Your vehicle has multiple systems, which ensures a good driving experience. The entire functionality of your car depends on these systems, which work together to transport you from one point to another. While every system is important, the exhaust is probably the most complicated part of your vehicle.
This system comprises several parts, including the manifold and the catalytic converter, which is mandatory for every car. This system aims to improve your car’s performance and safety, and this is where the resonator comes in.
Summary
The exhaust resonator is a car part that removes high-pitched noises and makes it more bearable to drive. The exhaust resonator does so by removing sounds at a particular frequency. The best car exhaust resonator we recommend is made by Vibrant Performance.
In this article, we’ll also cover the following:
- Where it’s placed
- How much it costs
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Your engine produces noise which sometimes can be uncomfortable, especially if you are driving late at night. This part is similar to a muffler; its purpose is to lower the engine sound. In this article, we will talk about what is an exhaust resonator in a car, what it does, and also recommend you the best products for this part.
Table of Contents
What does a resonator?
The resonator is essential for your car as it reduces engine noise. While the catalytic converter reduces gas emissions, the resonator will decrease noise pollution. Some car enthusiasts prefer a louder noise, and that is when they are considering a straight-piped exhaust system.
But those that want to reduce the noise will always look for a resonator. This part is situated before the muffler, and it directly helps this part with noise reduction. The entire resonator is designed and built as an echo chamber that cancels specific sound frequencies.
Before the noise can enter the muffler to be silenced, they are canceled by the resonator as they pass through it. This modification is ideal for daily drives or long journeys where the loud engine noise could be inconvenient.
How do they work?
Engineers that designed this part are highly skilled and perform several tests before installing such a modification to a vehicle. Nevertheless, they are among the smartest workers in the automotive industry because the efficiency of this part directly reflects their hard work.
As the sound comes from the engine, it features many frequencies which vary depending on the engine speed. For this reason, the sound is never exact or repetitive, and the frequency is constantly changing. That is why resonators are built to work within a frequency range instead of a single format.
But this part can work well even if the frequency is outside its range. The noise will be canceled to some extent, and the muffler can reduce it completely.
The Rolls Royce Cullinan is one of the most silent SUVs, where the only noise you hear while cruising down the highway is the wind. Luxury vehicles often feature a high-end resonator that reduces the engine sounds almost completely.
Resonator delete pros and cons
Before removing a resonator from your vehicle, paying attention to the good and bad things this part brings is important. There are advantages and disadvantages to an exhaust system equipped with a resonator, and they are:
Pros
Let’s look at these 5 things it does:
- Keeping your muffler intact
- Lowering the sound profile
- Potentially altering emissions on your car
- Reducing the weight
Keeps your muffler intact
The addition and removal of a component can often affect the adjacent ones. But when you take off the resonator, the muffler will not be affected. You won’t have to make any special modifications to your car once you remove the resonator.
Minimal maintenance
Once you remove this part, you will no longer have to deal with extensive maintenance. This operation generates no performance issues, and you won’t need to repair anything after you finish the job.
Change in the sound profile
As you remove the resonator, you will notice a better sound. If you are a car enthusiast, you will enjoy the authentic engine sound, which allows for a greater driving experience.
It is a legal modification.
Depending on the state, removing a resonator is legal, and you don’t need permission from authorities. You should do an emissions test after finishing the removal process and ensure your car does not exceed the limit.
Reduced weight
The performance of your vehicle increases proportionally with the removal of weight. Because you are removing a part from the exhaust system, your vehicle also gets lighter, and you will notice a slight increase in power.
Cons
There are also reasons not to do it, including:
- Voiding the warranty
- The check engine light coming on
- Reducing the in-flow speed
- Creating odd sounds
Voided warranty
New vehicles have a warranty, which will help you tremendously in case something wrong happens with your car. But if you conduct the repairs yourself or if you remove some parts from the car, the warranty is canceled.
Check engine light
The companies that manufacture newer vehicles are increasing the focus on the exhaust system since they want to lower emissions as much as possible. That is why the check engine light might light up on your dashboard as soon as you take the resonator off.
Reduction in flow speed
It also helps the gas to move faster, and the sound waves are evacuated through the chamber, increasing space for fuel and air. When no resonator is installed, the flow speed is reduced in the exhaust, but this shouldn’t significantly impact performance.
Odd sounds
If you are performing some spirited driving at higher RPMs, you will notice some screeching noises produced by the exhaust. While a resonator would completely cancel them, their presence does not affect your driving.
