Muffler Delete Ultimate Guide: Cost, Sound, Mileage & Power

What Is Muffler Delete?

Muffler delete is the removal of a vehicle’s muffler. By removing the muffler, the engine noise is no longer suppressed and becomes much louder. 

This is often done for aesthetic reasons, as many people believe that the louder engine noise sounds more aggressive and powerful. 

However, muffler delete can also have negative consequences, such as increased engine wear and tear, and decreased fuel efficiency.

Table below listed summary of the details in this article: –

In the end of this article, I have also injected some of the most frequently asked questions from the readers. Hope it helps. Let’s get started on the topic!

Is Muffler Delete Legal?

Muffler delete is not a legal modification, it’s considered illegal in all 50 states of the US. 

Each state handles muffler laws in their own ways. However, every state requires motor vehicles to have a muffler—there’s no getting around it! 

Here’s the exact copy of the law in California: –

“Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler”.

The legality of muffler delete depends on a number of factors, including the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is being operated and the specific regulations that apply in that jurisdiction. 

In some jurisdictions, muffler delete is considered to be an illegal modification to a vehicle’s exhaust system. In other jurisdictions, however, muffler delete may be permitted provided that the vehicle meets certain noise emissions standards.

You must understand whatever the local law says about car noise emission in your locality. As we know, laws vary in different states in the United States and even beyond the United States.

I suggest you do your own research on this one. To make your life easier, here’s a list of laws from different states regarding exhaust noise.

Aside from legality issues, you should also consider your driving environment. If you are living and driving around a populated neighborhood, then a muffler could cause issues from the neighbors and cops

If your driving route is out of the residential area then getting a muffler deleted won’t be such a big issue for you. You can still drive and enjoy your car on a track or somewhere far from residential areas.

Is It Safe To Drive Without A Muffler?

No, it is not safe to drive without a muffler. 

A muffler is an important part of a car’s exhaust system, and its purpose is to reduce noise and dangerous exhaust fumes. Without a muffler, the noise from the engine will be much louder, and this can be dangerous for both the driver and other people on the road.

Additionally, the exhaust gases produced by the engine would be more likely to enter the cabin of the car, which could be dangerous to your health if you breathe them in.

Does a Muffler Affect Gas Mileage?

Some studies suggest that a muffler can improve fuel efficiency by up to 5%, while other studies suggest that there is no significant difference. 

The reason for this discrepancy is likely due to the fact that there are many variables that can affect fuel efficiency, such as the type of vehicle, driving habits, and the quality of the muffler.

A muffler is designed specifically to reduce the noise emitted by an engine by directing exhaust gases through a series of chambers and baffles. This process of redirecting and dissipating the energy of the exhaust gases results in a decrease in noise output. Therefore, there is no clear consensus on whether or not a muffler affects gas mileage.

RELATED ARTICLE: Muffler Delete & Gas Mileage (Everything You Need To Know)

Does a Muffler Add Horsepower?

Car’s mufflers can slightly increase horsepower by reducing back pressure. Don’t expect a huge power gain. It will be no gain or a minor horsepower gain of about 1%.

This happens because the exhaust gases are able to flow more freely through the muffler and out of the car. However, there are many other factors that affect horsepower, such as engine size and tuning, so it is difficult to say how much of an impact a muffler actually has.

Do not expect a significant increase in horsepower, but a better quality muffler can improve the efficiency of the engine, which can lead to a very slight improvement in horsepower. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Muffler Delete Vs Straight Pipe: Horsepower, Mileage & Damages

Will a Muffler Delete Void Your Warranty?

Usually, a muffler delete will not void your warranty as long as the rest of the vehicle remains unmodified. 

With the Magnuson-Moss Warranty act, a muffler delete will not void the warranty of your car. For dealers to void your warranty, they must prove that the problem is directly caused by your modification. For example, if you perform a muffler delete and soon after your headlight stops working, then the warranty for the light still applies. But if you perform a poor muffler delete that causes your exhaust to break from rusting, then the warranty for your exhaust pipe won’t apply.

The main reason for this is that the muffler delete does not significantly alter the performance of the vehicle or affect its emissions. However, if other modifications are made to the vehicle in addition to the muffler delete, then this could void the warranty.

