Resonator and muffler replacement

Topic: Resonator and muffler replacement (Read 12582 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #200 – September 19, 2012, 11:16:25 am

Rick, this most probably does not answer your specific question but as I did the change over a year ago there is hardly any real increase in sound. I do have the trans' retarder but having said that I am sure someone with a exhaust brake has too and can answer that one, and if they have then I did not see any posting talking about "a great increase in noise when using ex' brake"
John H

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #201 – September 19, 2012, 11:40:47 am

Quote from: Rick – September 19, 2012, 08:28:06 am

One concern that has held me back is the anticipated noise increase. I have a CAT 3176b engine with a Jake brake.

Do you have an exhaust brake or a compression brake? My understanding is that an exhaust brake will not cause any increase in exhaust noise. In fact, it would probably suppress exhaust noise because it is a restriction of the exhaust system. A compression brake will produce a lot of additional noise.

People sometimes refer to an exhaust brake as a "Jake brake." The true "Jake brake" is a braking system that uses engine compression. Compression release engine brake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #202 – September 19, 2012, 12:24:45 pm

I have an Extrador exhaust brake and a resonator. The resonator has a nice sound to it, not obnoxious just a nice throaty sound. The Extrador brake may increase the exhaust sound a bit but not enough to worry about. The noise ordinances have been set up because some big trucks have UNMUFFLED jake brakes and leave them on unnecessarily cause they like the noise, (happens to be one of my pet peeves). Hope this helps.

Roland

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #203 – September 19, 2012, 12:45:41 pm

JD,
It is an engine compression brake made by Jacobs. I guess they make exhaust brakes too but most refer to the compression brake as a "Jake Brake" although it does surprise me how many people do not understand the compression brake concept even long time "professional" truck drivers. I guess that's why they are just drivers. If run without any noise suppression the compression brake is loud hence my concern using the smaller resonator.

Roland,
It amazes me that after all the noise supression engineering and hardware that goes into motorhomes and trucks there are those who want them to sound like straight piped Harley's.

John H,
I think I will order the parts and get this going. I will hang onto the old muffler just in case.
Thanks all for your inputs,
Rick

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #204 – September 19, 2012, 01:48:23 pm

I once saw (Fam Camp @ Davis-Monthan AFB, cira 2000 ) That had an electric brake system. It was a field coil around the drive shaft. When activated it was like loading a generator, causing a load on the driveshaft.
It was on an older Vogue motorhome.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #205 – September 25, 2012, 10:18:39 pm

Probably my next project. Not thinking of resonator as I don't think it would help much. My exhaust system is full of pinholes and should be replaced. I didn't notice it was so bad and hadn't even given it any thought. DW spends a lot of time camped out in the BR while we travel and like the canary in the coal mine she's still kicking so it must not be harmful as I imagine driving down the road there is a lot of air gushing around. We never sit for long with the engine running so I don't imagine it is that big a deal. It isn't loud either.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #206 – September 25, 2012, 10:25:11 pm

Quote from: Dwayne – September 25, 2012, 10:18:39 pm

DW spends a lot of time camped out in the BR while we travel and like the canary in the coal mine she's still kicking so it must not be harmful

Yeah Dwayne, but the real test is is she singing? When the canary falls silent is when you know you got a problem.

Chuck

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #207 – August 11, 2013, 04:19:31 pm

I started the coach yesterday and the guy next to me came over and said what did you do to your coach. It has a great sound. I said it was a low rider race bus..... we laughed then looked at the resonator. Oh no, Dave M. you have started this trend now on Monoco's as he is going to do the same thing when he gets home.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #208 – August 11, 2013, 05:00:51 pm

Hi John,
I did not start anything, except to try to wake up some thoughts for the few who have an interest and care for a less costly muffler and improvement in performance .
Some get it, most stay clueless.
The fact is some notice a 50 hp gain some would not notice a 300 hp gain.
Guess the ones who made the switch are smiling, the others say "What ?".

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #209 – August 12, 2013, 01:14:05 pm

I had the resonator installed on my U295, ISL-400 last week and just drove from Los Angeles to the Bay Area via I-5 and the grapevine.

First noticed that it sounds different, more throaty, with a couple of resonant rpms.

Throttle response is definitely more lively.

Speed going up the Grapevine maybe a couple of mph faster.

Instantaneous mpg on the flats pretty much unchanged.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #210 – August 12, 2013, 01:27:52 pm

did you notice a big change in engine compartment temp' like I did. Your bed is much cooler I bet so therefore engine is runnig cooler, should make it better
John h

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #211 – August 12, 2013, 01:30:07 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – August 12, 2013, 01:27:52 pm

did you notice a big change in engine compartment temp' like I did. Your bed is much cooler I bet so therefore engine is runnig cooler, should make it better
John h

I couldn't say. :-)

But I did notice a large unused space needing utilization. Maybe a bin for dirty stuff.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #212 – August 12, 2013, 01:55:35 pm

wow, that was the first thing I noticed.
I made a aluminum cabinet for the area behind wheel and am contemplating cutting that rear panel for an access door and doing the same thing again. Not to put heavy things in just more crap.
John

not a good pic as I cannot open it full due to wall too close.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #213 – August 12, 2013, 04:01:19 pm

I might have to put a compartment door on mine too.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #214 – August 12, 2013, 07:18:55 pm

