environmentally responsible effort. Conversely, the muffler breaks away from this straight-line solution by adopting a bouncing mode of operation. There’s a resonation chamber in here, plus baffles and perforated tubes. Alternatively, straight-through mufflers dismiss the chambers, and their maximum flow characteristics do favour the engine, but these beasts deliver ear-splitting noise.

Resonator or Muffler: Is There A Difference?

The short answer is yes, their two chambers are not the same. A muffler, as covered earlier, is built to silence noise. Performance variants on this theme have introduced a resonator chamber inside the muffler, but this apparatus is still very much a sound attenuator. A purebred resonator targets certain sound frequencies and pulsed pressure waves. Essentially, if the car is mixing a high-frequency saw-like tone with its animalistic roar, the resonator will cancel out the higher tones, which then leaves behind pure animal.

Balance is a must here, so a quality-assured garage needs to get in on the act. The garage looks at chambered mufflers and straight-through solutions. The engineer balances the breathe-easy nature of the glass-pack with the quieter but pressure hampering qualities of the chambered muffler, all so that the inline unit functions as a hard-working member of the exhaust system’s pipes and boxes.

Trufit Exhaust
437 Warrigal Road,
Moorabbin, VIC 3189
Australia
Areas serviced: Melbourne
Tel: 03 9555 5688

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Source: This Post “Functional Differences between Mufflers and Exhaust Systems” appeared first on "Trufit Exhaust"
Location: Melbourne VIC, Australia

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