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Understanding the Differences Between a Muffler vs Exhaust

Most drivers are content with knowing how to drive safely, and don’t care much about what’s going on under the hood. Sure, hobbyists and auto enthusiasts love getting down and dirty, inspecting parts and tinkering with their prized machines. But you don’t need to know how a combustion engine works to drive around town in style and safety.

However, knowing a few things about the insides of your car help you appreciate the engineering involved. You’re liable to treat your car with more care, respect, and admiration.

Let’s put your car on the hydraulic garage jack and take a closer look at what’s going on with your muffler and exhaust system.

What Do They Do?

First, the basics. What are these two systems for? As you know, your vehicle’s engine’s combustion process produces gas. The exhaust system is what reduces the harmful by-products and controls the output from this process.

Your engine also produces a distinct sound, which the muffler muffles. To sum up, the exhaust manages the output of gas, while the muffler controls the noise level of this process.

Channelling Gas

If drivers and passengers were subject to the toxic gasses produced by their engines in high concentrations, it would be extremely unhealthy. The exhaust system is a network of piping and components that guide the gas away from the cabin.

First, the exhaust manifold collects the gas and directs it to the piping. Next, the exhaust piping leads it away from the engine to catalytic converters, which then break down the toxic gas and render it less harmful. Finally, the piping directs this less toxic exhaust gas into the muffler.

This is a perfect segue to our next section.

Muffling the Noise

As already stated, mufflers lessen the noise from engines. Just like engines are unique, each muffler is designed to suit the engine it muffles.

It’s all part of the same system, so the exhaust’s piping needs to direct the gas into the muffler. From there, the silencer uses chambers, partitions, and tubes to suppress the noise. In addition to cushioning the noise, the muffler also acts as a chamber to reduce high-pitched frequencies.

Finally, the gases enter the atmosphere through the tailpipe. By this time, they’re considerably less harmful to the environment.

Custom Exhausts

Some drivers like to soup up their vehicles and modify the factory version. Getting a custom exhaust can change the way your vehicle performs and sounds. There are different types of exhaust systems you could get, and they do different things.

For example, a Cat-Back Exhaust System starts at the catalytic converter and replaces the pipes, mufflers, and tailpipes. It will free up some horsepower and add more torque.

Header Back Exhaust Systems start at the headers or the vehicle’s manifolds and replace the entire exhaust system, meaning new pipes, mufflers, converters, and tailpipes. To get a significant boost in power, these systems tend to rely on larger diameter pipes and free-flowing mufflers.

A Custom Exhaust System offers the best increase in performance. The larger diameter pipes are bent to fit your vehicle perfectly. AutoOne Service specializes in a range of custom exhaust services and repairs, so come to us for:

  • Exhaust repair and replacement
  • Muffler repair and replacement
  • Tailpipe repair and replacement
  • Catalytic converter repair
  • Exhaust manifold repair
  • Custom exhaust fabrication
  • Exhaust upgrades

We will work tirelessly (but without getting exhausted!) to ensure your exhaust and muffler are in tip-top shape and work to specification.

Business Owners

Are you a business owner who relies on a fleet of vehicles? Whether you need muffler or exhaust work done or whatever else, AutoOne Service offers fleet services that help companies keep their vehicles in tip-top shape while saving them money.

It could be that you run a company or organization involved in landscaping, trucking, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, city departments, or more. If you need to service and maintain a fleet of vehicles, AutoOne Service has your back.

Saving Your Wallet and Ears

With the right work done to your muffler and exhaust, you could make your vehicle quieter and more efficient. The neighbours will thank you, and you’ll be glad to spend less money at the pump to get a better performance from your vehicle.

We’ll be sure to use parts and pieces that give you only the best performance. It may seem counterintuitive, but using exhaust pipes with too large a diameter can actually worsen engine performance. It’s best to work with a custom builder experienced in these matters, like AutoOne Service.

Louder, Aggressive Sounds

Some people want their vehicles to sound abrasive and aggressive as they pass. Getting a custom exhaust can do that, too. You’ll feel the car perform noticeably better after replacing the exhaust and muffler, but let us know what you want your vehicle to sound like.

You can go in either direction, making the vehicle louder or quieter, as you like. You can also make the sound deeper or otherwise alter its tone. So long as the sound is allowed within your local by-laws, we can trick out your car however you like. That’s the best thing about working with expert mechanics who regularly handle custom jobs; if there’s something you want done to your vehicle, whatever it is, we can do it.

AutoOne Service is your one-stop shop for all your vehicle fixing needs, from exhausts and muffler repair and custom servicing, to all else. By combining modern high-tech car repair equipment and old-fashioned know-how, our car maintenance helps keep your vehicle in tip-top shape, fix what’s broken, or overhaul the vehicle that came from the factory with custom modifications.  

It’s good to understand how the machines we rely on work, especially those that play a big role in our lives, like cars. Hopefully, you have a little more appreciation and understanding of the differences between exhausts and mufflers. If you’re looking for auto repair in Toronto to fix a broken muffler, exhaust, or any other part of the vehicle, connect with AutoOne Service today.