Are you thinking of ways to reduce exhaust noise? You are not alone! Many car owners have the same questions: How to quieten exhaust? Or how to make your car exhaust quieter? If you happen to have the same question, you’ve arrived at the right place! In this article, we will be taking a closer look at how to quiet exhaust without losing performance and making it virtually silent. Let’s find out what’s the best way to do it!
In a hurry? The best way to make exhaust quiet without losing performance is by getting your hands on top quality quiet mufflers. Installing one does not require professional help either and it perfectly eradicates the exhaust noise. We recommend the highly rated MBRP M2220A 31″ Aluminized Quiet Tone Muffler and Vibrant 1141 2.5″ Ultra Quiet Resonator. If you don’t want to buy a very quiet muffler, then you should try fixing the leak.
How To Make Exhaust Quieter Without Losing Performance
There are many ways to quiet a loud exhaust and making exhaust quieter. However, these procedures can be broadly divided into temporary or permanent solutions.
The permanent solutions include adopting a silent muffler for car or utilizing an exhaust silencer.
In this section, we will only discuss the most effective quick fixes. If you want to know how to make aftermarket exhaust quieter or how to make your car exhaust quieter generally, see the following permanent solutions!
1. Invest In A Quiet Muffler
The most practical approach to quiet a noisy exhaust is simply by investing in a good quality quiet muffler. This once and for good solution to reduce exhaust noise works because it covers the end part of the exhaust pipe right before the opening.
It achieves a quieter exhaust system but the only way to be successful in this method is by purchasing a muffler that is compatible with your vehicle.
If you are not sure which muffler will be right for your vehicle, you can ask your auto dealership.
We recommend the highly rated very quiet mufflers below:
MBRP M2220A 31″ Aluminized Quiet Tone Muffler
This is a high flow performance muffler made of aluminum.
It is responsible for maximizing the exhaust flow.
This results in many benefits apart from making exhaust quieter. For example, high torque, excellent fuel economy, and greater horsepower.
It reduces the exhaust drone noise to a turbo whistle. Due to easy installation and high practicality, this tool has received amazing ratings.
Vibrant 1141 2.5″ Ultra Quiet Resonator
This capable resonator is specifically designed to lower the exhaust noise and allow undisturbed exhaust flow.
It is made of T304 stainless steel which makes it ultra-light and durable.
The addition of a “True Straight Through” perforated center is enveloped by sound absorption materials. It comes with 5 years of warranty and can tolerate high exhaust temperature.
If you aren’t confident to DIY install it then you can easily just hire a mechanic or a professional to install the muffler for you. This tool is a surefire method of making exhaust quieter.
You might want to check out our best quiet performance muffler article too.
2. DIY Exhaust Silencer Insert
In case you can not afford to purchase a premade silencer, you should think of getting a DIY exhaust silencer insert.
You can find numerous DIY tutorial videos online which explain how to design a silencer.
Most people opt for using a soda can, ball of steel wool, or a jar lid. These materials make an effective DIY exhaust silencer insert.
You just have to make sure that you completely understand what you are doing because the DIY methods can be risky.
3. Secure The Leak
If you want to silence a loud muffler but do not want to replace it with a new one, seal the leak. If your vehicle has a leak, the loud exhaust noise is probably due to the leaking puddle.
In order to fix the leak, start by covering the small perforations by using a piece of aluminum sheet. This piece should be bigger than the area of the leak. 
Next, get a heat resistant epoxy such as J-B Weld HighHeat Degree Epoxy.
This epoxy acts as a sealant because it covers the patch.
If you want the best results, you can add an extra layer of epoxy on the aluminum sheet to solidify the patch.
But in case if the perforations are huge, invest in muffler cement.
We recommend the high quality Dynomax Muffler Cement.
You can also buy a tube that can seal the hole and avoid leaks effectively.
Be sure that before you install or apply any of these products, you need to wipe away the rust from the surface of the area which needs application.
If the exhaust is completely covered by holes, it is better to replace it with another exhaust.
Remember that these materials can silence a loud muffler as well.
4. Bring In The Silencers
If you want to know how to make aftermarket exhaust quieter, a silencer is very effective for this purpose.
An exhaust silencer is an affordable and practical method to soften the loud exhaust noise.
It is basically a plug at the exhaust and is installed via the exhaust tips.
The installation is super easy. You just need to create a hole in the exhaust tips in order to lock the silencers onto the exhaust system.
A homemade exhaust silencer is a good choice too but it requires more time.
Exhaust noise can be made quieter by applying exhaust paste like Holts Exhaust Paste and bandages too but this is more of a temporary solution.
What Makes An Exhaust So Loud And Noisy
In order to understand the reason behind a loud exhaust, it is important to know the science of frequencies and sound waves. All types of sounds can be classified into high and low frequencies. Read also: How To Quiet A Noisy Loud Fuel Pump
A high-frequency sound is similar to a whistle whereas a low-frequency sound is like a thunderstorm. Low frequency sound is capable of traveling faster which makes it harder to absorb. This is the main culprit behind a loud exhaust which needs to be eradicated.
A homemade exhaust silencer, muffler, resonator, and silent muffler for a car can easily quiet a loud exhaust.
These tools work by manipulating the frequency and merging sound waves so that they strike out each other.
Other reasons why your exhaust is loud might be because it’s too powerful or old. A leaking exhaust might be a cause too.
If you want to figure out whether your exhaust is leaking, park your vehicle, and check out for any puddles or smoke coming from beneath the car. Having a hole in the muffler or a defect in the engine are potential factors too.
Final Words About How To Make Exhaust Quiet
This concludes our 2024’s best methods of how to quiet exhaust without losing performance and making it virtually silent.
We recommend the highly rated MBRP M2220A 31″ Aluminized Quiet Tone Muffler and Vibrant 1141 2.5″ Ultra Quiet Resonator to have a quiet exhaust system successfully and to solve the loud noise problem.
With the help of our permanent solutions, you can achieve a noiseless exhaust system in your vehicle to enjoy quiet travels with your friends and family. Enjoy the peace and quiet!
Dave Pearson is a Canadian musician, sound editor, and audiophile. He is also the founder and owner of the website SoundProofGeek. On SoundProofGeek, Pearson offers advice and resources on audio equipment, including how to assess and improve audio quality, how to troubleshoot and repair audio equipment, and how to improve the music listening experience.
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