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projectcivicjp
05-16-2008, 12:04 PM
I found this on another web-site. Helpful to an all-motor/ NA setup

So you think you know a little bit about exhaust systems and what performs the best?

I am using this discussion in order to show people that the old days of thinking back pressure are needed and that a lack of back pressure will show a power loss with too large of an exhaust.


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh275/eg8sir/jordandyno5.jpg
take this comparison between the skunk2 exhaust and a 3" exhaust

This comparison was done with an h22 motor that is otherwise stock other than minor bolt ons and tuning. This chart shows the difference between the exhausts, however, the skunk2 exhaust was tuned and the 3" exhaust was NOT tuned. This tells me that through tuning, a little more could be brought out.

In past times, it was believed that every motor would do well with a 2.5" exhaust. Seemed to be the consensus, but no one really knew. You find people talking about it who really dont have a clue and have just read what others have said and followed the bandwagon. So because a turbo car likes a 3" exhaust, it is automatically assumed that 3" is too big for naturally aspirated.

This may be true for smaller 4 cylinder engines like the 1.5L D series and the 1.6L vtec motor. These engines likely would not respond to a 3" exhaust like a 2.2L H series motor would. Big engines need big exhaust in order to allow proper flow. You cannot generalize exhaust size based on it being 4cyl, 6cyl, 8cyl....etc. All engines are different and are going to require different exhaust flow systems.

I was reading over and thread on honda-tech where a member said he had read an SAE article about exhaust scavenging. This article stated that everything beyond the last merge in the exhaust was a restriction. Does this not make sense to anyone? It makes perfect sense! The last merge is typically at the end of the header before going through the cat-back so my interpretation of this statement is that the bigger you go, the more power you will make. But of course there are restrictions to this. As an exhaust gets bigger, you have less room regarding ground clearance. So obviously you cant put a 5" exhaust on your lowered civic and expect to get over speed bumps. A properly built exhaust for racing will not include a cat back. The header will be composed of 4 runners of equal length which will dump 4 tubes into one (4-1 merge collector), or the 4 runner will dump into 2 merge collectors which will result in dumping into one last merge. The purpose of merge collectors in conjunction with equal length runners is to use the scavenging effect. This effect is the process of each exhaust pulse that enters through the merge collector will end up creating X amount of vacuum behind it, which in effect pulls the next incoming exhaust pulse through the collector. This creates an effect which is continually making the exhaust velocity increase and engine RPM increases. After the last collector, there is nothing left to pull the exhaust. All that is left is restrictions (catalytic converter, exhaust bends, resonators, mufflers...etc). ONE BIG RESTRICTION. This is the main reason why you do not see purpose built drag cars that run a full exhaust. It simply doesn't make the power of an open exhaust.

So why are exhausts used if they are just a restriction in power? Well for one, exhausts are used for emissions control through the use of a catalytic converter which catches all the bad exhaust fumes and converts the harmful fumes into carbon dioxide and among other jobs. Another reason for using an exhaust is to keep noise levels to a minimum for street driving. The use of resonators and a chambered exhaust greatly reduces noise levels compared to running open header.

thats it for now, Blake

Additional Information:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh275/eg8sir/tuned2_5Vstuned3.jpg

The last graph is a comparison after the 3" exhaust was tuned. As you can see, there is a significant difference between the two. Especially after the 3" exhaust was tuned. And this is on a motor which is internally stock. Imagine the gains a built motor would see....hmmm.... knowledge is power.

http://bbmoto.net/wiki/index.php?ExhaustTheory

Enjoy

Matticus
05-16-2008, 12:41 PM
I'm glad someone posted this other than me. LOL

I've have gone round and round with people trying to tell me you NEED a 2.5" exhaust on all motor b and kseries. Shit, even twin cam ka motors and ap1 s2k's LOL. All the proof I needed was on ILR's wall at their old shop. The old man showed me a dyno of an integra type r on some boo boo small aftermarket exhaust then a custom ILR 3" exhaust. The car put down a noticeable amount of tq throughout the whole power band. Ultimately increasing hp as well.

Real world experience matters the most to me. Rather than taking some idiot's opinion that doesn't even understand the concept in the first place.

If you are looking for power, Run it big or go home!

projectcivicjp
05-16-2008, 01:08 PM
I totally agree. I talked to Huy one day and what he told me was the deciding factor. He told me that he was dynoing his crx at carboy and had some extra time so he fab-ed up a 3" exhaust and made,i forgot the numbers,a significant amount more than a 2.5. Alot of people dont understand the whole....If i can say..scientific theory behind a combustable 4 cyl. engine. lol. They(the misinformed and uneducated) just see it as the bigger,the better flow, the better named product and thats it. they call it a day besides putting some logic behind it all.

I'm going big and not going home! :beavisbutthead: