exhaust = better mileage?

[cjv998]

Hey everyone, I was wondering for those of you that have aftermarket exhausts, did you notice an increase in gas mileage after putting on the exhaust? I ask because my CB7 (automatic with 200,000 on the odometer) has an exhaust leak or two, and I'm debating whether I want to spend $250ish on a generic OEM replacement exhaust from a local muffler shop, or $400ish on a performance exhaust. Better gas mileage in addition to slightly better performance would sway me toward the performance exhaust, but with the mileage my car has, I don't know whether I want to shell out that much money. Thanks!

[wed3k]

spend it on a quality exhaust and one shall see improvements.
might as well get the intake to match it.

[cjv998]

Yeah, I was going to get a CAI if I get a performance exhaust, otherwise it doesn't make much sense to me, increasing airflow out of the engine without increasing airflow into the engine. Also, can anyone list some decent performance exhausts for under $400? (I realize that more expensive is typically better, but I'm curious if there's anything worth buying for under that price). I'm currently leaning toward the Apex'i WS2, but can't seem to find it for under $420ish. (I'll search the forums for this too, but I figure it doesn't hurt to ask). Thanks again.

[mcdizzle]

apexi ws2
http://www.importevolution.com/produ...oducts_id=1247
just solved your problems for ya
http://turboimport.com/catalog/accord.htm
about 2/3s the way down they have it for 379

[cjv998]

You rock, mcdizzle! Please keep the gas mileage comments and exhaust suggestions coming!

[deckeda]

Please keep the gas mileage comments and exhaust suggestions coming!

Well, since you asked ... somebody's gotta play devil's advocate here.

The difference in price for a fancy exhaust system will not likely pay for itself in increased MPG unless you drive the thing for a looooooooooog time --- and that assumes you actually do reliably get better MPG, and that you can actually attribute it to just the exhaust.

I mean, not even the manufacturers make the claim of better MPG.

[alb_accord]

mpg mmmmmmmmmm i don't think so. performance on a automatic accord,,, yeah big time. keep in mind the aftermarket muffler on a automatic accord will be louder than in a manual cb7
after getting Js magnaflow exaust systen (2.5 i think) i noticed a big difference when it came to accelerating.

[cjv998]

I had kind of expected that the increase in mpg wouldn't offset the cost.

performance on a automatic accord

This was also something that I've been considering. Not only simply because it's an auto, but it doesn't seem to have been taken care of too well, and with as many (negligent) miles as the car has on it, I'm not sure I can justify spending the money on an aftermarket exhaust when auto trannies are almost guaranteed to go out before manuals (basically, it seems like the tranny will probably be one of the first things to go, and that isn't something I'd be willing to pay to get replaced, because my investment into the car would go over what I can rationalize putting into it).

[accrdpower]

ok here is my 2 cents worth: aftermarket exhaust systems are a waste. unless u r going for a show car who needs it?!?! a decent performance/body shop can peice together a very nice catback system for only 150. u r paying 2-300 more for what a shiny pipe u can't really see unless u jack the car up 3 feet in the air lol. a pipe is a pipe. just choose the muffler of your style and your all set to go. i got a catback exhaust 2in with a hks hyper muffler, warrentied for as long as i own my car, had to be custom bent in several places to avoid scraping but it worked out and they did a terrific job. 150 that is it. i mean if u like the shiny polished look then by all means go for it. but the perfromance will be identical. on the issue of gas mileage, i don;t see any major difference.....maybe .XX mpg. now when it comes to caty or headers then i would go for the aftermarket brand name stuff bc that is where research realy comes into play.

[koolkoreanked]

hmmmmm a catback wont really give you a noticable difference in mpg. Getting rid of the cat itself will give you a noticeable gain in power and a little better gas milage. Before My flex pipe ripped I was getting 280 miles per gas light (13 gallons or so) after it broke my I was able to go about 320 or so a gas light. and after engine restore 350-375 miles a gas light.

For the price of that exhaust your talking about you could have a custom made exhaust headers on back. I wouldn't do it as said above the performance will be the same.

[According2Aaron]

What about straight no exhaust (cat. or muffler) at all? Just curious.

[bshshondaman06]

idk if my milage went up when i put mine on but ive only had it on a week and a half and not done wiht this tank yet so i guess ill see

[koolkoreanked]

What about straight no exhaust (cat. or muffler) at all? Just curious.

At full gas no exhuast goes thru my cat or muffler. It dumps at the flex pipe. I noticed a big increase in power and a little increase in mpg. I run a 16.2 at the track. Not sure if thats better than normal or not. Unless you have a strip only car its not worth it to run no exhaust. Its just too freaking loud and the car sounds like a tractor. A high flow cat will give you almost as much power as running a cutout.

[JaK FRoSTWhiTE]

At full gas no exhuast goes thru my cat or muffler. It dumps at the flex pipe. I noticed a big increase in power and a little increase in mpg. I run a 16.2 at the track. Not sure if thats better than normal or not. Unless you have a strip only car its not worth it to run no exhaust. Its just too freaking loud and the car sounds like a tractor. A high flow cat will give you almost as much power as running a cutout.

Any exhaust leak will cause horrible Gas Milage
why do you think im getting such crappy gas milage/performance now?

[koolkoreanked]

Any exhaust leak will cause horrible Gas Milage
why do you think im getting such crappy gas milage/performance now?

I know that. lmao its not really a leak. Its more like a cutout. A leak still lets air thru the cat and muffler. and before it fully broke I had crappy performance and gas milage. hences the 280 miles before the light came on. I had a leak in the flex pipe and a leak before the muffler. When the flex pipe finally broke and I mean Its almost not even connected to the rest of the exhaust system anymore my performace went up and so did my gas milage. Why you run cutouts on any car you dont loose performance. I can go for a run down the freeway full gas the whole time, get out and grab my tailpipe or touch my muffler and not get burnt. No exhaust goes thru it at all. So in a sense I dont have a leak. Trust me I was like wtf too when I noticed a performance and mpg increase.