We all enjoy cars that produce loud noises, even if they are damaging to our hearing. There is something about it that makes our motorhead blood rush.
The sound of a turbo spooling up, a supercharger whining away, or a straight pipe exhaust burbling down the road will always capture your attention.
These sounds are very enticing, and car enthusiasts shell out a lot of money when they buy turbos, superchargers, or loud exhaust systems simply for the sounds they produce.
Sadly, the stock exhaust systems that come from a lot of car manufacturers are probably not the most pleasing on your ears.
One way to get a good sound out of your car’s exhaust system is to get a straight pipe exhaust system, but you may be wondering what a straight pipe exhaust system is and the pros and cons of having one. Let’s review!
What Is a Straight Pipe Exhaust System?
Exhaust systems are made up of restrictors, which include mufflers, resonators, and catalytic converters. These enable the reduction of sound and the regulation of waste gases to ensure that the emissions controls, or silencing measures, are followed.
Manufacturers incorporate all components into the vehicle’s exhaust system to ensure that the greatest power, silent operation, and adherence to emission standards are functionally met.
The Straight-pipe exhaust gets its name from how it is designed. Enhancements are made to the exhaust manifold, which is paired with a customized hollow pipe running towards the rear end of the vehicle.
All restrictions are removed and transformed into an uninterrupted pipe that allows gas to exit from the engine into the tailpipe freely.
The vehicle will gain an increase in horsepower due to better fuel flow, and in addition to that, the lack of resonators and mufflers will enable the straight-pipe exhaust to generate an aggressively pleasant sound.
What Does a Straight Pipe Exhaust Do?
The first impression of a car fitted with a straight pipe exhaust is the remarkable noise the engine now produces.
While discussing straight pipe exhausts, one must note that they contribute very precisely towards the holistic functioning of a vehicle.
Like any other exhaust system, straight pipe exhaust systems take the gases and fumes produced in the engine and transport them to the back of the car, where they are released into the environment.
This explains why the installation of a straight pipe exhaust must be done correctly. If one does not follow the installation steps, the vehicle may have difficulty expelling the toxic fumes that the engine produces.
This applies whether you intend to do the installation yourself or outsource to a professional. In either case, you should guarantee that the system is thoroughly and accurately installed.
What is the Difference Between Muffler Delete and Straight Piping?
People may assume that straight piping and muffler deleting are the same, which is not true. While they are both custom alterations where the stock piping is replaced with an unrestricted hollow pipe, they are not the same.
The difference is the scope of work done; in this case, a muffler delete means replacing only one or two mufflers with a straight pipe while the rest of the components remain untouched.
Straight piping means fabricating an entire exhaust system from the headers to the exhaust tip without any restrictors or sensors. Straight piping enables better power and increased volume when compared to simply removing a muffler.
How to Straight Pipe an Exhaust System
All vehicles can have a straight pipe exhaust fitted to them. What is required is proper measurement of the pipes and correct bending of the pipe to suit the vehicle’s underbody.
From a do-it-yourself perspective, the task at hand is far too complex relative to the average individual’s capabilities. A professional welder should accomplish this unless the individual has the required tools, skills, and experience.
The conversion involves taking out the entire stock exhaust system from the exhaust manifold to the tailpipe, meaning resonators, catalytic converters, and center mufflers need to be removed as well. The rest of the work is simple, as it only requires fitting the custom-made pipes in place.
Once you’ve checked there are no leaks and all the connections are tight, you’re set; your vehicle has just been straight-piped.
Benefits of Straight Pipe Exhaust
Straight pipe exhaust systems have numerous benefits. Here are some of the most notable ones:
#1. improved Performance.
The main reason many people go to straight pipe exhaust is it improves your car’s horsepower and torque.
Straight pipe exhaust reduces back pressure from the engine which increases the flow of exhaust gas so the engine can perform unfettered.
#2. Better Looks.
Straight pipes also make your car look better when someone looks under your car. You can have a chrome finish on the exhaust tip to look great.
There is a combination of welding methods to achieve beautiful colors on the tip. The twin pipe is also better for aesthetic purposes.
#3. True Engine Sound.
The straight pipe exhaust system produces the true sound of an engine. Each exhaust gas has nowhere to restrict things like a muffler, resonators, catalytic converter, or other components. This makes the car sound raw and pure.
Just keep in mind starting the car in the morning could be a concern based on how annoying it could sound to the neighbors in the morning.
#4 Less Weight.
Catalytic converters and muffler could weigh a lot and if you race your probably aware that weight is a bad thing for your car. The straight pipe exhaust is much lighter than the original exhaust.
#5. Better Fuel Economy.
Most people don’t realize by subtracting mufflers and catalytic converters means the engine creates less back pressure which increases combustion.
This means you will have better consumption by using a straight pipe exhaust on most car engines.
Disadvantages of Straight Pipes
Every exhaust system has its pros and cons, and straight pipes are no different. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide exactly what to sacrifice and what to gain.
#1. Not Cost Effective.
Straight piping is costly to install. New pipes are not expensive and are hard to find for a decent rate, leading to a trend of custom-made exhaust pipes.
