Learn How Mufflers Work, from Noise Level to Emissions

Everybody keeps telling you to set your ride up with a performance muffler. They say it’s an easy way to add horsepower and a deep, throaty growl to your ride. As good as that sounds, you’re not sure you believe it. Before you spend your hard-earned money to get a new muffler, you want some serious questions answered. How do mufflers work? And, what exactly do mufflers do?

What Exactly is a Performance Muffler?

Let’s start with the basics. Inside a muffler, there are a simple set of tubes with some holes in them. These tubes and chambers are designed to reflect the sound waves produced by the engine in such a way that they partially cancel themselves out. Inside your car’s engine, pulses are created when an exhaust valve opens and a burst of high-pressure gas suddenly enters the exhaust system. The molecules that are in this gas collide with the lower-pressure molecules inside the pipe, which causes them to stack up on each other. They, in turn, stack up on the molecules a little further down the pipe, which leaves an area of low pressure behind. In this way, the sound wave makes its way down the pipe much more quickly than the actual gases do. To make a long story short, mufflers work by directing the engine’s exhaust into a chamber, where the sound created by the engine cancels itself out. This gives you a nice, throaty growl, while also giving your ride an extra boost in power.

What are the Highest Rated Mufflers for Your Ride

When it comes time to choosing your performance muffler, you’ll want to stick with the top brands to make sure you’re getting the best results possible. Names like Flowmaster and Magnaflow are among the best in the biz. You’ll also want to choose a muffler based on your vehicle and your specific needs. For example, the Flowmaster 50 Series SUV Performance Muffler is made specifically for the powerful engines found on SUVs. And, the Flowmaster Super 44 Muffler is one of the most aggressive, deepest-sounding performance mufflers available.

Choosing the Best Muffler to Fit Your Vehicle's Needs

From exhaust tips to a complete California catalytic converter selection, we have everything you need to get your exhaust system performing at its max. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the choices, be sure to check out the customer reviews available on our website. See just what people are saying about the Magnaflow 4 Muffler, or search for a Flowmaster 60 Series review to see what people have to say about the sound it produces. Even do a search to find out which free flow muffler is the quietest. Whichever muffler you choose, our mufflers customer reviews can help you make an informed buying decision.