Tuesday, December 17, 2013
How Does an Intake Exhaust System Work
Engines transform air/fuel mixtures into combustion, creating horsepower. Engine combustion creates exhaust gasses that must be expelled from the combustion chamber in order to keep the air/fuel mixture clean. Intake systems improve combustion, while exhaust systems relieve an engine of waste gasses.
Air Intake Components & Function
Combustion is a mixture of fuel and air. While engines inject fuel drawn from a fuel tank, the air is pulled from outside through the intake system. Air is drawn through an intake tube and into a filter-protected air box. From there the air is driven into the combustion chamber.
Exhaust System Components & Function
Exhaust gasses exit the combustion chamber through an exhaust manifold that is secured to the engines cylinder heads. Exhaust then travels through a front pipe and into a catalytic converter, which filters harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide. The cleaner exhaust finally travels through the muffler and out the tailpipe.
Performance Benefits
Upgrading intake and the exhaust system benefits engine-based performance. Aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to optimize exhaust flow and velocity while reducing back-pressure. This is accomplished through a change in piping diameter. An upgraded intake pulls increased air more directly through the filter. Both upgrades improve horsepower and fuel efficiency while increasing engine sound.
