You Think It’s Just Quiet? Its Effectiveness Will Surprise You

Original: HonDa Magazine 日系車迷誌
Date: 2024-12-13 11:01:35
Topic Collection:
#Honda Upgrade Parts Collection

The exhaust system is one of the three fundamental upgrades for automotive performance and is often a consideration for many car owners looking to improve their vehicles. However, in today’s market, where exhaust brands are as numerous as the stars in the sky and nearly all of them use the high-value "valve exhaust" as a selling point, finding a system that suits 100% of drivers, is practical, affordable, quiet, and powerful is easier said than done.

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To address this challenge, a media platform called "Car Aftermarket Media" was established by a group of industry veterans who have been deeply involved in the aftermarket and automotive media fields for over 20 years. Over the past year, platforms such as HonDa Magazine, BiaoXue Magazine, PingZhi Valley, and Nissan Fans Magazine have been launched. Leveraging their extensive relationships with manufacturers, they have co-developed a series of car upgrade products that are both well-received by drivers and comfortable to use. The first product, introduced via crowdfunding, is the Fit (GK5) exhaust muffler, jointly developed with VKSC, a respected veteran in the exhaust industry.

(Is VKSC really a veteran in the exhaust industry? Yes. The person in charge, Mr. Chen Xitong, trained under Hong Kong’s Wilson Exhaust. This brand might be unfamiliar to many new car owners, but anyone who understands exhaust systems knows that Wilson Exhaust was one of the first foreign brands to set up factories in China. At that time, Mr. Chen was already managing the factory. While their products were being sold worldwide, many self-proclaimed "exhaust experts" were still in kindergarten or primary school.)

The entire exhaust system is made of SUS304 stainless steel, ensuring greater durability and resistance to rust.

Before discussing this exhaust system, let’s take a closer look at the tail section. This exhaust tail section is specifically developed for the Fit (GK5), made of SUS304 stainless steel, and features a reflective back-pressure design for silent operation. From the comments, some car enthusiasts have asked whether this exhaust is lighter than the stock one.

This custom exhaust uses a reflective back-pressure design. Although it is slightly heavier than the stock one, its sound is deeper and more solid. Most importantly, its design strikes a balance between low-end torque and high RPM performance.

In fact, this exhaust tail section is not lighter than the stock one because the stock exhaust muffler uses a baffle design. This design utilizes a larger chamber to achieve noise reduction and back-pressure effects. To ensure the chamber size within limited space, the muffler typically has little to no sound-absorbing cotton. Additionally, the stock exhaust pipe walls are thinner due to cost considerations, making it lighter. VKSC’s exhaust, on the other hand, uses 1.2~1.5mm thick SUS304 stainless steel, making it durable over time. While both systems employ back-pressure designs, this upgraded exhaust muffler uses a reflective back-pressure design, which utilizes “non-complete piping” to create back-pressure. It doesn’t rely on a large chamber to absorb exhaust sound, so the muffler is wrapped with multiple layers of sound-absorbing cotton to capture the sound, contributing to its added weight.

In terms of sound, the stock exhaust excels at noise reduction but has significant restrictions. Due to the absence of sound-absorbing cotton, the exhaust sound can be muffled and scattered. This upgraded exhaust tail section, while slightly louder than the stock system, offers better flow and, thanks to the multi-layered sound-absorbing cotton, produces a deeper and richer tone.

The entire exhaust system is designed for bolt-on installation without requiring any modifications. Simply remove two flange bolts, and the installation is complete. This is a product you can truly upgrade yourself (DIY).

Let’s talk about the author’s week of using this exhaust. If summarized in two words, it would be “comfortable experience.” Why? If you pay attention to the exhaust market for the Fit, you’ll notice an abundance of options, most of which are straight-pipe designs. However, straight-pipe exhausts are not ideal for the Fit, especially for everyday use. The Fit has a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine with a torque of only about 150Nm, which is quite limited. Choosing a straight pipe may improve high-RPM output, but for street driving, how often would someone stay in the 5,000–6,000 RPM range? Most driving happens in the 2,000–3,000 RPM range. Reducing torque further makes the driving experience worse, as the author experienced with their manual transmission Fit.

The silent-type tail muffler with its independent mid-section is already under development. It promises to be just as quiet, with even better power-release effects, and will be paired with this tail muffler. Clear results mean being an informed consumer.

This is why the word "comfortable" sums up this exhaust. Starting a manual car can be a nightmare for some, but for long-time manual drivers like the author, smooth starts have become second nature. However, the loss of torque from using a straight pipe made smooth starts nearly impossible. Achieving smooth starts required revving slightly before engaging. With this new exhaust, the difference is felt immediately. Thanks to the back-pressure effect, torque is preserved, and smooth starts no longer require precise throttle control.

During driving, straight pipes often produce a "disconnected" power delivery, with minimal strength in the 2,000–3,000 RPM range. Rapid acceleration often required waiting or downshifting to exceed 3,000 RPM for a power boost. This new exhaust eliminates those power gaps, delivering more consistent torque in the 2,000–3,000 RPM range. The throttle feels more responsive, and accelerating only requires slightly deeper pedal input. Additionally, the back-pressure effect of this exhaust is less restrictive than the stock one, allowing seamless airflow even above 4,000 RPM for high-RPM performance.

In summary, this exhaust broadens the engine’s powerband. It doesn’t mimic the stock design, which performs well at low-end torque but struggles at high RPMs, nor does it mimic straight pipes, which lack low-end power but perform well at high RPMs. Instead, it connects the best of both ends of the power spectrum. Simply put, when you want power, the car delivers promptly. Isn’t that the definition of comfort?

From a distance, it looks understated...

When installed, the exhaust appears subtle and low-profile. Its tailpipe size isn’t exaggerated, offering a look that’s better than the stock exhaust while maintaining an original appearance.

Listen... Is this the sound you’ve been seeking?

To be honest, this exhaust tail section is both quiet and effective. Don’t think that exhaust systems need to be loud to be effective; that’s just a sales pitch. A true street exhaust relies on internal design and science. Referencing Japan’s JASMA exhaust standards, which limit sound levels to 85 decibels, straight pipes are not suitable for every car or scenario. As socially responsible drivers and consumers, we should clearly understand the “rights and wrongs” of exhaust systems.