Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Topic: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice? (Read 1449 times) previous topic - next topic

Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

April 28, 2015, 07:03:14 pm

I met Ted today at Bernd's, really went out to meet Ted and Mark. Ted and Mark talked to me about two resonator options......Magnaflow and Donaldson, which Bernd likes, recommends and has some in stock. Looking for a time to get a resonator installed with Bernd.

But as I had already decided on the Magnaflow due to the Forum discussions, I am a bit reluctant to go to the Donaldson, so I thought I would see if any of you have tried it and the results you see. I prefer to not greatly increase the noise in the coach.

(Ted has gotten a beautiful installation for his resonator, hope he posts photos....impressive job and space gained)

Thanks for whatever you can report on the Donaldson vs Magnaflow.

Mike

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #1 – April 28, 2015, 07:07:17 pm

Mike,

Compare CFM of each at the same restriction (engine manufacturers publish exhaust system figures for each engine in those terms) .

And, if you can find them, comparisons of noise levels. I know Magnaflow have a reputation of free flow without the high noise level (NO personal experience with them).

Basically, the most CFM at lowest dB and you are good to go.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #2 – April 28, 2015, 08:14:12 pm

Here is Donaldson's web site: http://www.asia.donaldson.com/en/exhaust/support/datalibrary/1053747.pdf Pretty easy to get an inexpensive gauge off eBay and then see how your restriction compares to Donaldson't list. Looks to be from 3" to 4" Hg depending on engine type.

From this you can see why Detroit uses a 5" diameter exhaust pipe/muffler on their 2 cycles.

Pierce

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #3 – April 28, 2015, 09:00:38 pm

Aero 5050
Installed Aero resonator

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #4 – April 28, 2015, 09:05:03 pm

No experience with Donaldson, but we pulled our Aero 5050XL and replaced it with the Magnaflow. Much prefer the Magnaflow - little if any performance difference to the Aero but noticeably quieter (though louder than the original "garbage can"-sized muffler).

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #5 – April 28, 2015, 10:13:57 pm

Quote from: Michelle – April 28, 2015, 09:05:03 pm

No experience with Donaldson, but we pulled our Aero 5050XL and replaced it with the Magnaflow. Much prefer the Magnaflow - little if any performance difference to the Aero but noticeably quieter (though louder than the original "garbage can"-sized muffler).

Promise to report on my 1st hand experience with my Magnaflow in about a month. changing from the factory install.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #6 – April 29, 2015, 12:40:10 am

After talking it over with Gary Omel, I realized I won't be able to do a resonator on my coach. It has a jake, not a trans retarder. I don't want to be "one of those guys" with a racket busting jake..,

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #7 – April 29, 2015, 02:03:37 am

Dave, Do you have a Jake exhaust brake or an over-the-road-truck Jake engine brake? Engine brakes make a brap sound when engine valves open during retard, but I always thought the Jake exhaust brake just closes and puts back pressure on engine, but not any loud sounds.
Gary knows all, so whatever he says goes.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #8 – April 29, 2015, 02:12:53 am

Like Michelle and Steve, We're planning to replace our 5050XL with a Magnaflow. Our Aero has either gotten noisier over the last year, or my hearing has improved, and while I'd like to believe the latter, I'm thinking it's the resonator.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #9 – April 29, 2015, 04:03:02 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – April 29, 2015, 02:03:37 am

Dave, Do you have a Jake exhaust brake or an over-the-road-truck Jake engine brake? Engine brakes make a brap sound when engine valves open during retard, but I always thought the Jake exhaust brake just closes and puts back pressure on engine, but not any loud sounds.
Gary knows all, so whatever he says goes.

My 95 also has the JAKE brake.
It is a engine brake.

BUMMER! I was looking forward to doing this modification too.
I would love to hear some reviews by people who have done this with the JAKE engine brake.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #10 – April 29, 2015, 08:28:36 am

Dave,

Would you happen to have the appropriate part number for the Magnaflow handy?

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #11 – April 29, 2015, 09:00:44 am

Quote from: cajk – April 29, 2015, 08:28:36 am

Michelle, or Dave,

Would you happen to have the appropriate part number for the Magnaflow handy?

Appropriate for a Cummins M engine may not be the correct one for your Cummins C engine.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #12 – April 29, 2015, 09:50:10 am

I have a Jacobs Engine brake. In 95 the trans retarder was still optional. If the customer did not option the retarder, they automatically got the jake with the Cummins M-11, Cat 3176, or DD 6V92.
Lots of engine options back then.

