If you love muscle cars, and we know that you do, then you’re well aware of the importance of exhaust systems. Exhaust systems are, without a question, one of the most important components of any muscle car. Sure, you love the way your muscle car looks, and the way it whips around turns, but let’s be honest. You’re here for the power and the sound first and foremost. And the exhaust system is a vital component that impacts both the power available to your right foot, and the gorgeous roar that rings in your ears.
In recent years, active exhaust systems have started to become a very popular option for muscle car lovers. Active exhaust systems are an awesome advancement in car technology, and we love them. But what are they, and what do they do? Here’s everything you need to know about active exhaust.
What is Active Exhaust?
Active exhaust is an exhaust system that allows the driver to have control over the exhaust. The exhaust system is responsible for moving the exhaust gases from the cylinders to the exhaust pipes, where they are expelled from the car. In a standard exhaust system, the exhaust flows at a fixed rate, which means the performance and the sound don’t vary. With an active exhaust system, you can choose between different exhaust modes, with most systems having three or four to choose from.
When you toggle between modes, the exhaust valves open and close to different levels. You can choose a mode where the exhaust valves are open far more than they would be with a standard, fixed exhaust system, or you can pick a mode where the valves are less closed (while still letting the dangerous gasses release from the car). You can also choose to have the exhaust valves in the same position that they would be in if the car didn’t have active exhaust.
What Are the Benefits of an Active Exhaust System?
With an active exhaust system, you can decide how your muscle car’s exhaust system works. You can open the exhaust valves more than usual to increase the flow of exhaust from the engine. Or you can close them more than usual to reduce the flow of exhaust. Both of these options have huge benefits, and a little extra customization is always a good thing with a muscle car.
By opening the exhaust valves further (this usually means putting the active exhaust system in “sport” or “track” mode), you increase everything you love about your muscle car. That extra airflow will improve the performance of the engine, as you’ll likely experience a boost in both torque and horsepower when you put the pedal to the medal. And that’s always a good thing! In addition to the added power in your right foot, fully opening the exhaust valves will greatly increase the sound coming from your muscle car. The roar of the engine will sound throatier and sexier, and it will be much louder than before. If you’ve been wanting your muscle car to sound like it’s showing off at a track day, or simply to announce its arrival anytime you drive somewhere, then an active exhaust system can help you get there. Who doesn’t want more power and sound in their muscle car?
But closing the exhaust valves (which usually means putting the active exhaust system in “quiet” mode) has its benefits too. With the exhaust valves closed more than usual, your muscle car will be much quieter. We know, that isn’t why you bought a muscle car. But when you’re trying to leave for work in the morning without waking up the entire neighborhood, or you’re trying to have a phone conversation while cruising down the freeway, being able to tell your car to whisper for a little while can be an absolute lifesaver.
Are Active Exhaust Systems Stock or Aftermarket?
You can order a lot of muscle cars with factory active exhaust systems. But if your muscle car doesn’t have one, don’t worry! You can also purchase and install an aftermarket active exhaust system. The biggest benefit of an aftermarket active exhaust system is that you can choose the perfect system for you, and it often performs better, at a lower price, than the factory option. The biggest downside of an aftermarket system is that, unlike with factory active exhaust, you usually cannot set it to quiet mode until the car is already turned on.
If you’re ready to add an active exhaust system to your muscle car, or want to make any other upgrade, you can find everything you’re looking for at AmericanMuscle. We have all the top options from the best brands, with helpful sales techs available to make sure that you and your muscle car get exactly what you need.
