Does a cold air intake make your exhaust louder

OK, here's my irritating topic. Some of my friends say that adding a cold air intake will make your exhaust louder. Am I the only one that thinks this is bs? I realize that there are a few mods to get a nice sucking sound but does adding an intake make your exhaust louder?

No, but it will make a nice growl at WOT. Witch I guess could make you think the exhaust is louder. But of course the sound is coming from the front of the car. :rolleyes: But I cant see anyway the exhaust itself could get louder. So im pretty sure your friends are wrong.

That is exactly what I have been telling them for a long time. But these are the people who think that having a big wing on your car will make it go faster. :D

IF your CAI is effective enough for you to actually make any real additional HP, then yes, there may be a marginal increase in exhaust noise. Doubtful as to whether we could notice the difference without the assistance of measuring devices, however.

Try adding a racing beat intake to a Borla.
Then tell me your exhaust doesn't get louder.
BTDT

When I had my 99, I installed a custom cold-side intake with a K&N cone filter. The rest of the car was stock. It definitely changed the exhaust note (as well as the intake sound, of course). Nothing drastic, but it was noticable.

Maybe you guys are confusing intake noises with exhaust noises. When I had my stock exhaust on and installed the RX-7 AFM and big cone filter, all I could hear was engine and intake noises; you could barely hear the exhaust.

Give me(us) some credit, it's fairly easy to tell where noises are coming from, especially with no other modifications. As I stated before, there was a change in BOTH the intake and exhaust sounds. The exhaust tone was slightly louder and more agressive. From intake to exhaust, it's all directly connected, the same air that enters is the same air that comes out, and if the flow and noise is changed when entering it makes sense for a small change in exhaust noise level/type. It may depend on the type of air-filter used and the length and type of intake tubing as well. I had a very short intake tube with a K&N cone filter.

But these are the people who think that having a big wing on your car will make it go faster. :D

let them keep thinking that way, so if they wanna race (confined area) its easier for us to humilate them :D

I have the monsterflow CAI with isolator box. installed a roadstersport muffler and cant really hear the intake now. love the muffler sound and the throttle response i get from the CAI. cant say if made a sound difference to the exhaust,but I do feel the difference and I am happy with the results.

I butchered my airbox on my truck and it is definitely louder, in fact I have had people tell me they could hear me coming from about a block away!! (I didnt know it was THAT loud!) But all the sound is definitely from the intake...in fact, it totally drowns out the stock exhaust now. Kinda weird, because it sounds like my exhaust is exiting in the front or something.

This is my reasoning. A properly tuned intake will put high pressure pulses of intake air at the intake valve when it opens. This is the point of intake kits. Higher intake pressures lead to higher cylinder pressures during the power stroke. Since exhaust noise intensity should vary directly with cylinder pressure, the exhaust will be louder. How much louder? I don't know. You might be able to hear it, might not. However, I've noticed that small differences can affect the exhaust note, even ambient temp, so if you have a good ear and notice I believe it.

This is my reasoning. A properly tuned intake will put high pressure pulses of intake air at the intake valve when it opens. This is the point of intake kits. Higher intake pressures lead to higher cylinder pressures during the power stroke. Since exhaust noise intensity should vary directly with cylinder pressure, the exhaust will be louder. How much louder? I don't know. You might be able to hear it, might not. However, I've noticed that small differences can affect the exhaust note, even ambient temp, so if you have a good ear and notice I believe it.

I don't think any there is any intake pipe or air filter out there that "will put high pressure pulses of intake air at the intake valve" unless there's a turbocharger or supercharger somewhere in the mix.

BUT the sound of the engine is created inside the engine when the air and fuel mixtures are burned. The fact that the sound is produced after the intake valve is closed should eliminate any doubt that the only sound difference an intake makes is in the front of the car.

That was kind of confusing to me! :confused: I didn't really get the last sentence...I think you said that it HAS to be coming from the front and not the exhaust.

I don't think any there is any intake pipe or air filter out there that "will put high pressure pulses of intake air at the intake valve" unless there's a turbocharger or supercharger somewhere in the mix.

It's not really "high pressure", just More pressure. That means more sound; how much more, who knows, but definately more sound.

-J

BUT the sound of the engine is created inside the engine when the air and fuel mixtures are burned. The fact that the sound is produced after the intake valve is closed should eliminate any doubt that the only sound difference an intake makes is in the front of the car.

So the sound waves and resonance that enter the combustion chamber just disappear (or bounce back??) after the intake valves close? I don't think so. I'll just believe my own hearing ability, my sense of direction, and common sense with what I have experienced first-hand with my particular setup.

It's not really "high pressure", just More pressure. That means more sound; how much more, who knows, but definately more sound.

-J

I don't think so. The most pressure an intake on a naturally-aspirated engine can "produce" is about 14.7PSI absolute...or 0" HG. Your engine should achieve that amount of absolute pressure (relative vacuum) when you floor the throttle, with a K&N cone filter, paper OEM filter box, etc.

Does cold air intake affect exhaust sound?

What are the cons of a cold air intake?

How can I make my exhaust louder?

Why is my cold air intake so loud?