Silencers or mufflers are part of the exhaust system and are located at the rear bottom of the car. They help reduce vehicle emissions and engine resonance. They are made of steel and coated with aluminium to protect against heat and chemicals released from the exhaust system.
How do mufflers work?
The sound is a wave of pressure generated when vibrating. These vibrating sensations are impulses of either high or low air levels alternation. Therefore, when the valves of your exhaust are open, a great level of pressure gas enters the vehicles’ exhaust. These high levels of gases clash with molecules with low levels of pressure, generate waves and cross the exhaust.
The sound can be cancelled. So, for example, if a shock wave is being introduced, precisely the reversed initial sound, which means that its wavelengths, or points of high and low pressure, are opposite, balance one another, and there is no sound.
Inside a muffler, perforation tubes direct sound waves inside the silencer and outside the end. First, the sound waves will enter through a central tube, strike the rear wall, pass through a hole and enter the main chamber. Then, sound waves will pass through another hole and enter the resonance chamber, back towards the muffler’s front, where the sound waves entered for the first time.
Different types of mufflers
- Multiple Baffle Silencers: Factory models that use numerous baffle silencers come pre-installed in a truck. This muffler style is constrictive and aims for a quieter sound rather than increased airflow, which is why car owners substitute them with older model alternatives.
- Turbo Silencers: These are a type of noise-cancelling device. These mufflers are an improvement over the factory choice. The turbo silencer is a constrictive muffler that allows air to pass directly into it. It has slow gas flow, but the sound is quiet and more appropriate for the average driver looking for a minor enhancement to their factory exhaust system.
- Straight-through Silencers: Popularly known as glass pack mufflers in the automotive world have been around for decades. The muffler first gained popularity in the 1970s with the lowrider trend and has since become a go-to muffler option for those looking for a distinctive car sound while remaining affordable.
- Performance Silencers: These types of silencers are the right ones if you want to improve your vehicle’s overall performance and sound. Using the resonating chamber in the muffler, the output silencer produces a louder, more aggressive exhaust sound.
When to consider changing your muffler
If your vehicle is generally silent but now growls, immediately inspect the muffler. A rattling car muffler is another warning sign that your exhaust system is coming apart. You can also catch the scent of exhaust gases coming in your direction. If gases leak through holes in the mufflers, the issue is severe and must be addressed immediately. If you suspect that your muffler is the cause of the increasing noise, take the problem seriously and get it checked out as soon as possible.
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Also, a drop in gas mileage signals that the muffler is no longer operating correctly. One explanation is that your muffler makes you fill your tank more often.
After knowing about the types of mufflers and how they work, you should now understand the right one for your vehicle and consider changing your mufflers for a better exhaust system function.
