When it comes to making ‘aftermarket’ modifications to a car, size matters. Many drivers think that the bigger the modification, the more impressive the result. This might work for a sub-woofer, but for something like exhaust systems bigger is not necessarily best.

What Does An Exhaust Do?

An exhaust essentially does two things: muffles the sound of an engine, a bit like a silencer, and allows fumes to escape the engine. The faster that an exhaust can expel fumes the better performing your engine.

However, it doesn’t necessarily follow that a bigger exhaust expels a larger volume of fumes. Larger performance car exhausts will product more BHP (break horse power); however, this has to be balanced with the rate at which fumes are expelled, which is higher in smaller exhausts.

If fumes are not expelled adequately, this can cause back-pressure, which can negatively impact performance, and undermine the efficiency of your vehicle. So, if you have a smaller car, you need an exhaust that is appropriate.

The car you drive will determine the ideal size of exhaust, for instance there can be variance between turbos and engines that are more highly tuned.

When it comes to optimising an exhaust yourself, this can be done via various means, including polishing the interior of the component. However, this needs to be done with the utmost safety, and preferably by a professional.

Remember: a car exhaust can be one of the most dangerous parts of a car.