READ MORE: Does Muffler Delete Void Warranty? 

How Long Does a Muffler Delete Take?

A muffler delete is a relatively simple process that can be completed in 30 minutes to 1 hour. However, the exact time it takes will vary depending on the specific vehicle. 

In general, the process involves removing the muffler and exhaust pipes from the vehicle and then installing new pipes in their place. This can be done quickly and easily with just a few tools.

Where to Get a Muffler Delete?

You can go to a local exhaust shop and they can do it for you. Or, you can buy a kit online and do it yourself. 

Either way, you’ll need to remove the old muffler and replace it with the new one. Performance shops typically charge more than ordering online.

Performance shops usually offer high-quality products, but you will pay more for them.

Can You Do a Muffler Delete Yourself?

You can do a muffler delete yourself, with the right tools and equipment. Majority of people opt to have a professional do the work.

First of all, you need to jack up your car and make sure there is enough space for you to move easily under the car. Generally, a lift is more suitable for this job but if you don’t have that in your garage you can use your regular jacks to lift the car from behind.

After the car is lifted, grab the cutting tool and cut off the intake pipe from the muffler. Once the intake pipe is cut off the muffler is now deleted from your exhaust system.

Now you can take off the muffler and remove it from the hanger. Once you are done removing the muffler now you have a muffler deleted exhaust system ready in your car.

Resonator Delete vs Muffler Delete

A muffler delete will usually be louder than a resonator delete.

The main difference between the two is that a resonator delete only removes the resonator, while a muffler delete removes the entire muffler. Both types of deletes will make your car louder.

Improvements – Muffler Delete Vs Resonator Delete

The muffler delete improves the raw sound of the engine and it’s also suitable for driving a good experience. Muffler delete will give you a louder sound than the stock exhaust system only on higher RPM. Meanwhile, the resonator delete makes your car louder at low RPM and even at idle conditions.

Power Gain – Muffler Delete Vs Resonator Delete

Both exhaust mods have very low performance gain. Power gain is not much greater, we could say only %1 power gain is expected. Muffler delete or resonator delete will surely reduce a slight back pressure from the exhaust system.

Both parts make the exhaust system restricted. However, you can not expect a significant performance improvement from both of the exhaust mods. To some project cars, these mods could be beneficial.

Legal Issues – Muffler Delete Vs Resonator Delete

The legal issues depend on the state’s automotive law which is different in every area. However, muffler delete is illegal in most places. If you take the US for example it’s illegal in all 50 states.

While at the other hand the resonator delete is primarily legal in different places and as per my research I couldn’t find any strict law against the resonator delete. If you are willing to do any of these exhaust mods to your car

I would suggest you check your state law before applying the mods. You can also see this map to get a better idea of exhaust law in your state.

Fuel Efficiency- Muffler Delete Vs Resonator Delete

Both muffler delete and resonator delete are bad for fuel economy.

With these mods, you might reduce some back pressure which results in slight horsepower gain but you will be trading your fuel efficiency in exchange. After deleting the muffler or resonator your exhaust gases will flow differently than before and this will decrease your fuel efficiency.

Muffler Delete Vs Resonator Delete Cost

Since muffler delete and resonator delete don’t require a lot of labor the pricing is minimum from $50-100. It can also depend on the workshop if they offer more services with any of these mods they might charge you up to $300. Most workshops charge $100 on average.

Which One Is Better- Muffler Delete Vs Resonator Delete

The purpose of these exhaust modifications is to get a better sound out of your car. A muffler delete does this job better, gives you a loud exhaust sound that is not annoying while driving. Resonator delete makes your car intolerable to drive and gives a very annoyingly loud exhaust sound which is a pain in my opinion.

Both of these exhaust mods won’t significantly give you a performance boost instead, they can decrease the fuel efficiency of your car.

Before making any decision I would highly recommend you research your state laws to make sure you won’t be in any difficulty.

F.A.Qs

Is Muffler Delete Loud?

Muffler delete is a popular aftermarket modification that involves removing the muffler from the exhaust system. This results in a louder exhaust note, as there is no longer any muffler to dampen the sound. 

