Is active exhaust just a variable muffler delete?

[Mastermind46]

How does active exhaust full loud (track mode/locked open/fuse-pulled) compare to a muffler delete?

Had a Camaro with active exhaust and it seemed to be basically a variable muffler delete. I pulled the fuse to make it perma-open for the entire 4 years I owned it, so got no value out of the "active" part.

Currently have a base GT, wondering if a cheap muffler delete would be similar to active exhaust track mode?

Judging from the photos posted, it looks pretty similar since the exhaust will flow straight through the muffler. There are some holes in the pipe and maybe some other minor parts where the sleeve is but I doubt it’s doing all that much.

You will still have a resonator so that may keep the raspy sounds down.

It reads like you do not have the active exhaust which is why you want it a bit louder. Most people would recommend an X or H pipe and removing the resonator for a starting place. If you cut the rear section right where you need to for an X or H pipe installation, you can more easily test out the muffler delete and then undo it with some exhaust butt clamps and then also test an X or H pipe. The muffler sections are straight which makes it easy to install other mufflers before the tips too. Could be a really fun project to test out a bunch of options and make it your own.

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[midtownz06]

It’s a 3 day weekend brother take a deep breath

I work for a living gotta take these days off when I can

 

[Will2]

@Skye thanks for the internal pic. I think it basically confirms my understanding is correct. Active exhaust has basically a straight-through pipe (similar to muffler delete) that can be closed off so that exhaust gets shunted to another pathway (muffled path). Therefore, it's like a toggle-able muffler delete. But it's usually not 0% or 100%, the valves close at various angles, thus why I called it a variable muffler delete.

Regarding people saying it's raspy/too loud: that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid, and I think muffler delete is the way. From scouring Youtube, my theory is X/H + Muffler Delete makes that overly-loud tin-can rasp. Muffler delete alone gives a lower bassier tone with slightly more volume, but not super loud.

My conclusion is, in order to avoid sounding raspy or trashy/too loud, you can do 1 or the other: either H/X-pipe or a muffler delete, just not both together (straight pipe). The high-end catback systems (Borla/Corsa/FP) all come with an X/H + muffler. H seems to give a lower bassier tone vs X, at least on S650s.

Some examples of muffler delete alone (click play and it will start at the exact second):





I like the muffler delete tone best: bassier, slightly louder, no rasp, no vibrating tin can noises. Personally I prefer it to the X/H pipe systems I found clips of on Youtube. I'm sure some posters here must have had muffy D's, anyone care to share their experience?

 

[Skye]

To compliment the thread and posts, an internal look of the central resonator.

Edit,

The photos of the muffler and resonator can help explain their differences.

In the resonator below, it is more or less a straight pipe, but the pipes have holes. Some of the wave energy enters the chambers. Inside, those sine waves, collide. The result is some muffling, but also tuning.

Not all the sine waves are in phase with one another, can partially or completely cancel one another. For example, +1 - 1 = 0; two waves completely out of phase of a particular frequency cancel (the size of the holes influence what frequencies enter the chamber). A resonator's primary purpose is not necessarily a reduction in noise, although it can, but a reduction or elimination of unwanted sounds in frequency bands or specific frequencies.

Which also helps explain how noise-cancelling headphones work: upon receipt of the exterior sound, the electronics phase change the incoming sine waves 180-degrees. +1-1=0. The energy is cancelled, resulting in quiet output to the ears.

To the earlier photo of the muffler, picture the exhaust pulses (all of them), the sound waves, as they enter the device, travel through the pipes, chamber and exit. It takes energy to do that, and the waves are no longer traveling along a common path, with many now out of phase; they are "muffled", the energy reduced, virtually all frequencies. The same as covering or partially covering your mouth.

In summary, while resonators are principally tuning devices, removing specific sounds or frequency bands, mufflers are used for sound reduction throughout the entire audio spectrum.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

To compliment the thread and posts, an internal look of the central resonator.

Thanks for posting this. There is a misnomer that the factory resonator is restrictive. As you can see. It's very free flowing.

 

[LouG]

Am I deaf?

People are talking about coming home using the quiet exhaust mode.

Even if my car is in track, If I come home and I don't slam my foot on the pedals, the car is relatively silent.

How do you guys come home? Reving the engine to 7k in reverse just to park your car on the driveway?

