Exhaust system upgrades are popular across a wide range of vehicle types because of the way they can help you unlock the best performance from almost any car. Exhaust upgrades are useful on their own, but they are rarely made as a one-off performance enhancement because they add to the enhancements you get from other modifications like larger intakes, performance spark plugs, and upgraded fuel injectors or carburators. Keep that in mind as you browse new Jeep parts.
So how does a new exhaust help with performance? There are a couple of ways, and they add up to increased power throughput, allowing you to get closer to the top performance output for your vehicle. That means more torque off-road, better acceleration on the road, and increased fuel efficiency compared to the same build before an upgrade.
Increased Airflow and Engine Power
Like a larger intake, an upgraded exhaust primarily helps your engine by increasing airflow. The intake upgrade allows your engine to pull in more air at once, but the exhaust upgrade increases the flow of exhaust fumes away from the engine, allowing new air to move into the cylinder faster. One of those upgrades on its own will add engine power by providing more air so your fuel system can operate closer to max capacity, and an upgrade to a cheap 4 barrel carburetor could enhance those benefits even more.
Upgrade Synergy
When you need to make gains in specific directions like fuel efficiency and top speed, a performance exhaust system is often a major part of the upgrade plan because increased airflow helps with a variety of performance issues. To get the most from it, use upgrades that push the gains you want to see enhanced. That means smarter ECM systems for increased fuel efficiency or custom power profiles, as well as larger intakes, upgraded spark plugs, and other additions.
The more performance parts you have working together in your build, the more you will be able to balance out handling changes caused by modifications and the greater the total gains you can make. The key is embracing an upgrade path that is designed to provide you with the smoothest path to the performance you want.
Exhaust System Life and Maintenance
A well-maintained exhaust system can last 15 years or more, which is why an investment in a performance exhaust package can be so rewarding. There are very few parts that need regular replacement, but you do need to keep an eye on the health of your exhaust pipes to remediate any corrosion you see. If there is an engine problem that puts contaminants through the exhaust, it could also affect your catalytic converter.
Barring issues like those, it is very unlikely you will have to do much to maintain the exhaust, provided you maintain the rest of the vehicle. Most exhaust problems are related to either rust or contaminated engine output that gums up the catalytic converter. Keep that in mind as you browse aftermarket parts from WIlwood and other major manufacturers to plan your next wave of upgrades.
