What is the Max HP that has been achieved on a stock exhaust?

[davkav]

Ok so my Milltek is driving me bananas at this stage. Its just too loud especially as my daily family mobile.

I do love the sound of it but the drone is too much. If I where single it would be a different story, I wouldn't give a damn.

I have bought a 12" resonator that I had planned on getting welded in line on my downpipe but I am starting to think that this wont make too much of a difference as ti would be too close to the turbo and the exhaust gas velocity would be too high for the resonator to silence the exhaust note enough.

So I was thinking of getting another one and putting both just before the entry to either muffler. Id imagine this would do the job alright.

Anyone have any feedback on this, I know a good few of you have put a lot of time into your exhausts and trying to achieve certain tones etc...

Further to the above I was also thinking of just putting the stock exhaust back on. Obviously I am going to loose a bit of spool up and HP but I am curious as to the max HP that anyone has achieved on the stock exhaust?

Any feedback/comments appreciated,

[mister_tu]

Milltek is loud? I think you may have an exhaust leak.

[davkav]

No Sir, no exhaust leak over here. It has been this loud since day one. (+8 months)

[mister_tu]

I'm taking it you're non-resonated? I have a milltek (2nd owner) and the sound is perfect. No drone whatsoever.

[SleeperAvant]

I have a Milltek also, with a 034 3" downpipe. It is loud I guess, but it's kinda quiet. A lot of my married friends tell me to remove the resonators. It's more VERY DEEP tone, instead of loud in my opinion.

[Dan[FN]6262]

i ran the stock exhaust with my 71R set up. i didnt have a problem making power lol. when i ran an open downpipe for a few days, i could only tell a difference on top end, and it was anything devastating or that i couldnt live without.

i wanted to see what difference it would make, and it wasnt great for me. it was my deciding factor on whether or not to have a custom exhaust made. i just ran the stock exhaust, enjoyed being able to be quiet on trips, not having extra attention from the police, and saved my $500 that i wouldve spent on a custom system.

i know a lot of people are not going to like what i said, but that was my experience. i wanted real world results and not just internet hear say. I had talked to Greg@DTH about it also, and he said that with an eliminator turbo, the stock exhaust system isnt that much of a restriction.

[davkav]

I'm taking it you're non-resonated? I have a milltek (2nd owner) and the sound is perfect. No drone whatsoever.

It must be. There was no option to select resonated or non-resonated when I ordered it. I wonder if it is non-resonated and maybe I could send the mufflers back to them.

I have a Milltek also, with a 034 3" downpipe. It is loud I guess, but it's kinda quiet. A lot of my married friends tell me to remove the resonators. It's more VERY DEEP tone, instead of loud in my opinion.

I suppose, ye it is a deeper noise rather than drone but it isn't fair on my daughter having all that noise in the back. Even if I have people in the back they cannont hear me talking un less I speak up. I suppose the avant doesnt help either, it probably acts a big subwoofer box.

i ran the stock exhaust with my 71R set up. i didnt have a problem making power lol. when i ran an open downpipe for a few days, i could only tell a difference on top end, and it was anything devastating or that i couldnt live without.

i wanted to see what difference it would make, and it wasnt great for me. it was my deciding factor on whether or not to have a custom exhaust made. i just ran the stock exhaust and saved my $500 that i wouldve spent on a custom system.

My only real concern is having too much back pressure that would cause too much heat build up and cause my EGT's to raise too much.

Also would it have any adverse effects on the life of the turbo or manifold not having it flowing as well as it could on the exhaust side....

Maybe two resonators and dynamat is the way forward.

[SleeperAvant]

Yeah, dynamat would probably help. Lay it up liberally in your spare tire well. You could always also just go back to the OEM mufflers.

[dougyfresh]

My APR Stealth is very quiet from what people tell me.

[Dan[FN]6262]

My only real concern is having too much back pressure that would cause too much heat build up and cause my EGT's to raise too much.

my EGTs never were never above 900*C, IIRC.



I'm not trying to tell you to run the stock exhaust, just giving you my experience with it running the same setup as you.

Personally, I would get the Milltek modified the way you had suggested.