Moreover, straight piping your vehicle almost always requires tuning your vehicle to some degree to get the most out of the system.
#2. Rampant Emissions.
Yes, straight pipes make the greatest sounds, but they are not environmental. In the late 20th century, catalytic converters were added to cars to minimize pollution and emissions from cars.
When you straight pipe a car, you usually remove the catalytic converter, which can be damaging to the environment and with emissions testing.
#3. Often Too Loud.
Quite often, the only reason motorheads go for a straight pipe setup is that they want their car to be loud. They don’t realize that straight pipes can make their car so loud that any time they start or drive a car in a suburban neighborhood, you may raise the attention of the police.
Usually, enthusiasts who do this with straight piping only drive racing cars on race tracks, so if you have a race-track in your city, straight piping is a great addition because you can drive it to its limits.
#4. Difficult to sell.
With a straight pipe exhaust on the car, the car becomes difficult to sell, so always keep the original exhaust on hand for when it’s eventually time to sell your car; you will be able to air up the price.
#5. Not Road Legal.
If you are modifying your street car, really think twice. If you are removing catalytic converters or mufflers, you can be breaking the law in most states in America. This can vary from state to state, so you want to check out the rules in your state before even cutting the exhaust system.
If you have a set up that is not extremely loud or if you don’t keep 7000 rpm morning cold starting your car in your neighborhood, you probably won’t have an issue.
However, depending on certain inspections you may run into some issues, depending on the state you live in.
Is Straight Pipe Legal?
If you’re asking if straight piping is legal or not, brace yourself because the answer is long-winded.
To qualify as a true straight pipe, an exhaust system must eliminate the catalytic converter, which is illegal across all 50 states. If, however, you only use the car on a track, you can forget about any legal restrictions.
Straight piping a car will land you in legal trouble, unless you’re driving a car exclusively built for the track. Add to that the incredibly annoying exhaust of the vehicle, and you have a whole new set of problems with the law and your neighbors.
It is legal to set up a straight pipe exhaust system so long as the vehicle is not being driven on public roads. Whether or not the person gets in trouble solely depends on the area they live in.
The fine for driving around without a catalytic converter, if caught, can be $10,000 or even higher.
However, not all states are aggressive in enforcing emission rules. In those states, there is a useful opportunity of evading the law using a straight pipe exhaust.
How Much Does a Straight Pipe Exhaust Cost?
Most cars have a regular straight pipe exhaust that will cost around $200 to $600, and a professional exhaust installation would be $100 to $200, so the entire exhaust cost would be around $300 to $800.
In the end, how much a straight pipe exhaust will cost will depend entirely on what type of car you have and what type of exhaust system you want.
If you can weld and you are fine with cutting up the original exhaust pipe system, you can get it done for relatively better cost. It is also good to have the original exhaust if you ever want to sell the car.
If you want higher-end exhaust pipes made of titanium, that may cost even more.
How much HP does straight pipe add?
Adding a straight pipe to a standard car will gain you an additional 0-10 hp. How much hp and torque you will gain depends on the car and the modifications are already made.
A standard car with a very powerful engine will gain substantially more power, and in this case you could add lots of horsepower, as all of those horsepower have been freed up by the removal of the restriction.
In the case of a standard car with a 4 cylinder engine, you may not see any difference at all!
What’s better a muffler delete or a straight pipe?
The catalytic converter is the main restriction in the exhaust system. If you decide to remove the mufflers, you will definitely make your car louder, but you may not see a lot of improvement in exhaust flow, and you probably won’t see an increase in horsepower.
However, when it comes to muffler delete vs. cat delete, a muffler delete is the way to go for avoiding trouble and to not be as detrimental to the environment.
Muffler deletes are often much cheaper than a whole straight pipe exhaust. It’s also a cheaper alternative to replace the exhaust pipe from the catalytic converter back – also called an aftermarket cat-back exhaust system.
Do you have to tune your car after straight pipe?
A straight pipe will need tuning but this is based on your other setup and car.
If you have other modifications as well as the straight pipe, like a high flow air filter, you might also have to re-tune your car to utilize new air flow through the engine. A straight exhaust pipe can only perform like a straight pipe once tuned.
Can a straight pipe exhaust damage the engine?
Some debate exists as to whether a straight-pipe exhaust can damage an engine, yet the consensus among experts seems to be yes.
Removing the backpressure will cause your air-fuel mixture to run lean in certain scenarios, which will damage the internal parts of the engine.
It may also increase the horsepower and torque that your vehicle may not be able to handle. For this reason, after installing a straight-pipe exhaust, it is recommended to get a tune added too.
Is it OK to run an engine without exhaust?
You can run an engine without an exhaust system, although it is not recommended as it will be very loud.
Running an engine without an exhaust system can be dangerous, as the cabin will fill with engine exhaust and you will be inhaling the fumes and gases.
There is also a risk of fire, since the exhaust combustion is coming from the cylinder head. If your car has issues with its exhaust system, fix it as soon as possible.
How can I make my straight pipe sound better?
If the sound of your straight pipe exhaust doesn’t impress you, then it might be time to look into other materials, such as a titanium exhaust. You could also simply try some different pipes, in terms of dimension and shape.