I have a louvered door on mine, just need to make a compartment now. Think I'll use stainless steel wire mesh of some sort.
Richard B

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #215 – August 12, 2013, 11:29:54 pm

Someone requested an update on my resonator installation/experiment. While this is somewhat comparing apples to oranges, here goes: Previously I towed my 7000 lb Dodge Turbo Diesel 4 x 4 and really struggled up the hills. I am now towing a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and have noticed that starting up from a dead stop seems effortless and most hills can be managed without any loss in speed, it feels more powerful. The only grade that gave me a serious problem was on I-90 going over the Continental Divide just east of Butte, MT. On that one I could just barely maintain 45 MPH and had to stop at the rest area to let it cool down some. I cannot tell about fuel economy yet as I have been pretty much climbing since I left Houston. My one measurement worked out to 8.89 MPG and we had a LOT of wind.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #216 – August 31, 2015, 09:26:28 am

I've been doing some research on the site concerning the muffler replacement. It's time to make the change and I've got a couple of questions. My coach is a 1999 40' U295 with the 350HP 8.3 Cummins. I was wondering about the advantages/ disadvantages of the 4" system vs the 5" system. The turbo output and down pipe are 4" from the factory. The current muffler is 5" in & out. Connected to the 4" down pipe with a 4/5 adapter. Current tail pipe and exhaust tip are 5". Considering that over half of the total length of exhaust piping is 4" is there any real gain by using a 5" resonator. I will be using an Aero XL 4040 or Aero XL 5050. I know if I had the larger displacement M11 I would go with the 5", just wondering if the larger size is justified on the 8.3. Need to make a final decision and get the parts ordered. Thanks for the input.

Nick

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #217 – August 31, 2015, 10:06:34 am

Aero XL models state that they have a turbine effect where it literally sucks the exhaust gas from the engine...
So if this is true moving up to a 5-inch Aero XL from 4 inch stock output at the engine may degrade some of this effect.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #218 – August 31, 2015, 10:15:31 am

Verify the (smallest) inside diameter (bore) of both 4040 and 5050 mufflers. You may find there is little difference. We also have a 4" turbo output and down pipe on our coach, and a 5" tailpipe. I have a stainless Magnaflow 12771 sitting in my shop, waiting on installation. I know in the case of Magnaflow, the 4" in/out model and the 5" in/out model both have a 4" core, so there is little point in going to the bigger, more expensive size. This may not be the case for Aero. Just something to check before you plunk down your cash...

Edit: This Aero "bore size" factor may already be covered somewhere in the prior 8 pages of this thread - I'm too lazy to look.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #219 – August 31, 2015, 10:16:49 am

Easy to make claims without independent documentation for well witching devices, solar panels or mufflers. Too many Professor Hill types out there from the class of '05.

Pierce

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #220 – August 31, 2015, 10:34:52 am

I stayed with the 4 inch Aero XL on my 8.3

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #221 – August 31, 2015, 10:59:19 am

Sometimes it's very interesting to re-read old threads and this one was a doozy. I want to put a resonator on just to make the engine sound better, frankly. Any mpg or performance or cooling benefits would just be icing on the cake.

But Dave M.'s comments about putting the pedal down when you have the power proved to be right on; at least for me. I don't mind cruising along at 60mph on the flat (or even moderately hilly) but it turns out that when the hills get steep and the big trucks get slow I'm just as bad as anyone when it comes to not wanting to crawl along at 25mph when I can go faster. And it turns out that with the Banks on our little 5.9 they put in our U225, I can go a lot faster up the hills than most of the big trucks, a few of the medium trucks, and a couple of the cars.

Boy is that fun! I just wish I had more than 4 gears because I bet if I had a 6-speed Allison I'd go even faster.

Yes, I'm sure it impacted fuel economy but I kinda lost sight of that somewhere south of Eugene, OR on the way south last winter.

It looks to me like we have a 3" exhaust leading into a huge muffler and I can get a 3" resonator. Would there be any advantage to going with a 4" or 5"? I recognize that some of you think that putting a resonator on that engine probably wouldn't make much of a differrence anyway... but still...

Craig

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #222 – August 31, 2015, 11:18:34 am

Doug I followed Neal's list buying everything on line and had Bern'd install it while I was at his shop. Based on what I saw, I should have done it myself except for the welding. Taking it to a welding shop after installation or even checking the phone book for a welder that would come to your location. Based on my personal experience, you will over pay if you have a shop doing it.
Like Dave and others have said it is a noticeable improvement in performance. I also have a C8.3 so I stayed with 4" to avoid cutting larger hole for the exit hole.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #223 – August 31, 2015, 11:54:46 am

John, my view too on a shop doing it as this is one of the easiest jobs to do on a coach. If you need a welder to make the 4"-5" transition why not have it made at a muffler shop then do the install yourself? New brackets can be hung from many places.
Craig, to answer your question on wether the Resonator will make a difference as you have a Banks too, I would say yes.
You will not loose anything and as this is a minor cost in reality to many others I would say "go for it"
JohnH

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #224 – August 31, 2015, 12:45:42 pm

I did mine and the hardest part is that danged old muffler,took me about 3 hours and it was easy with new clamps and a sawsall. With our 6v 92 it's bit louder but certainly.have seen a difference in our bedroom temperature and..engine temperature. Good luck.

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