[Dresevski]

my EGTs never were never above 900*C, IIRC.

What do the acronyms EGT and IIRC stand for? I've seen them a couple times and can't seem to guess what they mean.

[mister_tu]

Exhaust gas temps and If I recall correctly

[bl0wn3ur0]

My APR Stealth is very quiet from what people tell me.

I miss my apr stealth(destroyed the resonator on a raised plate in the road), the car is now to loud for my taste. I might trade it for stock exhaust........

[9744RR]

Our car is running a HFC, TT DP and stock rear. It's nice and quiet.

[dubgli]

My APR Stealth is very quiet from what people tell me.

that's what i've been told as well about mine. But usually the people telling me are my cousins who have loud loud fart cans on their s2000s. i think it sounds good.

[Dan[FN]6262]

I miss my apr stealth(destroyed the resonator on a raised plate in the road), the car is now to loud for my taste. I might trade it for stock exhaust........

I have my stock exhaust laying in the garage. if you want it, i'll sell it cheap.

[Casius]

I have Milltek resonated turbo back and the only sound is a super low bassy drone that you cant really hear inside the car at low rpms... its perfect

[Turbavanttro]

My sportec exhaust is super quiet. The stainless tips aren't as nice as some of the options out there, but its a well made exhaust with an understated but deep sounding tone.

[mister_tu]

So...to sum it up, there are quiet alternatives out there besides going stock.

[dougyfresh]

So...to sum it up, there are quiet alternatives out there besides going stock.

Yes.

[Agro]

I used to have a Neuspeed exhaust and test pipe on my K04 b6, but the drone was annoying as hell and at 32 yo I don't race my car, heck the only thing I care about now (as apposed to 5 years ago when i got the car) is it continue to look nice enough and that it RUNS and that I continue to have no car payment.

So i went ahead and sold my Neuspeed to someone on here and swapped back to stock. I couldn't tell much that I lost the exhaust by my seat of the pants dyno. I recently swapped out my test pipe for my cat and I could tell the loss of power, but I am fine with it.

At one point I even paid for a muffler shop to weld in an 18" SS resonator I bought (I forget the brand, but it was listed on here on some forum posts) and it didn't help. That's in addition to the 1 resonator that Neuspeed gave.

The drone was horrible with that Neuspeed, I understand what you mean though as a family car it isn't an option. good luck

Ok so my Milltek is driving me bananas at this stage. Its just too loud especially as my daily family mobile.

I do love the sound of it but the drone is too much. If I where single it would be a different story, I wouldn't give a damn.

I have bought a 12" resonator that I had planned on getting welded in line on my downpipe but I am starting to think that this wont make too much of a difference as ti would be too close to the turbo and the exhaust gas velocity would be too high for the resonator to silence the exhaust note enough.

So I was thinking of getting another one and putting both just before the entry to either muffler. Id imagine this would do the job alright.

Anyone have any feedback on this, I know a good few of you have put a lot of time into your exhausts and trying to achieve certain tones etc...

Further to the above I was also thinking of just putting the stock exhaust back on. Obviously I am going to loose a bit of spool up and HP but I am curious as to the max HP that anyone has achieved on the stock exhaust?

Any feedback/comments appreciated,

[613B6]

I spoke with Chris Tapp about this when building my setup and he had fabbed a few full exhausts for eliminator clients at the shop and he said on the dyno he saw little gains. I run my gtrs with a test pipe, all stock piping and resonators and two magnaflows at the end just to help it breather a touch more and it's pretty much quiet as oem and still hauls.

[Casius]

I spoke with Chris Tapp about this when building my setup and he had fabbed a few full exhausts for eliminator clients at the shop and he said on the dyno he saw little gains. I run my gtrs with a test pipe, all stock piping and resonators and two magnaflows at the end just to help it breather a touch more and it's pretty much quiet as oem and still hauls.

Hey a fellow Ottawan!!

[Dake]

I'm taking it you're non-resonated? I have a milltek (2nd owner) and the sound is perfect. No drone whatsoever.

Mine's 2nd owner Milltek as well. This exhaust looks like it's been on the car for six years. Coasting in the 1100-2000 power range is deep and rumbly, but on the highway, unless you gun it I dare say it's as quiet as stock. I have non-res .. it's never bothered me or my passengers.

My neighbor is the sheriff, and he has never asked me a thing about my car. The only issue this exhaust has ever caused is melting my lowers around the outlet holes.

Edit: it has the Milltek high flow cat too.

[spector]

Further to the above I was also thinking of just putting the stock exhaust back on. Obviously I am going to loose a bit of spool up and HP but I am curious as to the max HP that anyone has achieved on the stock exhaust?

That's not necessarily true. 99% of the gains from an exhaust come from a HFC and a DP. Our exhaust is dual 1.75" ** it flows just fine for a 2.x inch DP.

edit: perhaps a better question is: Has anyone made more HP with downpipe-back portion of the exhaust ONLY, and can they prove it with a dyno. From a physics standpoint, there is absolutely no reason that replacing components after the DP will yield gains.

[Bische]

I have had my Ferrita system for about a month and it is quiet, first startup we couldnt here any differance from the stock exhaust. Its now almost broken in and the tone is really subtly deep, drone is 1 on a 10 scale and it doesnt roar until you WOT it.

I have stock cat i my say, but im thinking on getting a HFC for a tad more rasp n rumble, and ofcourse a chunk of power :)

[a4darkness]

While a nice new exhaust is cool and everything, it seems like having something fabbed might be a better solution as the gains are so minimal and the sound is what you're essentially purchasing it for. Well, that and proper expelling of exhaust gas. But since that's really it... eh, I dunno.

Would love to see what some Eisamenn mufflers would sound like on the stock pipes. Maybe couple that w/a larger piping from the cat back.

[A4 Moda]

I have to clear up some misconception here.

dynomat or any other type of sound deadening material will reduce the overall noise of the exhaust inside the cabin. It will however, exacerbate the DRONE. So what you will decrease in volume will be replaced by equal increase in drone. Both are unbearable. but you get to choose your poison. Drone or noise, you can't hope to eliminate both without adding more mufflers on the setup. Again, cherry bombs or resonators will also reduce volume but increase drone. The only proper way to remedy the volume issue is to add more mufflers OR reduce the diameter of the piping.

Having gone through more than 12 exhaust setups in my car, I know this first hand.

You can post up questions or PM me for specific concerns.

Finally, the factory exhaust does restrict performance overall (all throughout the powerband), but it will be most noticeable at highway speeds and beyond (i.e. top end power). For DDs, factory exhausts or factory setups will be the most practical. For weekend cars, go all out.

I'm currently running 3" pipes all the way through, and I have factory mufflers at the rear. The sound is bearable at WOT, and quiet while cruising. It's just perfect for me right now. Any louder, I would absolutely go ape shit, and lose my nerves.

Hope this helps.

[a4darkness]

Okay, I'll play.

Went Revo Stage 1 yesterday (yay!) and am 99% sure if anything I'll be skipping Stage 2 and going BT (long term) So then, keeping my stock piping is fine and maybe add some mufflers (for a nice sound)... is that all I would need? Or would a larger DP be a good addition as well? As for a HFC, I'm kinda 50/50 on the concept so that we'll leave off the table and stick with a stock cat.

Eh?

[mister_tu]

Okay, I'll play.

Went Revo Stage 1 yesterday (yay!) and am 99% sure if anything I'll be skipping Stage 2 and going BT (long term) So then, keeping my stock piping is fine and maybe add some mufflers (for a nice sound)... is that all I would need? Or would a larger DP be a good addition as well? As for a HFC, I'm kinda 50/50 on the concept so that we'll leave off the table and stick with a stock cat.

Eh?

Regardless if you're stage 1 or BT, it's always good to replace the current exhaust system. At the least, go with a cat-back exhaust system. The stock exhaust system is way too restrictive to feel any gains, especially with the stage 1 - you're robbing yourself of power.

[spector]

Finally, the factory exhaust does restrict performance overall (all throughout the powerband), but it will be most noticeable at highway speeds and beyond (i.e. top end power). For DDs, factory exhausts or factory setups will be the most practical. For weekend cars, go all out.

