How to Size an Exhaust Pipe Per Horsepower
Increasing the diameter of the exhaust pipes on your automobile can increase the horsepower production of the engine, however if the exhaust pipes are too wide, then you can actually cause damage to your engine and exhaust system. Sizing the exhaust pipes for the appropriate amount of horsepower that your engine generates is an important step to take when replacing your factory exhaust with an aftermarket exhaust. A larger exhaust is not necessarily a better exhaust.
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Instructions
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Determine the amount of horsepower that your engine will be generating by performing a dyno test or by checking with the engine manufacturer.
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Consider the context of your engine's power generation. If, for example, the engine's power is primarily produced by a turbocharger, then you will want to avoid installing an oversized exhaust as that can create back-pressure against the turbocharger and actually reduce the amount of power that it can produce.
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Consider the use of kinks and bends in your exhaust piping. You will want to obtain as direct an airflow as possible. However, due to the construction of some vehicle's underbodies, you may not be able to do this.
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Size the exhaust pipes with a diameter of three inches if your engine is going to generate less than, or between 250 and 350 horsepower. If your engine will be producing an excess amount of horsepower, then create exhaust pipes that have a diameter of four inches. If the engine is producing more horsepower than 400, then you will want to consider an open exhaust design or utilizing a four inch diameter exhaust.
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