i dont really understand what the difference is between different pipe set ups you got X pipe straight ect. care to explain (i could be wrong on the 2 suggestions i gave care to help me out understand exhaust systems more), does having a different pipe alignment help with horsepower or somthing because i know that turbos are related to the exhaust so would the direction of the pipeing increase your hp gain?thanks
Start by telling us what type of car you have. Some people put big pipes on their car just to sound cool, some do it for performance. There is a delicate balance between engine size and exhaust size and performance. Factory pipes work best for noise and economy, x or crossover pipes work well with some and do nothing on others. Straight pipes work for flat out performance racing but do nothing on the street at normal speeds except make lots of noise. Most engines need a certain amount of back pressure which can be achieved through bends in the pipe or certain restrictions. I have done a 2.0 turbo motor with 2 - 2.5 and 3 exhaust wide open and with a muffler. Best power on a dyno was done with a stock 2 exhaust to the axle and a bend over it into a 3 pipe just for sound
The direction wouldn't really help. More to do with the type of bends and width and design. The bends mandrel bend and press bend. Mandrel keeps the bend constant which usually cost more but allow better flow. Press bends are cheaper but restrict and interrupts flow of the exhaust gases. Yes, the exhaust is related to the turbo. Normally the exhaust goes straight out of a car N/A normal engines. In a turbo the exhaust gases go through the turbine/turbo which spins it at high rpms which forces more air and more fuel to the engine making the engine work harder creating more power than normal engine of the same size. Arrangement(exhaust) depending on how many cylinders you got say 4 easier to explain. You get 4 into one or 4-2-1. Which means the 4 cylinder exhaust from the manifold meet into 1 pipe and out the exhaust. which is pretty pointless for a 4 cyl more useful for a big engine or high horse power vehicle. The 4-2-1 would be 4 pipes meet into 2 pipes into 1 pipe good for low down power more useful for smaller engines. Anyhow any good exhaust shop owner should be more than happy to explain it to you if they want your buiness.
Ignore theneelster, he's so far wrong, I don't want you to get confused. X pipemerge pipe that when you look at it from above (or below) is shaped like an X. H pipeSame as X pipe, but it looks like an H. Y pipeSame as above but forms a Y. Straight pipespipes from the exhaust manifold back with no muffler, which has baffles that redirect exhaust flow and restricts it. As for performance, changing exhaust doesn't GAIN power, it frees it up from pumping losses. An X/H pipes design is to merge the exhaust pulses from each bank of a V configured engine, to help scavenge (or in laymans terms, suck) the exhaust from the other pipe, which helps reduce pressure that causes pumping power losses. Larger diameter pipes can flow more exhaust, which helps support higher power. On turbocharged cars this can help the turbocharger spool faster, that is, it reaches the point where it makes positive manifold pressure at a lower RPM. Your standard stock turbocharged car will start making positive pressure around 3000rpm, and peak pressure around 4000. Aftermarket exhaust can lower this by anywhere from 200-500rpm on both counts. This increases low RPM torque. My car, for example, is not turbocharged, but it has an X pipe and straight pipes. The first answerer is correct, though, that some people change their exhaust simply for the sound and in the imports case, the look. There's a lot more to exhaust design than just this, and there's catalytic converters, manifolds/tubular headers, header designs, etc. etc. etc. which can (and does!) take up a complete hardcover book. Oh, and one other thing.NO engine needs backpressure. Backpressure means pumping losses, means less power. It's an old wives tale that you need backpressure.
