What is Straight Pipe Exhaust System? Should you Get One?

What is Straight Pipe Exhaust System? Should you Get One?

Chances are that you’ve been in at least one or more situations where you got into someone’s modified streetcar and turned it on and pressed upon the pedal, only to hear a sound that is very uncommon and not the standard sound that a car would usually produce.

If you’ve ever wondered why, it’s highly possible that there’s something going on in the rear of the vehicle, more precisely in the exhaust system. In this article by Motoring Junction, we’re going to take a look at one of the best – or worst – things to happen to your vehicle: a straight pipe exhaust.

Contents

*What is a Straight-Pipe Exhaust?

*How Straight Pipe Exhausts Work

*Advantages Of Straight Pipe Exhausts

*Disadvantages Of Straight Pipes

What is a Straight-Pipe Exhaust?

A straight pipe exhaust is a replacement to the plain old standard exhausts you find in cars when they leave the showroom. For some enthusiasts, the exhaust sound and performance of a vehicle matters far more than emission norms, while many consider this irresponsible, you just cannot ignore the fact that almost all vehicles these days sound bad and controlled.

A typical OEM exhaust System of a car

Industry-standard exhaust systems are designed to suppress and muffle the sound of a vehicle. Not to mention, it’s a heavy set up with things like DPF filter and catalytic converter dangling underneath the car.

Free Flowing straight pipe Exhaust

It’s only when you actually remove your standard system and install a straight pipe exhaust system that you realize how big of a difference there is. A straight pipe exhaust removes the limitations imposed by your standard system and lets your car make all the engine music it possibly can. The purists and track day enthusiasts surely love it. Straight pipe exhaust is also referred to as full system exhaust.

How Straight Pipe Exhausts Work

At the root, straight pipe exhausts are not that different from standard exhausts, except the exhaust pipe runs all the way from the exhaust headers to the end, without any catalytic converter or muffler working to reduce the noise (we’ll get to the environmental implications of doing this in a bit).

So now, there’s nothing stopping the exhaust gases from running freely through and flowing out the exhaust tip. This results in the sound that motorheads love and go crazy about, and most older neighbors hate.

Now, there are a lot of people love straight pipe exhausts and another bunch of people who hate them. Let’s take a look at why people are at such extreme poles when it comes to these noise minting bad boys.

Advantages Of Straight Pipe Exhausts

Increase in Performance

This may come as a shock but getting rid of the catalytic converter helps the car minimize a lot of back pressure resulting in increased torque and higher horsepower. For many motorheads, this is an absolute no brainer – more horsepower equals better vehicle. In many instances, there is also a notable increase in fuel economy.

Looks Matter

This is a deal-breaker for many streetcar fans. There is a belief that a car must reflect your personality, and you don’t get this with cars fresh out of the factory. With standard exhaust pipes, you don’t get that appeal which would make you stand out from the crowd and express yourself. Straight pipe exhausts seem to give motorheads the ability to show off their true personality and make their car truly their own.

Letting The Engine Roar

As we mentioned earlier, the engine is at its most natural, loudest form when it isn’t held back by the muffler. This is a major reason why most fans prefer a straight pipe system. There’s something about the sound of an untamed engine that just feels right. And that’s what gets motorheads going.

Reduced Weight

When you take off weight from your vehicle, it not only becomes lighter but also faster and more efficient. Hence manufacturers always take this into consideration while designing a vehicle. When you change your exhaust to a straight pipe, you are shedding additional weight, thus making the car a lot more enjoyable. This is also one of the reasons why straight pipe exhausts are an attractive option for many buyers.