PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Loans
Car Loan
Compare Car Loans with Jerry
Jerry's Expert Advice
Car Loan Guides
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
Do mufflers add horsepower, or is that just a myth?
I need to replace my muffler, and a friend was suggesting I consider getting a “performance” muffler instead of a standard one. Do mufflers add horsepower, or is that just a myth?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re sorry you need to replace your muffler. But yes, it’s true: mufflers do add horsepower, increasing engine performance by as much as 10 percent or even more, depending on a lot of variables anyway.
A typical consumer muffler is designed to keep the car quiet, “muffling” the sound the car emits. Without a muffler, your car would sound raspy, rumbly, and mean. But before you get any bright ideas, keep in mind that removing your muffler is illegal in all 50 states, so don’t do that.
Removing the muffler can actually reduce your horsepower, too. Some cars might see a tiny bump—we’re talking one to five horses at best—but the vast majority of cars, even most sports cars and muscle cars, won’t get any benefits at all (apart from being louder, which again, is illegal everywhere in the United States).
Performance mufflers improve horsepower by getting rid of engine exhaust more quickly. This typically makes them noisier, but they can definitely add a little pep to your car’s step as well.
Having said that, performance mufflers aren’t going to make a slow car fast. Your 140-horsepower inline-four might go up to around 150 to 155 horsepower, but that’s not going to make much of a difference in the car’s actual performance without other modifications.
If you already have a car designed for performance, performance mufflers can add a bit of power. Just make sure you aren’t violating noise ordinances in the process or worse, irritating your neighbors, who have as much a right to live in your neighborhood peacefully as you do!
Before we let you go, are you overpaying for
car insurance
? The Jerry
app can help with that. It only takes a few minutes to download Jerry, answer a few questions, and compare the best quotes available in your area, potentially saving hundreds of dollars per year or more on car insurance.MORE: The ultimate car tune-up checklist
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance for Your Car
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies
