Off Limits Roar & Power for Off Road Rides

Drivers pay a lot of attention to what’s happening beneath the hood of the car, but often times they neglect what’s going on underneath the car itself. This is quite a mistake though, as the exhaust system, which runs underneath the vehicle from the engine to the exhaust, affects the entire vehicle. Upgrading your stock system with an aftermarket one makes a huge difference. The exhaust affects the performance of everything – from the horsepower of the car to the sound and fuel economy.

Especially if you have a vehicle that has forced induction, or also known as turbo. When the throttle is closed in a turbo driven engine, there’s a build up of high pressure as there is still air forced coming out from the turbo. When you lift off the throttle, it’s like you’re putting a plug in the sink – the flow will be stopped and water will just build up and overflow the sink. In order to prevent this restriction, you need quality dump pipes and a bigger exhaust system overall to allow the turbo to breath better and spin faster, thus making more power.

To make things more clear, let’s assume the engine is not burning fuel, thus not using oxygen. This means the turbo system is under a lot of pressure which can cause damage to the turbo itself or can split pipes as air tries to rush backwards through the turbo. This also causes the cluttering noise known as compressor surge, sometimes even causing the turbine to spin in reverse direction which can cause massive strain on the bearings.

Dump pipes are fitted to the wastegate and their function is to assist the exhaust system when the turbo is at full boost. They’re usually noisy and should be looped into the exhaust pipe system before the catalytic converter. A quality dump pipe that’s made with a clever design can keep the turbo spinning a bit longer and reduce the turbo lag.

When purchasing dump pipes, it’s advisable that you consult with a mechanic that has expertise in the area. Dump pipes usually require significant modifications to be made to the exhaust system in order to be properly installed and it’s inadvisable to try and bolt them to your stock exhaust. You should pay attention the to size of your exhaust and buy a dump pipe accordingly.

Dump pipes are a great addition to off-road vehicles that need the extra set of power to conquer a certain height or pass through rough terrain. However, you have to keep in mind that certain states prevent their use, as they might make the vehicle fail emission tests.