How Performance Mufflers Work

Bolt-on Exhaust Part

Performance mufflers bolt directly to a vehicle's exhaust pipe, normally midway between a vehicle's exhaust manifold and its tailpipe.Performance mufflers are similar in size and shape to a vehicle's catalytic converter and are located near it. The vehicle exhaust pipe, which funnels burned engine exhaust from the vehicle exhaust manifold and carries it the length of the entire exhaust system, runs directly through the inner core of a performance muffler, a core that differs significantly from a standard exhaust muffler.

Increases Exhaust Flow

Performance mufflers increase the flow of engine exhaust gases through their inner cores. Standard, factory-equipped mufflers are made with smaller, more restricted muffler channels, or cores, that greatly restrict the flow of engine exhaust gases. Performance mufflers on the other hand, due to their increased inner core size, speed up the flow of incoming exhaust gases, which allows for a subtle increase in engine horsepower by reducing the back pressure of engine exhaust.

Increases Gas Mileage

Performance mufflers also increase gas mileage by increasing the flow of the exhause gases as they flow through the muffler core. The faster these exhaust gases exit the engine--reducing the back pressure--the easier the engine spins, or turns, ultimately resulting in slight increases in engine horsepower.