Twin Exhaust Pipes - A Necessary Technical Addition or Aesthetics?
Hello Everyone
I was just wondering whether the more technical minded amongst you could answer this question of mine - Apologies if it is daft - I am only a lawyer!
Here goes:
I notice that the W164s, even the base model ML350, has twin exhaust pipes.
The older W163s don't have the same feature on the base model (ML320).
Infact only the W163 ML55 has twin exhaust pipes -The ML430 & ML500, both V8s, donot.
Question is: Are twin exhaust pipes an aesthetic addition to the W164 ML350 or do they actually serve a technical purpose?
I look forward to your responses!
Last edited by FAR888 : 01-22-2008 at 05:28 AM.
Reason: Afterthought
Thanks for that AsianML - Even though it doesn't mention anything about twin exhaust pipes and is in relation to Volkswagens!
However, the general point which I found edifying, was found in the 'performance' section of the article:
'The performance of an engine is proportional to the amount of energy you can release (and harness) by burning fuel and therefore the more fuel you burn (assuming good combustion) the better the performance. To do this, not only do you have to get the fuel and air into the engine quickly but you have to get it out quickly.'
The deduction I made was that to get better performance out of an engine you need to expel the used energy (fumes, burnt fuel and air) quickly - So two exhausts pipes would do that better than one exhaust pipe would.
If everything is double starting from the header, I would think so. If it is single from the header and double at the end, it is for better looking. The whole purpose of exhaust system is to keep the noise and pollution down. As you might have noticed, the race car is very noisy and it is not street legal!
Quote:
Originally Posted by FAR888
Thanks for that AsianML - Even though it doesn't mention anything about twin exhaust pipes and is in relation to Volkswagens!
However, the general point which I found edifying, was found in the 'performance' section of the article:
'The performance of an engine is proportional to the amount of energy you can release (and harness) by burning fuel and therefore the more fuel you burn (assuming good combustion) the better the performance. To do this, not only do you have to get the fuel and air into the engine quickly but you have to get it out quickly.'
The deduction I made was that to get better performance out of an engine you need to expel the used energy (fumes, burnt fuel and air) quickly - So two exhausts pipes would do that better than one exhaust pipe would.
I am thinking more about vehicles which come equipped with dual exhaust pipes STOCK as opposed to those later modified by the owner.
To rephrase my question and add to it: Do the dual exhaust pipes on the W164 ML350 and most V6 cars of today (Nissan, Acura, Lexus) endow them with more horsepower or is it simply for looks?
I am thinking more about vehicles which come equipped with dual exhaust pipes STOCK as opposed to those later modified by the owner.
To rephrase my question and add to it: Do the dual exhaust pipes on the W164 ML350 and most V6 cars of today (Nissan, Acura, Lexus) endow them with more horsepower or is it simply for looks?
they are for both performance and for looks. having two 2.5 inch pipes is better than 1 2.75 inch pipe as found on the ML500 W163. It also helps in case one side gets plugged, while the other side is not. Think of it as two intake pipes vs. one.
they are for both performance and for looks. having two 2.5 inch pipes is better than 1 2.75 inch pipe as found on the ML500 W163. It also helps in case one side gets plugged, while the other side is not. Think of it as two intake pipes vs. one.
I totally agree RUEY220 - I was just wondering why Mercedes didn't think it fit to equip the W163 ML430 and W163 ML500 (both V8s) with dual tail pipes from 1999-2005 (the relevant production years) but yet decided from 2006 onwards when the W164s came out to equip the W164 ML350 (base model with V6 engine) with dual tail pipes.
Surely it can't be that they suddenly saw the necessity to add dual tail pipes to their SUVs so as to get the added power from the engines?
Or is to keep up with the current trend (Acura, Nissan, Lexus, Toyota) to equip modern cars with dual tail pipes and make them look sporty and/or performance orientated?
Last edited by FAR888 : 01-22-2008 at 08:42 AM.
Reason: Afterthought
I totally agree RUEY220 - I was just wondering why Mercedes didn't think it fit to equip the W163 ML430 and W163 ML500 (both V8s) with dual tail pipes from 1999-2005 (the relevant production years) but yet decided from 2006 onwards when the W164s came out to equip the W164 ML350 (base model with V6 engine) with dual tail pipes.
Surely it can't be that they suddenly saw the necessity to add dual tail pipes to their SUVs so as to get the added power from the engines?
Or is to keep up with the current trend (Acura, Nissan, Lexus, Toyota) to equip modern cars with dual tail pipes and make them look sporty and/or performance orientated?
I personally think it was also probably an easy way to get a few more HP out with the HP war going on now. The 3.5L V6 in the ML is already behind other manufacturers with 300hp V6s with similar displacement. Fortunately for MB they've got a new 3.5 engine coming with roughly 300hp.
Question is: Are twin exhaust pipes an aesthetic addition to the W164 ML350 or do they actually serve a technical purpose?
Mostly aesthetic. If you examine most factory model changes that add dual exhaust you'll find the actual throughput of the system does not have a material change. There is usually a constriction added in the chain or it is not a true dual system but merely a cat- or exhaust-back dual.
Making any change to a modern stock vehicle results in some negative effects. In the case of exhaust systems when you open it up you are modifying the power curve. It does _NOT_ result in an across-the-board increase in power. What it does it drop the power, often dramatically, in the lower RPMs while increasing the power slightly in the higher RPMs.
Now, if you spend all of your time with the engine higher than 4,000 RPMs then you'll see a power increase. But since nobody does that in normal driving what 99.99% of the population will see is an actual decrease in power. But it will sound louder, they'll think it will look better, and they'll never want to admit that they got ripped off <g>.
Last edited by Gene Horr : 01-22-2008 at 02:38 PM.
Reason: Spelling error
Mostly aesthetic. If you examine most factory model changes that add dual exhaust you'll find the actual throughput of the system does not have a material change. There is usually a construction added in the chain or it is not a true dual system but merely a cat- or exhaust-back dual.
Quote:
Now, if you spend all of your time with the engine higher than 4,000 RPMs then you'll see a power increase. But since nobody does that in normal driving what 99.99% of the population will see is an actual decrease in power. But it will sound louder, they'll think it will look better, and they'll never want to admit that they got ripped off
Gene - I agree with you 101% - Those were my exact sentiments and thoughts on the matter.
Twin Exhaust Pipes - A Necessary Technical Addition or Aesthetics? 
- I am only a lawyer!
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