Difference Between Muffler and Exhaust (With Table)

Muffler and Exhaust help in controlling the noise and gas outlet respectively in the process of internal combustion in the Car. The Muffler is the noise reducer, it helps in reducing the noise that is produced when the gas is produced from the exhaust system. The Exhaust works with the gas and converts it into less harmful gas.

Muffler vs Exhaust

The main difference between Muffler and Exhaust is that they sequentially work with the gas resulting in noise reduction and gas production respectively. It starts with the exhaust system which leads the gas into the piping which lets the gas into Muffler. The Muffler helps in controlling the noise which is produced as a result of work done by the Exhaust system.

The Muffler is also known as Silencer. The muffler is used to control noise in the vehicle. Gas produced in the process of internal combustion lets the gas through piping from the exhaust system. With the help of various chambers, tubes the gas noise frequency is compressed.

The exhaust system collects the gas and leads it into the piping. With the help of catalytic converters the gas which enters into the exhaust system exits as less toxic gas which is known as exhaust gas. This exhaust gas is directed into the muffler as the end-stage.

Comparison Table Between Muffler and Exhaust

Parameters of Comparison

Muffler

Exhaust

Meaning

The muffler is also known as a Silencer which is used in reducing the noise of the gas emitted by the exhaust system.

Exhaust helps in turning the gas produced by internal combustion into a less harmful one.

Mechanism

Mufflers are a part of the exhaust system that muffles the sound produced from the exhaust gas released.

Exhaust engages in converting harmful emissions into less toxic gas and then lets them into the muffler through tubes and inlets.

Usage

It is used to maintain a balance in the minimum sound flow and maximum airflow. It increases durability and fuel efficiency.

The exhaust system helps in keeping the dangerous gas out of the vehicle and in maintaining the inner mechanisms of the system.

Parts

Mufflers are made up of chambers, pipes, and tubes with holes in them, which helps to muffle sounds.

The exhaust system includes an exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, tailpipe, resonator, and muffler.

Location

A muffler is found under the rear of the car. It is a part of the exhaust system.

An exhaust system is also seen under the rear of the car.

What is Muffler?

The muffler is the noise reducer. It is a part of the exhaust system. It muffles the sound using acoustic sound muffling devices. It consists of chambers, pipes, and tubes with holes in them. It is the end part of the exhaust system. The holes present in its parts produce waves that help in reducing the sound produced.

Muffler receives the exhaust gases with the sound waves which are bounced over the rear wall and then passed into the other chamber present inside the exhaust system. After the exhaust gas passes through the final chamber which then enters out of the muffler as a less toxic gas.

Muffler minimizes sound and maximizes the airflow. The performance of the vehicle depends on its maximum flow rate. The muffler helps in maintaining the balance between sound reduction and flow rate management. It increases the durability of the system.

The muffler needs to be replaced when there is a leak in the system. The leak is indicated by its sound and the balance between the sound and flow rate gets affected. Muffler tunes the sound vibrations. The difference in the sound produced when the system is being started indicates there is a fault happening inside the vehicle, which is done by the Muffler.

What is Exhaust?

Exhaust helps in converting harmful gases into less toxic forms. That, in turn, helps in preventing the vehicle from getting repaired. They have a muffler in its final phase of letting the exhaust gas into the muffler. Exhaust has a series of the system which helps in processing the inlet and outlet of gas.

The exhaust consists of the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, tailpipe, resonator, and muffler. Harmful emissions are removed with the help of an exhaust manifold in the first stage. The gas is purified by letting them into the exhaust chamber in the combustion engine.

Exhaust gas is then passed into the catalytic converter where the gas is separated as water vapor and carbon dioxide with the help of the catalyst which performs the conversion mechanism. The gas produced from the catalyst converter is yet harmful which is further purified from the environmental point of view.

The exhaust system has a tailpipe that lets the gas out of the vehicle. And muffler is the last phase of the mechanism which muffles the sound produced and amplifies the sound using its wave mechanism. The resonator present in the system is much similar to the muffler in its operations.

Main Differences Between Muffler and Exhaust

  1. Muffler is used in reducing sound wave which helps in maintaining the system as a hole. Whereas Exhaust is used in converting toxic gas into less harmful gas and making is environmental friendly.
  2. Muffler consists of chamber, pipes, and tubes, whereas Exhaust consists of manifold, catalyst converter, resonator, and muffler.
  3. Muffler is employed in balancing the minimum sound wave and maximum flow rate, whereas Exhaust is employed in keeping harmful gas and separating them into water vapour and carbon dioxide.
  4. Muffler is found under the rear of the car, whereas Exhaust is also found under the rear of the vehicle which has muffler in its system.
  5. Muffler is also known as Silencer, where Exhaust is a system which has a series of mechanism happening inside unlike muffler which is also a part of Exhaust system.

Conclusion

The muffler is also called as Silencer which is present in the system to muffle the sound using wave that passes through the holes that are present in the pipes, and chambers of the system. It helps in maintaining the balance between the sound and maximizing the flow rate of the vehicle.

Exhaust is used in keeping the toxic gas out of the system by converting them into carbon dioxide and water vapor. This mechanism takes place with the help of a manifold, catalyst converter, resonator, and muffler as well. The various parts present in the system help to maintain the performance of the vehicle.

References

  1. https://asa.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1121/1.383680
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021951702000672