by Joshua Thomas
For some time now, the straight pipe exhaust has been one of the most fascinating things for motorists always looking to enhance the performance of their vehicle.
Many motorists love the straight pipe exhaust for its superior performance when compared to the standard exhaust type as it will provide the least amount of backpressure. And despite the superior performance, it is just a simple straight pipe that starts from the header.
For the motorists contemplating to add this exhaust system to their vehicle, this piece is for you. Here we explain the important things you need to know about this exhaust system starting from what it is and also compare it with the other popular type, the performance exhaust system.
Contents
Overall, the main reason many motorists will add straight pipe exhaust pipe systems to their vehicles is to enhance their performance.
Because these exhausts are often made for racing cars, they will not have any restriction for the gas flows as their role is to maximize the vehicle's performance. They will simply be straight pipes starting from the header and all the way to the back with no catalytic converter or muffler, and this allows the vehicle’s engine to get to its maximum potential.
Another purpose for adding the straight pipe exhaust to the vehicle is to break away from the monotony of the traditional or standard exhaust systems. But, with that said, different motorists will use this exhausts for different purposes.
Before you decide to replace your standard exhaust system with the straight pipe exhausts, it is important to first weigh the pros and cons to make sure you know what you are getting into. But, this should be easy as they are both quite clear.
Increased Overall Performance
One of the main reasons motorists will buy this exhaust system and perhaps why it is very popular for racing cars is because it has the potential to increase the vehicle's overall performance significantly.
The design of this exhaust system allows it to reduce the backpressure that is exerted on the engine and hence allowing the exhaust gases to flow freely. Consequently, the engine can function optimally with no hindrances.
The absence of hindrances is what leads to a significant increase in torque and horsepower as the engine can perform freely. And in many instances, the fuel economy will also increase slightly.
More Aesthetically Appealing
A vehicle's appearance is almost as important as its performance for many motorists. Hence, anything that can make your vehicle stand out is always much welcomed.
The straight pipe exhaust system is one such component as its more unique look will always make your car stand out from the crowd, and it is also more aesthetically pleasing.
Straight pipe exhaust systems will give the vehicle a sportier look, and you can also even enhance it by going with a double pipe set up. Better yet, many will also come with an appealing chrome finish and even multiple color patterns to create an even more eye-catching look.
Brings Out the Engine’s True Sound
While some people might consider the sound that the exhaust makes too noisy, for many other motorists, it is just perfect as it will bring out the true engine noise.
Hence, if you have a muscle car or any other vehicle with a powerful engine, you will be able to enjoy its original engine sound with this exhaust system mounted.
This exhaust system will connect directly to the end tip on the engine and does not pass through other components like the catalytic converter or muffler. And so there is nothing to suppress the sound, which means what you hear is the exact sound the engine makes and at the same pitch.
Besides getting the true feel of your engine's sound, this can also come with the advantage of making it easy to notice when your engine has issues from the changes in the sound it makes.
Another small benefit that comes with this is that you will not need to keep replacing mufflers and other sound suppressing components as they will not be needed in this setup.
Reduced Vehicle Weight Profile
Another key reason many racing cars will go for the straight pipe exhaust system is that its design will allow them to reduce the vehicle's weight profile. A reduction in the weight of the car will allow it to go even faster.
This setup takes out things like catalytic converters and mufflers and also cuts down on the metal used to make the exhaust as only one straight pipe is required. This, in turn, brings down the vehicle's weight.
While the few pounds you are saving might not look significant for some motorists, any experienced person will tell you that besides increased speed, less weight also means better fuel economy.
For those that have vehicles that run a little heavy and are trying to find ways to bring the weight down, switching to a straight pipe exhausts makes sense.
Can Be Extremely Loud
The extra noise that comes with this exhaust system is perhaps what many motorists will not like. With this exhaust, the vehicle makes some deafening noise, which can make it illegal to drive in many jurisdictions and hence restricting you to using the vehicle in racing tracks only.
A typical straight pipe exhaust system can easily surpass the 100 decibel sound rating mark as it does not have any mufflers or even any other sound dampening mechanism, and so all the noise from the engine is released out.
For those inside the car, the sound can be quite unpleasant if you do not have earplugs, but keeping the windows closed should keep out some of the noise.