OK, you're deaf. Or your neighbours are.
Win, win.

 

[Q6543]

Thanks for posting this. There is a misnomer that the factory resonator is restrictive.

it is if you’re boosted, it necks down to 2-1/4”

 

[noac]

Definitely not the same as a muffler delete. Muffler deletes are for idiots IMO especially on a Mustang, they just sound so raspy with a Coyote.
Active exhaust is definitely my favorite option though. Quiet mode and track mode at the flip of a “switch” just can’t be understated.

Take a listen to the AWE cat back “track” muffler delete on YouTube. It‘s loud, tough, deep amazing. It may not be for you, but it will change your mind on muffler deletes on a coyote. Another option for an awesome sounding muffler delete, especially for those with a single tip GT car, is to leave the stock resonator in place with the muffler delete.

 

[ShadowCoyote]

Am I deaf?

People are talking about coming home using the quiet exhaust mode.

Even if my car is in track, If I come home and I don't slam my foot on the pedals, the car is relatively silent.

How do you guys come home? Reving the engine to 7k in reverse just to park your car on the driveway?

I’m wondering the same lmao. I have active exhaust and I’d like to pair it with long tubes and double h if possible. I drive w/ sport exhaust and coming through the neighborhood at 20-25mph it’s hardly noticeable even with the windows down unless I suddenly get on throttle.

 

[Sofa King]

Am I deaf?

People are talking about coming home using the quiet exhaust mode.

Even if my car is in track, If I come home and I don't slam my foot on the pedals, the car is relatively silent.

How do you guys come home? Reving the engine to 7k in reverse just to park your car on the driveway?

Like this

 

[GrabThatBlue]

I’m wondering the same lmao. I have active exhaust and I’d like to pair it with long tubes and double h if possible. I drive w/ sport exhaust and coming through the neighborhood at 20-25mph it’s hardly noticeable even with the windows down unless I suddenly get on throttle.

I think we should blame the manual drivers who can't drive manual.
The only way possible to make a lot of noise with the car when it's stock having AE, is when people press the clutch all the way and hit the gas pedal. Ofcrouse the car won't move.

How in the world is a stock 5.0 loud when you are driving 20mph or even slower when reaching the drive way?

Only reason is they can't control how much they have to press the clutch without stalling it, so they hit the gas too much LOL

 

[ShadowCoyote]

I think we should blame the manual drivers who can't drive manual.
The only way possible to make a lot of noise with the car when it's stock having AE, is when people press the clutch all the way and hit the gas pedal. Ofcrouse the car won't move.

How in the world is a stock 5.0 loud when you are driving 20mph or even slower when reaching the drive way?

Only reason is they can't control how much they have to press the clutch without stalling it, so they hit the gas too much LOL

As someone with the 6mt, I agree. Even leaving from a dead stop you don’t have to gas it at all.

 

[canzaecho]

Definitely not the same as a muffler delete. Muffler deletes are for idiots IMO especially on a Mustang, they just sound so raspy with a Coyote.
Active exhaust is definitely my favorite option though. Quiet mode and track mode at the flip of a “switch” just can’t be understated.

Absolutely, I keep Track exhaust as my favorite button and set start up in quiet mode in the early am and normal mode otherwise. So going between the two settings is one press of a button.

 

[Will2]

awesome sounding muffler delete, especially for those with a single tip GT car, is to leave the stock resonator in place with the muffler delete.

That's what I'm thinking of doing. Also happens to be the cheapest, easiest, least-intrusive option.

Another thing for base (single-tip) exhaust owners is the 2015-2017 axlebacks also fit (according to Steeda videos and at least one major Mustang parts website). I was hoping to find some older Mustang exhausts for dirt cheap but seems like price is about the same for the 15-17 models.

 

[noac]

That's what I'm thinking of doing. Also happens to be the cheapest, easiest, least-intrusive option.

Another thing for base (single-tip) exhaust owners is the 2015-2017 axlebacks also fit (according to Steeda videos and at least one major Mustang parts website). I was hoping to find some older Mustang exhausts for dirt cheap but seems like price is about the same for the 15-17 models.

also take a listen to Flowmaster Outlaw with factory resonator on YouTube…sounds killer….outlaw basically muffler delete….

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