One of the best parts about owning a vehicle is showing it off. Muffler deletes are an excellent way to ensure everyone notices you while you’re out on the road.
Not only is your engine power improved, but your vehicle can get loud.
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What Does a Muffler Delete Do?
Simply put, a muffler delete removes the muffler from your car and replaces it with a muffler delete pipe. The practice is common in older cars, as removing a muffler improves the available horsepower of your vehicle.
On newer models, muffler deletes don’t have the same effect because engineers designed the latest cars to be more competitive.
So why do people still do it? A muffler delete makes your vehicle louder. You’re left with a guttural, growling engine sound when you accelerate your vehicle. It’s extremely popular on cars used for drag racing and shows.
Average Muffler Delete Price
Muffler delete prices are surprisingly low, though they can change as the prices of parts go up and down. The parts only cost $50 to $200, depending on the make and model of your vehicle.
You’ll need to add on the additional labor costs if you’re taking your car to a shop to do the modification. Shop averages are around $100 an hour so the job can be anywhere from $150 to $250.
All in all, that’s not a bad price for an increase in performance.
How Long Does a Muffler Delete Take To Go Bad?
Muffler deletes don’t last as long as straight pipes, but they are easier to replace if they become damaged or you change your mind.
The recommended part life of a muffler delete is around 50,000 miles, though they can go bad faster if you live in a cold area that heavily salts their roads.
Where Can You Get a Muffler Delete?
Most local auto shops will do a muffler delete pipe installation on your vehicle as long as they usually work on mufflers. I’ve put together a list of delete pipe sellers if you’re interested in purchasing the part.
Coops Customs – Best Straightforward Delete Pipes
Coops has your standard, everyday delete pipes and don’t charge you for anything you won’t need. The prices vary more at this shop because you have a more comprehensive selection of styles, makes, and models. Most of their parts are MBRPs.
Stinger Performance – The Best All-In-One
Stinger Performance is excellent if you’re looking to replace an entire exhaust system or just a single part. They offer kits that range from $300 to $800 with every part you’d need to modify most sports cars’ exhausts.
Alligator Performance – Best Mix N Match
Alligator Performance has a variation in parts and complete muffler kits. They’re a little pricier than the other options on this list, but they’re high quality, and you have more options. They offer worldwide delivery and financing options.
Riffraff Diesel – The Best for Diesel
Riffraff Diesel offers diesel-specific exhaust parts designed to make your truck quieter or louder – whichever you prefer. They have a wide selection of delete pipes that range from $60 to $240. Diamond Eye or MBRP manufactures most of the pipes.
Thoroughbred Diesel – The Best Budget
Thoroughbred Diesel offers over ten delete pipes for under $100, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget. You can choose from different manufacturers and materials and sort by what type of vehicle you have.
If you’re looking for an expensive pipe designed with your modifications in mind, they offer a Diamond Eye 4” Stainless Muffler Delete Kit. This kit includes everything you need (except the tools) to modify your exhaust.
As their name implies, Thoroughbred Diesel only offers materials typically used on diesel vehicles.
Is a Muffler Delete Illegal?
Yes, a muffler delete is illegal. In all 50 states, you can’t change anything about your exhaust system.
However, most cops won’t pull you over to check if you have a muffler. The effect you may have to consider is how loud your car will be.
Some areas have decibel limit laws, and occasionally, modified vehicles break those laws. I’m not telling you not to – I’m just warning you that a cop may pull you over after specific times of the day.
Does Muffler Delete Void Warranty?
Unfortunately, this answer is both yes and no.
If everything goes correctly and the modification works as it should, the muffler delete won’t void your warranty. Thanks to federal legislation called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, car users can’t be denied a warranty fix because of modifications or aftermarket car parts.
There’s a big “but” to that statement. If the manufacturer (or the warranty holder) can prove that the current issue with the car is because of the modification or aftermarket parts, then the federal act doesn’t protect you.
For example, if the muffler delete installation process damages the other parts of the exhaust pipe, the warranty won’t cover those damages.
If you ran over a rock and damaged your exhaust pipe, that damage will be covered (because it had nothing to do with the muffler delete installation process).
Is It Worth Doing a Muffler Delete?
Muffler deletes have pros and cons. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what you want to achieve out of your vehicle that decides if the cost is worth the modification.
Pros of Muffler Deletes
- More horsepower on older vehicles
- Aggressive exhaust sounds
- Increased horsepower
- Reduced total vehicle weight
Cons of Muffler Deletes
- The constant noise
- Issues with noise ordinances
- Can reduce engine performance on newer vehicles
- It’s illegal in all 50 states
Conclusion
Muffler deletes are a great way to showcase the personality of your vehicle while improving engine performance and increasing the noise level.
It’s important to remember that muffler deletes are illegal in all 50 states because it’s against federal regulation to tamper with an exhaust/emissions system. You’re more likely to get pulled over for being too loud than for missing part of your exhaust.
