V8 exhaust noise: A question

[Ekona]

If you own a V8, is there such a thing as an exhaust that's too loud?

I don't think there is, y'know. On an inline four pot then yes, anything with a bean tin exhaust can drone and sound bloody awful, but with a V8? Or a V12? I don't think I've ever heard either of those engine types on any car and thought "Oh, that's much too loud, it sounds terrible!". It is, in fact, impossible to have a V8 that's too loud.


Unless I can be proved wrong, of course.

[sparkyhx]

It should be the law for all V8's to be above 115 db but less than 120db.

Otherwise what's the point of a V8?

ex silent LS430 owner

Edited by sparkyhx on Thursday 12th February 14:40

[JordanTurbo]

Yes it can be too loud.

When I bought my Audi S6 the previous owner had removed both cats and both rear silencers. It was great on the test drive but after about 10 minutes living with the thing it was too much.

I had a pair of silencers welded back in And It's much better. Still a fair bit louder than standard but not as antisocial and has lost the huge 2K RPM drone it had before.

EDIT: Here's some videos.

Before (silencers removed)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHtDoI7LFEw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQtHuz-5H1I

After (custom boxes fitted)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Shn5_vehtI

Edited by JordanTurbo on Thursday 12th February 14:51

[Mr E]

The Merc is silent. It's just not that sort of car.
The little 4 pot lotus is not.

I once watched a pickup with a v8 and very loud pipes drive away (somewhere in Florida). I could still hear it a mile down the road. That must have been uncomfortable after a couple of minutes.

[Janosh]

A loud V8 will likely sound much better than an antisocial V-tec, but it can be too loud.

Ours has a full stainless system, but it's regarded as one of the quieter ones... Makes a beautful sound, perfect IMO.

It also depends on your viewpoint: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[rigga]

Yes tvr with no cat and a sleeved silencer, its too loud and unpleasant.


I'm possibly getting too old also.

[paintman]

Yes.
I fitted a stainless steel 'Sports system with tubular manifolds' to my 3.5EFi Range Rover Classic around 15 years ago. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
As I've got older, the novelty has worn off somewhat, esp on longer journeys.
I do toy with the idea of replacing it with a standard bore ss system but then we get a nice day & I drive it with the window down & there's just somthing about that V8 rumble.............

[SHutchinson]

I drive a V8 S5. Currently it's too quiet. I can't decide if chopping the original exhaust up is as good an option as replacing it with a Miltek. I've got nothing to lose by trying the original I guess.

[SimesJH]

My Mustang, under her previous ownership, had straight-through pipes and was, by all accounts, far too loud. The previous owner even admitted the noise was excessive and so did a Mustang specialist she went to.

The (admittedly somewhat crude and soon to be replaced) system now has two silencers (one per bank) and she sounds rather wonderful in that typical old-school fashion, but will sound even better with new ceramic headers and a full Flowmaster system.

The flip side to this, as other members are highlighting, is that a V8 can sound too quiet. Our W210 E55 on stock pipes is a good example of this.

Sound level is one thing. Making the right noise at an acceptable level is quite another.

[Jaguar steve]

If I turn the radio off I can hear a hint of wind and tyre noise when making the sort of progress that's likley to end up with a chat with the local Magistrates in the V8 Barge, but nothing at all from the engine or exhaust.

[TVRJAS]

I have just gone deaf listening to this

http://vid1354.photobucket.com/albums/q686/gmw9666...

He won't mind he knows I love him

[TVRJAS]

rigga said:

Yes tvr with no cat and a sleeved silencer, its too loud and unpleasant.


I'm possibly getting too old also.

And that's to the no cats sleeved.. Not your age.

I'm sleeved but with main and pre cats still in which gets a happy balance (I think)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnSX2Az5gE