Is an exhaust really necessary for the tuning process?
I see Softronic advertise that you can get 70hp/tq without one and adding an exhaust only gives you 10-15 more hp. I don't care so much about soud (would actually rather keep things quiet in my dense neighborhood) so i'm wondering if it's that much of a problem to skip the exhaust upgrade.

What do you guys think? I know i'm in the minority here in not caring too much about the sound.

 

There is not much mystery. When you look at the math involved with generating boost and the effect of back pressure, you NEED the exhaust to relieve the backpressure of the stock exhaust... if you do not you will not get the performance.

In terms of softronics number, do not be fooled by looking at peak hp... The real impact will be in low and mid range.

Europipe 2 Quiet. Best option for you.

 

Once you start tuning the car and making serious mods, a better exhaust becomes an important part of the equation. You wouldn't want the exhaust to become the bottleneck in your performance gains. On the other hand, a better exhaust on an otherwise stock car is probably giving you better sound than performance. I'd say a software flash alone probably doesn't really need a better exhaust. But once you start doing more....

 

I noticed a significantly better throttle response when I added the exhaust after the flash. It definitely added more than 10-15 hp as that would typically be difficult to feel at the power level of a TT.

 

Peak power won't be much different when flashing X16s. BUT boost will come on 500 RPM earlier with a good exhaust.

 

The motor is an air pump. Power comes from pumping more air through the system. At some point, the air coming in will get piled up going out. AT SOME POINT. Turbos in the exhaust stream modify this fundamental. Catalytic convertors also. The one selling point that generally holds true is that aftermarket exhausts drop significant weight. For those doing road track events, getting weight off the car behind the axle will make the car handle better. But as others have said, you don't need it for a typical software upgrade.

Another point. HP and Torque gains advertised by vendors are almost always advertised in a vacuum where no other upgrades are done. You will be disappointed if you do 10 mods, add up all of the advertised gains and then get on a dyno and fund out the sum is usually less than the math might promise.

Jim

 

HI,Very important...Now and down the road.....You will be happy when you drive it with an exhaust......Good Luck......

 

Some would argue that a high performance exhaust is the single most important upgrade, and in some cases is the most significant horse power gain. It typically requires a reprogram to adjust for the altered (usually increased) flow of gasses through and out of the engine. Weight savings is a huge benefit as well. It's pricey, but IMO it is one of the most worthwhile mods. If you don't improve your exhaust system, at some point soon in the process it will become the limiting factor.

 

Exhaust means nothing, that's why I don't run one!

 

 

go take tape an cover up the outlet to your a/c unit in the summer time and evaluate its performance how hot the unit gets trying to push air out and how much cold air gets inside the house.

it makes a difference, can you just get a flash yes, but its the power under the curve that matters not the peak power number.

 

Put on a decent exhaust on your stock car without a flash... you will notice a difference...
turn up the boost from .7 bar to 1 bar via flash... and you will see even more...

 

On the K16 where is engine throttling from input side efficiency the limiting factor?

Jim

 

Changing from the stock exhaust to a modified exhaust does yields some power benefits. The true benefits occur when combined with a tune that can use the additional flow. You can also shave significant weight off the back end with an after market exhaust.

 

^^^Huh? I picked up over 80whp/120ftlbs with my K16 flash? I DID happen to notice it.

To the OP, most exhaust systems will add 10-20whp and 10-20wtq. You do not NEED an exhaust to get a flash, you will obviously will be leaving some power on the table if you don't. MY guess is you will still get 50whp over what you have now.