Increased Emissions
Just like with the noise, nothing is holding back the emission in the straight pipe exhausts system as it will not have a catalytic converter. Hence, when using it in your car, it will typically have increased emissions, which besides being against the law is also bad for the environment.
With a catalytic converter, the harmful gases produced when fuel is burnt are converted into less harmful gasses, and hence without one, you will be releasing potentially toxic fumes into the environment.
Another huge demerit of this exhaust system is that if your car has to undergo an emissions test, it will not pass.
Expensive to Install
A straight pipe exhaust does not come cheap, and so you should be ready to use up a lot of cash if you want to have it on your vehicle.
In many instances, the vehicle will require a complete alteration of the entire exhaust structure to accommodate the new pipes, and if you are using top-end pipes you will hardly spend less than $1,000 on the pipes alone.
Even if you buy the parts or an installation kit and do the job on your own (which is harder than it looks), you will still part with thousands of dollars before you get the job done.
Can Make the Vehicle Harder to Sell
If you are planning to resell your vehicle in the future, it is a good idea to skip the straight pipe exhaust and maintain the standard one.
Because the setup is illegal in most places, you might need to remove the straight pipe exhausts before you can sell the vehicle. And if you happen to get someone that is okay with the setup, they will probably offer you less cash for the vehicle as they will need to replace it.
When you also add in the excess fumes produced by the car and the strong gasoline smell it will typically produce and not to mention the noise, your vehicle's value is set to go down greatly.
When you are on the hunt for an exhaust system to enhance your vehicle's performance, you will often end up having to decide whether to go for straight pipe or performance exhaust systems. But here are a few points to keep in mind to ensure you make an informed choice.
Performance should always be one of the key things in your mind when trying to decide whether to go for performance or straight exhaust systems.
Here the choice should be more straightforward given that the straight pipe exhausts will have a lower power curve. The absence of back pressure allows the gas mix, pollutants and sound to escape, and the escaping gases result in a lower power curve.
The performance exhaust systems, on the other hand, will keep backpressure high and will not allow any pressurized gas to escape which in turn leads to a higher engine power curve.
Although the straight pipe exhausts will generally sound better, the performance exhausts systems seem to have a slight edge when it comes to appearance.
These exhausts are not only available in more sizes and shapes but will also allow for more customization such as chrome plating or giving them some fancy-looking tips.
Straight pipe exhausts are still customizable, but dressing them up does not still give them the aesthetic appeal of the performance exhausts.
If you are looking for an exhaust that will deliver a loud and more authentic engine sound, nothing beats a straight pipe exhaust system.
But, if you prefer to improve the performance without making the vehicle louder, the performance exhausts systems are more appropriate as they are relatively quieter.
Because of the relatively lower noise output, performance exhausts are legal in many jurisdictions, and you will hardly ever have to pay noise fines with one.
When it comes to emission levels, the performance exhausts systems will have an edge here as they are equipped with catalytic converters and other filtration systems to minimize emissions.
A straight pipe exhaust system, on the other hand, is just a long metal pipe with no catalytic converter or emission suppressing components. Hence, these exhausts will allow a lot more emissions to escape into the environment, which can end up costing you more money in fines.
A straight pipe exhaust system provides a simple but effective way of enhancing your vehicle's overall performance as it can increase both the torque and horsepower.
Also, this exhaust gives the vehicle a more standout look, and it can also improve the fuel economy slightly, which is always much welcome.
However, before you go for this exhaust system, it is also worth keeping in mind that it also comes with its fair share of drawbacks such as high emissions and noise.
Hence, if you plan to use it on anything besides a racecar, you should be ready for the consequences that come with these shortcomings.
Luckily, there is still another option if the straight pipe does not work for you, which is a performance exhaust system. And you can also use a bypass system that will allow you to switch between the straight pipe and regular exhaust system.
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About Joshua Thomas
Joshua Thomas just simply loves cars and willing to work on them whenever there's chance... sometimes for free.
He started CarCareTotal back in 2017 from the advices of total strangers who witnessed his amazing skills in car repairs here and there.
His goal with this creation is to help car owners better learn how to maintain and repair their cars; as such, the site would cover alot of areas: troubleshooting, product recommendations, tips & tricks.
Joshua received Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University.
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