intake, muffler and header

[Demm]

what's up all. lemme just get this in the air. I don't know nothing about cars so this maybe be a stupid question. I have a 02 lx. I wanna put a rcing beat exhaust, an ingen intake and a racing header. now when I told this to my dad he told me that its not worth it cause it will mess my car up. he says that the car will loose its back pressure. is this true? will my car get messed up if I add those 3 things?

also when I get them. I will need some help putting on the header. I'm afraid to put that on. it wld be cool if maybe someone from san antonio wld help me? I'd pay them and everything. I just dnt trust myself to put it on.

thanks in advance

 

[gksspot]

BAck pressure is only an issue if you have forced induction, and you are normally aspirated... translation= you dont have a turbo or superchrger so it wont be bad for your set up

 

[Demm]

alright, thanks for the fast reply both of you. , now if i get these 3 things done will my car be alot fast? or just a little bit? (i have an automatic). and also if i do this, i will get a CEL correct?

 

[JOMO]

alright, thanks for the fast reply both of you. , now if i get these 3 things done will my car be alot fast? or just a little bit? (i have an automatic). and also if i do this, i will get a CEL correct?

Your car will be a little faster. You will feel the difference, but dont expect a dramatic one, even morso that you have an automatic. With the header installation, the hardest part to get off will possibly be the spring bolts. Even more if its not rusty. I had a friend help me the first time I put my obx on and I think it took about an hour and a half. Now with someone else I could do it in about a half hour. Good luck.

 

[subsolo_21]

Ok, to say that backpressure is not an issue on naturally aspirated cars is a big mistake. Adding these 3 items, the header and muffler in particular, lets exhaust flow more freely through the cars exhaust system. This causes a loss of back pressure. Because of the lack of back pressure you will notice a slight increase in horsepower in the mid-high rpm range. There is a downside however because this backpressure also contributes to your low-end torque. If you install these parts you will lose some torque and your normal takeoffs will be slower than usual. The intake doesn't do much as far as horsepower, but it will give you better throttle response. All these things give your car a better sound and look great, but aren't especially helpful unless you have a turbocharger. I would say just get the intake and maybe the header and a nice exhaust tip and be done. Your dad is right. I learned the hard way to listen to mine.

 

[DiS]

Ok, to say that backpressure is not an issue on naturally aspirated cars is a big mistake. Adding these 3 items, the header and muffler in particular, lets exhaust flow more freely through the cars exhaust system. This causes a loss of back pressure. Because of the lack of back pressure you will notice a slight increase in horsepower in the mid-high rpm range. There is a downside however because this backpressure also contributes to your low-end torque. If you install these parts you will lose some torque and your normal takeoffs will be slower than usual. The intake doesn't do much as far as horsepower, but it will give you better throttle response. All these things give your car a better sound and look great, but aren't especially helpful unless you have a turbocharger. I would say just get the intake and maybe the header and a nice exhaust tip and be done. Your dad is right. I learned the hard way to listen to mine.

I will have to debate your post. Maybe its a bit different on auto Protege versus manual Protege. When I had my OBX header installed I had a pretty good increase in low-end torque. My 0-60 at 1/4 track changed slightly (became a bit better). Car definetly accelerated faster. Besides header I had UDP pulley and still have Injen CAI and Racing Beat axle-back along with J-spec Intake camshaft. With everything listed above not including header, I was able to pull 16.34 at the 1/4 track and after OBX header instalation I pulled 16.03.

Dont forget. Stock parts, such as stock exhaust including CATs and stock air intake system are basically restricting Protege motor of its potential. Now if you will get an oversized exhaust....3'' exhaust on a N/A Protege, that WILL definetly make you lose some power as back presure will drop dramatically.

I say, if you want to stay N/A and not to go with turbo or supercharger, its well worth of getting a good exhaust system along with a header and an intake. These simple mods will definetly free some hp up but as someone said, you will feel the difference but it wont be that big.

