Can someone explaine to me how these two configurations differ and what if any advantages one has over the other:



And this:

 

X pipe is suppose to equalize the exhaust gas pulses and there by create a bit more power in theory. I have found this to be true on front engine cars with LS motor setups for example.

There's a Porsche tuning company that supposedly dyno tested both and found the non-x pipes to produce more power on the m96 setup and have since only been carrying the non x version.

I went with the straight version as that is consistent with factory. Also there are no sharp bends the air has to get around or fight with.

 

CAn I assume then that the X pipe will keep a little more back pressure?

 

Well... you know what happens with assumptions...

There was a member that actually lost low end with the x-pipes on his 3.4(suggesting he lost backpressure). Results might be different on a 3.6 though. Hard to say.

There are some companies like Cargraphic that have two different sets of pipes specifically for 3.4 and 3.6 models. I suspect there might be a minute difference in piping diameter to compensate for the displacement.

The way I see it is if x-pipe really did work, you would've already saw them on Cup Cars and other race cars.

IMHO, the X design is something that theoretically works and has worked on other cars(American Muscle mainly) that has transferred over to the Porsche market, if anything for more marketing than anything.

 

Which ones did you install?

 

I myself went with the straight ones.