In 96 the trans retarder was made standard on Unicoach models. Cant speak for the Unihomes - but since they were all customer ordered I haven't seen one yet without one.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #13 – April 29, 2015, 10:05:00 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 29, 2015, 09:00:44 am

Appropriate for a Cummins M engine may not be the correct one for your Cummins C engine.

OOPS! Thanks, Brett

Edited my question, made it to "Dave" only - he has the "small" engine.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #14 – April 29, 2015, 10:54:57 am

Quote from: Dave Katsuki – April 29, 2015, 02:12:53 am

Like Michelle and Steve, We're planning to replace our 5050XL with a Magnaflow. Our Aero has either gotten noisier over the last year, or my hearing has improved, and while I'd like to believe the latter, I'm thinking it's the resonator.

Dave
Any idea why the aero would be noisier , did you notice any difference when first installed , heat , performance , noise ??
I was Just about to instal one but now having second thoughts

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #15 – April 29, 2015, 11:29:53 am

Mine measures the same dba today (three years after install) as when installed using spl ap on iPhone

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #16 – April 29, 2015, 11:41:50 am

I have the C 8.3 and did the Resonator a few years ago. Used the Walker one and it sounds good, and quite frankly do not see any reason to change it or have used another make. As I did the changeover myself (very simple to do) I could have spent more money using the Aero etc but could not see the benefit of it!
johnH

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #17 – April 29, 2015, 05:26:03 pm

Met with Bernd today, plus Tony and Joe of NAPA. They will have in the Walker, Magnaflow, Aero and Donaldson. We will then decide which I will put on.

They said as to the holes in the cylinder which surrounds the air flow, they quickly plug regardless of brand.

They felt that the noise difference between these is almost none but the type of noise is different. I explained that I want a deeper sound, rather than high pitched if any are such. They say essentially it is just a straight tube of exhaust pipe with this cylinder as the tube for the flow of exhaust, then an outside tube.

I have a lot of confidence in them. So hope to resolve when gets these options in. The donaldson is short however vs the magna flow and will let you mount coming right off the turbo to the back of the coach without long bends and piping. The donaldson I heard seemed pretty loud standing by the rear of the coach versus our with muffler. But then that probably going to be that way with any, but it was hard to talk near the rear of the coach. That does not matter......It is much more the sound level when driving that I would like to be sure does not disrupt conversation, music. Otherwise I will have an unhappy copilot and best friend!

mike

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #18 – April 29, 2015, 05:40:28 pm

Quote

I would love to hear some reviews by people who have done this with the JAKE engine brake.

I met a guy at FT with a Jake that added a resonator. Can't recall his name. Anyhow, he said it was acceptable except the first time he took it out for a test drive and was coming off the freeway next to a sound wall with his window open. Quite the noise!
jor

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #19 – April 29, 2015, 05:43:28 pm

If you're driving the only time you hear your exhaust is if you stop at an intersection or idling would not moving or if you go through a tunnel much ado about nothing

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #20 – April 29, 2015, 06:31:12 pm

Having 2 different 500 or more hp engines on my RV's, neither everstopped up the holes inside the resnator, but my engines are clean runners, if your stopping up the rsonator, maybe time to rebuild your toy as it sure is sloppy. I used the Walker 5" on both the 8V-92 & the ISM 500.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #21 – April 29, 2015, 07:12:30 pm

Dave, isn't there both a Jake (Jacob) exhaust brake and a Jake engine brake, and only one or the other would be optioned when the coach is built. I am so surprised that the three engines mentioned have enough brake horsepower for engine braking and always assumed that they were equipped with exhaust pipe closure retarders.

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #22 – April 29, 2015, 07:26:04 pm

Exhaust brakes were fit on smaller diesels:

Caterpillar smaller than C-9
Cummins smaller than ISL *

Engine compression brakes fit on larger diesels.

* The L engine could be ordered with EITHER an exhaust or engine compression brake.

And, engine compression brakes are also known as Jake Brakes. They work by opening the exhaust valve just as the piston comes to TDC on the compression stroke.

Brett

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #23 – April 29, 2015, 10:17:12 pm

Anybody have experience with a straight pipe?

Re: Donaldson Resonator.....any advice?

Reply #24 – April 29, 2015, 11:07:56 pm

I upped my four inch exhaust to five inch and ran it straight for a few
months. way too much noise. I inserted the aero 50 a while
back, and all is good. (325 mechanical)

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