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A COMPLETE GUIDE ON CAR DOWNPIPES

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mtcmotorsport

The exhaust system on your car includes a crucial component called the downpipe. Its primary purpose is to connect the catalytic converter to the header, directing exhaust gas into the converter before it reaches the exhaust system's termination point. 


Consider the m140i downpipe in charge of transferring used exhaust gases through the system to the catalytic converter if you've given much thought to the performance of your car's turbocharger. You might not care as long as it functions. 


The downpipe is the primary pathway for exhaust gases from the turbine housing to enter the car's exhaust system. One restricted catalytic converter, often located inside the downpipe, is in charge of ridding harmful gases, which are highly detrimental to human respiratory health.


Downpipes are a very prominent topic of discussion among individuals who want to modify their automobiles and improve performance. For instance, changing the BMW downpipe can increase airflow and improve performance if your car has a turbocharger. 


Standard downpipes come with a constrictive catalytic converter, as we described previously. While they undoubtedly play a crucial role in maintaining our air's cleanliness and ability to breathe, they are the enemy of the high-performance car when you need it to perform. 


Spending tens of thousands of dollars only to find that the performance of the car you drive is constrained by the capacity of the original catalytic converter and downpipe can be pretty discouraging. The primary drawback of your downpipe as supplied is this.


The poor nature of many turbocharged vehicles' exhaust pipe bending causes them to experience performance limitations. All of that may be changed by changing the downpipe. Let's explore more about the downpipes of luxury cars. 


Catless vs Catted Downpipes 


People who work with downpipes categorise them as either "catted" or "catless," respectively. What do these phrases mean, though? What distinguishes these two downpipe designs? First, this is a word exclusive to the world of aftermarket auto parts. 


OEM downpipes are always attached to catalytic converters. High-flow catalytic converters are installed in catted downpipes and clean the gases like your OEM catalytic converter. Like an RS3 downpipe, a downpipe without a catalytic converter is called catless. 


The exhaust fumes suddenly smell pretty bad when the converter isn't there. It is because the respiratory-damaging gases are not being cleaned up properly. On the other hand, there is good ventilation, which will undoubtedly improve the car's performance.


What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using A Catless Downpipe? 

The advantage of the catless downpipe is what we have already mentioned. It enables exceptionally quick turbocharger spooling and removes the back pressure issue altogether. But there are some drawbacks to catless downpipes, as you might expect. 


They have many unanswered questions, which should cause you to stop. The smell comes first. It was mentioned earlier when contrasting downpipes with and without cats. Exhaust fumes become quite unpleasant without the procedure to eliminate poisonous gases. 


It is less of an issue at the racetrack because fewer people are present to smell them. But, this problem can be severe for the person who is more into driving cars having these downpipes. Legality is the second issue. 


For a very good reason, authorities have required catalytic converters for a long time. They increase the amount of CO2 a car produces but also reduce more immediately hazardous compounds that can negatively impact human populations' health. 


If you are found driving with a catless downpipe in some European cities, you might be fined up to thousands of dollars and have your automobile seized. Then there comes overboost. Overboost, commonly referred to as boost creep, is another issue that catless downpipes face. 


In other words, the air accumulates inside the turbine housing of the turbocharger. That boosts the boost capacity as well, which may initially seem amazing but invariably causes the OEM fuel system to become overwhelmed. Your car may ultimately suffer greatly as a result of this.


What Advantages Are Offered By Aftermarket Downpipes?


Due to the removal of the restricting component, aftermarket downpipes allow you to increase the airflow over the standard pipe. The diameter of these aftermarket substitutes is frequently larger, providing more room for the passage of exhaust gases and for the turbo to spin up. 


Although the additional space may seem like a minor adjustment, it is exactly what your turbo needs to work more quickly and efficiently. In other words, an aftermarket downpipe enables you to utilise the performance capabilities of your automobile much more precisely.


You may produce a far more balanced and capable system by preventing exhaust gases from interacting with one another and causing turbulence. The aftermarket downpipes available to you include the following simple pipe with flange design, split bell-mouth, cast outlets, etc.


Conclusion


Consider a Sports Cat as an alternative. Is getting a sports cat the simple resolution to the catted vs catless downpipe debate? These high-flow catalytic converters can provide the best of both worlds in a more formal sense. 


They maintain your car's street legality, increase efficiency, and keep your streets free of hazardous gases and odours. This type of aftermarket downpipe is what we advise if you're looking for the greatest way to improve performance while staying within the bounds of the law.


MTC Motorsport is your one-stop solution for buying all catalytic converters and catted and catless downpipes of all major car brands. We have a vast collection of Mercedez, Ford, BMW, Audiand McLaren downpipes. Visit us online and buy your favourite car performance parts


Original Source: https://mtcmotorsport.co.uk/blogs/news/a-complete-guide-on-car-downpipes


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