 

[subsolo_21]

Well, I stand somewhat corrected. I didn't take into account the diameter of the racing beat exhaust. I assumed it was a 3"+ exhaust like many ppl get. It probably would be helpful. I'm sorry... I'm used to talking about other engines/exhaust setups. I have a lot to learn about Mazda's, but the things I said above are good to keep in mind b/c my main point was that backpressure does make a difference, even in NA cars.

 

[flat_black]

Oooooooookay, guys... A problem with terminology here. What you're concerned with is called 'volumetric efficiency', not backpressure. Backpressure is an old hot-rodder explaination for why a car felt slower off the line once you strapped a dual 3" exhaust onto your low-revving, low exhaust output V8.

Now, that being said, going excessively large on an exhaust will cause what is ACTUALLY turbulence; Turbulence is created by the exhaust gasses not being constrained to a particular linear path. The gasses bounce and reflect off of the walls, and curl back in on themselves, adding more resistance to the gasses that are trying to flow out straight (Backpressure, ironically enough.)

This being said, going with a well-planned, well-designed exhaust will very much work to your advantage, increasing the overall flow capacity, and smoothing out bends, which lends itself to a more laminar flow (Higher volumetric efficiency), and a much smoother transition to the exhaust exit.

Backpressure is not good. Velocity is good. Laminar flow is good. Too large of an exhaust system is bad. =)

 

[DiS]

Oooooooookay, guys... A problem with terminology here. What you're concerned with is called 'volumetric efficiency', not backpressure. Backpressure is an old hot-rodder explaination for why a car felt slower off the line once you strapped a dual 3" exhaust onto your low-revving, low exhaust output V8.

Now, that being said, going excessively large on an exhaust will cause what is ACTUALLY turbulence; Turbulence is created by the exhaust gasses not being constrained to a particular linear path. The gasses bounce and reflect off of the walls, and curl back in on themselves, adding more resistance to the gasses that are trying to flow out straight (Backpressure, ironically enough.)

This being said, going with a well-planned, well-designed exhaust will very much work to your advantage, increasing the overall flow capacity, and smoothing out bends, which lends itself to a more laminar flow (Higher volumetric efficiency), and a much smoother transition to the exhaust exit.

Backpressure is not good. Velocity is good. Laminar flow is good. Too large of an exhaust system is bad. =)

holly crap I couldn't said it better! Flat black is the man! You know, sometimes I know exactly what you are talking about in my mind but I cant explain it good enough (thumb)

 

[flat_black]

When I'm drinking, I'm more glib. =) I have no idea why.

I was sober during that post, however.

 

[DiS]

When I'm drinking, I'm more glib. =) I have no idea why.

I was sober during that post, however.

lol more power to you mang!

 

[kl_03maz]

This is what I'm getting out of all this...

Backpressure = Good for low end
Backpressure = Bad for mid-high end

3" exhaust = Bad for low end
3" exhaust = Good for mid-high end

SO, I see a solution here... how about something like an intake throttle body, but for exhaust... keeping backpressure at low speeds.. opening full about mid-high rpms... ?

wouldn't this solve this problem?

(just throwin nonsense into the wind... )

HAHA


kl

 

[flat_black]

Nope.

Backpressure=Bad
Velocity=Good
3" Exhaust=Bad for a 2.0L I4 that revs to anything less than about 9000 RPM. Unless it has a turbocharger.

The throttle plate would only be a detriment, and cause massive problems, more than it would help anything.

 

[kl_03maz]

Flatblack,. I ain't gonna argue with ya

I've read your site about porting the intake manifold.

you know your stuff!!

I suppose after porting the intake manifold like you had it wouldn't pass emissions?

kl

 

[flat_black]

Mine passed just fine. =) And still passes in California, of all places. That's with a full exhaust, one cat, intake work, and head work, etcetera. That's only a smog test, though, since I was from out of state.

 

[kl_03maz]

Hrmmmm... interesting...

You would figure since that system in the manifold is for emissions that it would cause a fail with an emissions test.. but then again... you said the smog test.. (sniffer test right?)

 

[flat_black]

Sniffer, yep. The system only functions durring startup, when cold, so if presented while hot, the emissions are no different than stock, or marginally, at most.