Can a rip on a muffler effect the MPG?

300zxTT · Post by **300zxTT** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:46 am

I'm currently driving an auto 94 honda,the muffler sounds like crap and has a rip on it

about 4inches wide.Can this be messing with the cars mpg at all?

GarySheehan · Post by **GarySheehan** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:21 am

jory543 · Post by **jory543** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:35 am

No but it would be better for you and the people around you to replace it.

AHTOXA · Post by **AHTOXA** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:19 pm

Yes and no.

Yes because a leak in exhaust can potentially change the backpressure, which is required for a given engine to operate as designed and that may change MPG numbers.

No, because that change will be pretty negligible.

300zxTT · Post by **300zxTT** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:29 pm

I dont have the funds currently to replace it,ugh.Acceleration is really sucky right now.

I really can't wait to get my 5-speed 240sx back on the road

watkins · Post by **watkins** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:42 pm

Two words:

Duct. Tape.

Tinton · Post by **Tinton** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:05 pm

You might gain a little performance and mpg increase. On my car when my catalytic converter destroyed itself I noticed a definite improvement in acceleration and gas mileage. I went from getting 19-20 mpg city to 22-23. The only problem now is that my car pollutes a LOT, IIRC the NOx emission was 3x the legal limit when I got my failed emissions test. I got it tested another way though (

) so its still on the road.

I doubt it'll do anything for you except make your car obnoxiously loud. The catalytic converter is the main tight spot in the exhaust system, a hole in the muffler after that isn't going to change backpressure much.