Trufit Exhaust Blogger

  Understanding what a catalytic converter is, and what it does within your  exhaust system , is important for you to distinguish the best options when having to choose the difference between a direct fit and a universal fit for your vehicle. The propose of a catalytic converter is crucial for converting harmfully toxic gases, which are produced during the combustion of gasoline and diesel fuel, into carbon dioxide and water vapors, and to reduce nitrogen oxides. In this way, harmful gases such as hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are meant to be rendered harmless, if the exhaust system if functioning properly. Can an inefficient exhaust system hinder the ability of  modern catalytic converter  to reduce nitrogen oxides, and to convert harmful exhaust gases into water vapor and carbon dioxide? The answer is yes. In fact, the difference between a direct fit and a universal fit for your vehicle can improve the effectiveness of the catalytic converter. And, at the same t...

Injection systems improve engine performance , so why shouldn’t a similar mechanism enhance your exhaust output? Instead of fuel injection , however, the tech we’re about to discuss injects Urea into diesel exhaust streams. Buckle in while we explain what’s known as Selective Catalytic Reduction and Urea injection . It’s a chemical process that’s been used in industrial diesel engines for some time now, and it’s also found in car exhaust systems . What is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)? Selective catalytic reduction technology uses an active chemical injectant as an emission mitigation solution. Specifically, the catalytic agent targets the poisonous nitrogen oxide (Nox) fumes in your exhaust , which is why the technology earns the “selective” prefix. Down among the exhaust pipes , a dosing tank is injecting a gaseous reductant into the engine byproduct stream. A redox reaction takes place between the reductant and the nitrogen oxide. Basically, through some invis...

Back in the day, the earliest exhaust systems were dumb metal linkages. Sure, the welded pipes worked efficiently. They rid the engine of waste gasses well enough, but there was no emissions control in the system. Today’s exhaust pipes are smart by design. They incorporate a special oxygen monitor, an O2 sensor that monitors and controls engine emissions. It’s all about feedback, but what is this control loop altering? Fuel Mixture Oxygen sensors (O2) are typically installed in the exhaust manifold . They monitor oxygen because this is the atmospheric gas that mixes with your fuel to generate combustion. Engines are finely tuned so that the bulk of the fuel is burnt and no waste remains, but if the burn ratio is oxygen rich, well, this heavy mix will induce waste. Similarly, a lean oxygen-to-fuel mix also produces pollution. The O2 sensors detect this misbalance and send the data to your engine’s computer, which is when the check engine light starts to flash its warning. ...

Few aftermarket projects yield results that can compare to the addition of a customised motorcycle exhaust system . Sure, the best car pipes deliver impressive performance gains, but the gains are rarely as viscerally good looking as the mods found on motorbikes. Still, not all bike exhaust mods deliver the goods. Let’s see why. Avoiding Chassis Half Measures Motorcycles don’t need to be raised on a hydraulic platform. Accessibility isn’t an issue, then, but there’s just not as much real estate available when the time comes to bolt on the new aftermarket motorcycle exhaust system . We think that fact represents an installation drawback. Visually Engaging Profile The notion that an attractive double-barreled pipe makes heads turn seems like a benefit, but, performance-wise, the good looks suggest the design is coming up short. Basically, some manufacturers see the exposed pipes as an opportunity to show off polished chrome while ignoring the chance to boost engine breathin...

It’s a jaw-dropping prospect, isn’t it? The notion that some unprecedented influence could cause a muffler to explode. Like a blocked pipe in a plumbing system, pressure builds when a fluid-conveying tube is obstructed. Unlike the dirty backup spawned by clogged plumbing, the pressure build-up in the exhaust could make the muffler rupture, so what’s generating the build-up? Is it a blockage, or is it something else? System Deterioration The catalytic converter is loaded with ceramic parts and honeycombed metal plates. Each unit is slightly different due to architectural variances, but metal assemblies and heat-absorbing elements are always part of the inner workings. They catalyze engine fumes while releasing harmless gasses into the tailpipe. Unfortunately, these elements are susceptible to damage. Pushed forward by engine backpressure, the broken innards of a catalytic converter will create a blockage. From here, the pressure goes to work on the muffler seam. In short, i...

