test pipe questions

[Dangerbox]

has anyone who has gone with a test pipe noticed an increase in fuel efficiency? are there any dyno sheets documenting spec changes of exhaust components?

[bigredtopsr]

i went to a test pipe and noticed my exhaust sounded different,didn't really notice any other changes exept that the fumes give me a headache!

[C91BLX7]

The very little (IF at all) gains arn't worth it. Less low end torque/hp and at least 5 times as much pollution

[1990Ex]

from what i heard it gives you a very raspy sound

[billysaccord90]

used to have one on my 240 kills more gas had to replace it with an ebay cat

[rexload]

After I put a test pipe on it got a littler louder. The main concern is the smell! I hate it! Not sure about fuel economy because I've been driving in open loop and am a little bit rich.
The stock exhaust is already designed for best compromise between acceleration and fuel economy. A better way to increase fuel economy is a good tune up, properly inflated tires, drive slowly and keep the trunk empty.

[Dangerbox]

are you guys smelling these smells you speak of while driving?

[Losiracer2]

you gain little to no hp doing this, 1hp maybe. I saw a dyno of a 99 civic SI w/ a test pipe vs OEM cat and that's all it gained. So ours maybe even less.

And you also get the smell of raw exhaust fumes constantly, which will give you a big headache after awhile. Not mention, your exhaust will sound like crap, more raspy and ricey probably. I had a test pipe, and I didn't like it very much.

[coletrain]

Tests pipes I've noticed are just a sound difference. My friend has a 2005 Audi A4 Avant, and he's got a test pipe. There was a huge difference in sound. It went from stock sounding to raw and raspy. Deffinately sweet on some cars, maybe not hondas. Similarly, opening up the exhaust on for instance; Subaru, Audi, VW, Nissan...... the car will sound completely different.

Sounds:
Audi A4

[champagneaccord]

Yeah, it does make it sound raspy, frees up a small amount of torque if anything.

I was using one, but my exhaust kinda got pulled off, now it's a downpipe/header style lol

It had nice response, sounded horrible, but I don't care about sound.

[nine_deuce]

I went to a test pipe, just made my exhaust raspy... haven't noticed any fuel changes... I wanna go back to a stock, or after market cat, quiet my exhaust down a bit

[lokuputha]

Test pipe will be lighter and louder and crappier and stinkier to use on the road. If you are solely racing, then its another story.

[Dangerbox]

hmm sounds like i should just try it out for myself since there are so many opinions. it made a noticeable difference on my 97 cavalier.

[deevergote]

The Honda catalytic converter is pretty free-flowing. A test pipe doesn't do that much... not enough to increase your harmful emission output. Use one when you go to the track if you want every last hp... then take it off the next day.

[rexload]

hmm sounds like i should just try it out for myself since there are so many opinions. it made a noticeable difference on my 97 cavalier.

My advice is don't do it. On a naturally aspirated Honda you will NOT notice anything. It may only hurt the performance if the test pipe is wider than the rest of your exhaust. Catalytic converters also do a hell of a job reducing the amount of pollutants in the exhaust.