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Do mufflers add horsepower, or is that just a myth?
I need to replace my muffler, and a friend was suggesting I consider getting a “performance” muffler instead of a standard one. Do mufflers add horsepower, or is that just a myth?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re sorry you need to replace your muffler. But yes, it’s true: mufflers do add horsepower, increasing engine performance by as much as 10 percent or even more, depending on a lot of variables anyway.
A typical consumer muffler is designed to keep the car quiet, “muffling” the sound the car emits. Without a muffler, your car would sound raspy, rumbly, and mean. But before you get any bright ideas, keep in mind that removing your muffler is illegal in all 50 states, so don’t do that.
Removing the muffler can actually reduce your horsepower, too. Some cars might see a tiny bump—we’re talking one to five horses at best—but the vast majority of cars, even most sports cars and muscle cars, won’t get any benefits at all (apart from being louder, which again, is illegal everywhere in the United States).
Performance mufflers improve horsepower by getting rid of engine exhaust more quickly. This typically makes them noisier, but they can definitely add a little pep to your car’s step as well.
Having said that, performance mufflers aren’t going to make a slow car fast. Your 140-horsepower inline-four might go up to around 150 to 155 horsepower, but that’s not going to make much of a difference in the car’s actual performance without other modifications.
If you already have a car designed for performance, performance mufflers can add a bit of power. Just make sure you aren’t violating noise ordinances in the process or worse, irritating your neighbors, who have as much a right to live in your neighborhood peacefully as you do!
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