Some people enjoy the increased noise, while others find it excessive and unpleasant and annoying. Whether or not muffler delete is loud depends on the person’s opinion.

Can No Muffler Cause Misfire?

The exhaust gases are also hotter without a muffler, which could potentially lead to engine knock. Knocking can cause misfire.

There are also few potential reasons why a car might misfire when the muffler is removed. 

One possibility is that the exhaust gases are not being properly vented, and so they are coming back into the engine and causing the misfire. Another possibility is that the engine is not getting enough air, and so it is running lean and misfiring.

Is a Muffler Delete a Straight Pipe?

No, the muffler delete and a straight pipe are not the same thing. Muffler delete is just removing the muffler part from the exhaust system while a straight pipe exhaust includes removing the resonator, cat, and the muffler.

Many people confuse between the straight pipe and muffler delete but both are completely different. Straight piping is making your exhaust system as less restricted as possible.

Although muffler delete also makes the exhaust system less restricted, it’s not that effective as compared to the straight pipe exhaust. Muffler delete is more likely removing only 1 piece from your exhaust system while the Straight pipe includes a catalytic converter, resonators, and muffler remove.

In terms of performance, muffler delete is less effective than a straight pipe exhaust. Both exhaust modifications are illegal in many areas and they are against the emission control law.

Without the muffler your car will be louder than before and with the straight pipe, your car will be even louder than the muffler delete. If you are looking for a performance upgrade, the chances of performance gain are much greater in straight pipe exhaust than in the muffler delete.

RELATED ARTICLE: Straight Pipe Vs Downpipe; Louder, Horsepower, and Engine Impact

Why Would Someone Remove a Muffler?

There are a few reasons someone might remove a muffler from their vehicle. 

One reason could be to increase the engine noise, giving the car a louder, more aggressive sound. Another reason could be to improve engine performance by allowing exhaust gases to exit more freely. 

Additionally, removing the muffler may make the car lighter, which can also lead to improved performance. 

Finally, some people simply prefer the look of a car without a muffler.

What Is a Mid Muffler Delete?

Mid-muffler delete is the same as regular muffler delete. The only difference is that some cars for example Dodge Charger have mufflers in the middle and resonators at the back.

Since the mufflers are located in this middle, removing them is called mid-muffler delete.

The process of mid-muffler delete is also very simple and easy just like regular muffler delete.

All it requires is to remove the muffler from the middle and replace it by running a straight pipe to the back of your exhaust system. Mid muffler delete also requires no tune and it cost as same as regular muffler delete.

The average cost of mid-muffler delete is around $50-150 and could go up to $300 depending on the workshop.

Should I Delete Muffler or Resonator?

While both will give your car a louder exhaust note, the muffler delete is generally more aggressive sounding, while the resonator delete will provide a deeper tone. 

Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and what you are looking to achieve with your car’s sound.

If you are looking to improve the sound of your car, you may be wondering whether to delete the muffler or resonator. If you are looking to improve the performance of your vehicle, then you should delete the muffler. 

The muffler is there to muffle the noise of the engine, and it does so by reducing the exhaust flow. By deleting the muffler, you will increase the exhaust flow and improve the performance of your engine. However, you should also consider deleting the resonator as well.

RELATED ARTICLE: Muffler Delete Vs Resonator Delete: Sound, Power & Cost

Will Muffler Delete Affect Emission Test?

Muffler delete will not impact your smog inspection. Muffler is purely a sound suppressing device – so removing it will not change your emission at all.

While you perform a muffler delete, it’s important to make sure that the catalytic converter (CAT) is not touched. CAT takes the major role in keeping your car emission in check. If the CAT is somehow broken, you will surely fail your smog inspection.

RELATED ARTICLE: Muffler Vs Catalytic Converter: Differences, Horsepower & Cost

What Is a CAT Delete?

A “CAT delete” is the removal of a catalytic converter from a vehicle’s exhaust system. 

This is often done to improve the vehicle’s performance, as the catalytic converter can act as a restrictive element in the exhaust system. Removing the catalytic converter can increase horsepower because it reduces backpressure – allowing your car to expel more exhaust gases and providing more room for air to enter the combustion chamber and create bigger combustion.