Exhaust manifolds are designed to couple each exhaust port of an engine’s cylinder head to a single outlet pipe. Functionally, the steely unit collects ejected waste gasses from the multiple cylinders and ejects them into a single pipe conduit. Viewed from a purely structural viewpoint, the little collector unit is manufactured as a blocky series of aligned ports. Its job is to merge the collected streams of cylinder-burnt gasses, to combine the multiple exhaust outlets into a single channel. Let’s take a closer look. Engine-to-Exhaust System Interface Exhaust manifolds bolt to car engines via heat-resistant gaskets. They’re the compact factory-installed workhorses that convert multiple exhaust outputs into a lone stream so that the unified volume of dirty gas can be expelled down one channel and out through a car’s tailpipe. Unfortunately, that compact profile does not favour free engine respiration. It’s a bit like dropping your head to your chest and trying to breathe freel...

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...

The diesel versus gas engine debate has been around forever. Both fuel sources require different types of engines because their fuel sources expend energy via two opposing methods. Meanwhile, turbochargers and fuel injection systems add complexity to the mechanical innards in the diesel compartment. These design factors explain engine performance differences and the need to roll up to the right pumps, but how do they affect  exhaust system differences ? In point of fact, are there any differences between them? Compression Contrary Designs Engine Compression characteristics are pushed to the limit in diesel applications. Temperatures rise higher, internal pressures are elevated, and gas velocities are accelerated. Conversely, more torque is generated by a diesel engine than a comparable gas model, so these lower RPMs will produce as much power as a fast-cycling gas engine. Supplemented With Turbocharger Kits The spark-less cylinders in a diesel engine rely on a compr...

Vehicle engineers have established broad exit channels for car engine exhaust , but there’s always room for improvement. A header back exhaust system reinforces this maxim by pulling up the proverbial bootstraps of the aftermarket craftsman and extending the factory replacement process all the way to the engine manifold. For a portrayal of how this process makes headway, read on and embrace our tailpipe-to-engine rundown. What is a Header Back Exhaust System? Power-robbing exhaust components go straight out the window when the kit extends all the way to the engine header. Everything, and we mean everything, is swapped out during this expansive upgrade. In doing so, the diameter of the exhaust pipework is increased, as is any intermediate linkages and crossover pipes. Finally, the muffler and catalytic converter can optionally be ousted in favour of improved chambers, but this latter rationale is subject to a manufacturer’s interpretation of the kit. Removing System Bottle...

Classic big bikes are purebred beasts. You know the ones we’re talking about, right? We’re talking about the vintage motorcycles that defined an era. Strictly speaking, the fat-engined bikes are outdated, but aftermarket aficionados still have a special place in their hearts for timeless classics. Now, personal bias aside, here are some tips for choosing the best motorcycle exhausts for your classic big bike. Big Bikes Have Never Had It So Good Veteren motorcycles are enjoying something of a revival. Nonetheless, they were built at a time when carbon emissions weren’t an issue. Petrol, gasoline to some of our readers, was just an endless fuel source. Today, things are a little different, so your classic motorcycle must accommodate modern emission guidelines. Say No to Scrapped Parts There are scrapyards and specialist forums out there, but should you be using these resource? Second-hand parts aren’t always the optimal solution, not when they’ve been exposed to the...

The architecture of a single chamber exhaust system changes from one kit to the next. What gives here? Why is one single chamber product shaped with a standard single inlet, single outlet form factor while the next kit is fitted with two inlets? More importantly, what specific exhaust eliminating functions are addressed when you fit a single chamber exhaust system? Scraping the Open Pipe Envelope   That’s right, by installing a single welded muffler box inline, your exhaust system is approaching a major barrier. Not for the faint of heart, you’ll gain that deep muscle car tone, plus a performance profile that doesn’t sacrifice hard-earned horsepower. Back inside your neighbour’s vehicle, a car that likely employs a multi-chambered exhaust system , there are special baffles and channels that exist to reduce the engine’s back pressure noise profile. In your single chamber system , those baffles and chambered innards are rejected in favour of a straight-through channel arch...