I'm currently running 3" pipes all the way through, and I have factory mufflers at the rear. The sound is bearable at WOT, and quiet while cruising. It's just perfect for me right now. Any louder, I would absolutely go ape shit, and lose my nerves.

This should only be true for the factory exhaust up through the DP. If you're running a straight 3" pipe from the Turbo and through the DP, that is still smaller than the diameter of our downpipe-back exhaust. Replacing that final portion ** after the DP ** should confer virtually ZERO performance gains.

[a4darkness]

Regardless if you're stage 1 or BT, it's always good to replace the current exhaust system. At the least, go with a cat-back exhaust system. The stock exhaust system is way too restrictive to feel any gains, especially with the stage 1 - you're robbing yourself of power.

/sigh

Yes, this I know. Perhaps you might have missed the point of my response here. ("Okay, I'll play.") I was more looking for A4Moda's opinion, rather than what the commonly adhered to principles of A4 1.8T exhaust mods. ;-)

[A4 Moda]

Spector, too many pronouns man. I haven't a damn clue what "this" refers to and "our downpipe-back exhaust" .

Please reiterate.

thanks

This should only be true for the factory exhaust up through the DP. If you're running a straight 3" pipe from the Turbo and through the DP, that is still smaller

than the diameter of our downpipe-back exhaust. Replacing that final portion ** after the DP ** should confer virtually ZERO performance gains.

[mister_tu]

/sigh

Yes, this I know. Perhaps you might have missed the point of my response here. ("Okay, I'll play.") I was more looking for A4Moda's opinion, rather than what the commonly adhered to principles of A4 1.8T exhaust mods. ;-)

I totally skipped his post, my bad.

[spector]

Spector, too many pronouns man. I haven't a damn clue what "this" refers to and "our downpipe-back exhaust" .

Please reiterate.

thanks

"This" = your statement (which I quoted) that 'Finally, the factory exhaust does restrict performance overall (all throughout the powerband), but it will be most noticeable at highway speeds and beyond (i.e. top end power). For DDs, factory exhausts or factory setups will be the most practical. For weekend cars, go all out'

"Our downpipe-back exhaust" = the stock exhaust from the DP back on our cars.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

What I'm saying is that changing exhaust components AFTER the DP is a waste of money unless you want to cough up $400-800 just to change the sound of your car. Dynos show that 99% of the gains from an "exhaust" upgrade come from swapping the stock cat and the stock DP with something higher-flowing. Replacing the components behind the stock DP do nothing performance wise. And there is no reason that they should, as our cars are DUAL 1.75", which is plenty large even for a 3" TP/TP setup. If there is a turbulence issue, it is negligible, and not worth the half a grand people spend on a downpipe-back system, in my opinion.

[a4darkness]

I totally skipped his post, my bad.

ROTFL

I was like... WTF do I really sound that retarded or something?? I know how an exhaust works! HA HA HA HAH

[mister_tu]

ROTFL

I was like... WTF do I really sound that retarded or something?? I know how an exhaust works! HA HA HA HAH

Yes? LOL

[a4darkness]

Yes? LOL

< nods >

Yes.

[davkav]

Well the stock exhaust is back on and I love how it sounds now. Nice and quiet when cruising and then has a nice growl when im WOT. There is still plenty of power up top and to be honest Im very happy with it. It still pulls strong all the way to 7200rpm.

So the milltek is up for sale now.

Hopefully ill sell it soon and I can put some money towards sorting out rods etc.

Cheers for all the info lads.

[KOTO]

Mine's 2nd owner Milltek as well. This exhaust looks like it's been on the car for six years. Coasting in the 1100-2000 power range is deep and rumbly, but on the highway, unless you gun it I dare say it's as quiet as stock. I have non-res .. it's never bothered me or my passengers.

My neighbor is the sheriff, and he has never asked me a thing about my car. The only issue this exhaust has ever caused is melting my lowers around the outlet holes.

Edit: it has the Milltek high flow cat too.

i've been looking forever for a sound clip/video of the non res milltek. do you mind posting one up? youtube and other searches show nothing.