New exhaust - lost 5k kick

[mitch]

maybe you guys can point me in the right direction here.. I've had my 172 for a couple of years now and has just clocked up 20k untill recently I've had no real major problems untill on the way home one night the exhaust backbox just dropped off ..

to make matters worse, the car sounded like a tractor so I had to find someone local to do it. I decided after scanning the forum here that a stainless cat back was the type to go for and by all accounts custom ones were better than off the shelf jobbies.. anyhow, at the start of Feb, I went to Triple X performance exhausts in worcester and had a stainless cat back system fitted. I said to the chap that I wanted a reasonable kind of sound, but not something too loud.

two hours later and £320 less, I came away with my car which sounded not a great deal quieter than without the backbox but I realised that it would probably need a few hundred miles to bed in a bit and hopefully dull down a bit.

now the problem.. the exhaust note has quietened down a bit, but still attracts too many tw*ts at traffic lights etc. and just to make things worse, I'm sure that the kick that I used to get at the 5k point has gone. Don't get me wrong, the car is still fast, but just feels flat after 5000 ?

I took it out tonight a gave it a real f**king caning, but I'm gutted to think that this has effected the performance as I thought that the OEM exhaust was sh*t and limited the performance if anything.

if it makes any sense I had the following fitted :-

1 x TXM6" 16" 54mm Round Box
1 x 3" Welded Tp
1 x 4" x 10" 50mm Round Box
4 x 50mm x 1m 304 Tube

i suppose after all this talk that I would like to know if this would lose the performance of the car and if so could anything be done about it ? also, can these things be quietened down at all ? I'd hate to think I've wasted a load of cash

any ideas ? surely someone has maybe had this before ?

thanks

mitch

 

[16v_jon]

50mm diameter seems to small for a 172 should be around 60mm+ maybe why you have lost some poke

 

[mitch]

so what bore are the magnex ones then ? alot of people seem to have these fitted but fail to mention that they lose any performance

mitch

 

[mitch]

I also wondered whether to disconnect the battery for a couple of hours to reset the ECU may help or maybe change the air filter from standard ?

mitch

 

[Saner]

Disconnecting the battery, will not reset the ECU.

I don't think i've ever heard of your problem before on these forums, with a new exhaust the delivery can be smoother, but you should still have that kick!

 

[thedoc]

IIRC, around 64mm is the optimum
They usually quieten down a little after a few weeks.
If the exhaust has raised torque in the mid range, the kick will be less pronounced, but still there.. maybe taking it to a good RR can see if there's a problem with the power delivery?

 

[fufu172]

i think it doesn't feel the same, but it sounds the same at 5k and on...

 

[David_Snaresbrook]

I have a magnex fitted to my CUP with a BMC induction kit. And the power delivery has been much smoother since fitting these. The 5k kick isnt as noticeable, but its still there. As has been said, the power smooths out, so it isnt as prominant.

However, as has been said, i think 50mm is to small, but im sure one of the more knowledgeable people will tell you.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

IIRC, around 64mm is the optimum
They usually quieten down a little after a few weeks.
If the exhaust has raised torque in the mid range, the kick will be less pronounced, but still there.. maybe taking it to a good RR can see if there's a problem with the power delivery?

Agree , 50mm bore sounds way too low , 63mm is standard iirc . Sounds like it could be restricting the exhaust mate .

 

[mitch]

thanks for the replys - I think I'll ask charlie for a quote and at the same time ask him what size he would generally use as a rule of thumb..

what does bother me is why the chap fitted a smaller bore ?? I mean the place that I went to specialises in custom fit stainless exhausts

I wonder if I have any come back or not ?

mitch

 

[theduck]

thats actually smaller than the bore exhaust i have on my 1.6! Mines either 51 or 52mm cant remember exactly but i know its over 50mm. Definately too small

 

[mitch]

anybody know what size bore the OEM unit is ? maybe he copied that

 

[mitch]

i know something, i'm f**king gutted that its cost me £320 and its NOT right

 

[wide]

go for a 2.5" bore its perfect for the 172.

 

[M.C..]

thats the problem with a lot of custom exhaust places they hav'nt got got clue.
the std pipe is 56mm iirc
most aftermarket exhausts are between 2.25 (57.15mm) or 2.5 (63.5mm)

if i was you mitch go back and speak to the manager and ask him to explain why they have fitted a smaller diametre pipe than std and not made it to the sound that you want, and demand a new exhaust in the correct size (2.25 as it is'nt as noisy) after all £320 is a lot of money you could have brought a magnex, scorpion, blueflame etc for a lot less cash and got a better quality product.

 

[Ali]

67.5 is mine.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

thanks for the replys - I think I'll ask charlie for a quote and at the same time ask him what size he would generally use as a rule of thumb..

what does bother me is why the chap fitted a smaller bore ?? I mean the place that I went to specialises in custom fit stainless exhausts

I wonder if I have any come back or not ?

mitch

I'd go back and tell him that he's f*cked up , fitting a smaller than standard bore pipe . Maybe somebody could measure their 172's pipe and give you the correct size so you can go armed with the right info .

 

[LegoHead]

I was trying to mate my ktec backbox up with the standard centre section, and the renault one is smaller, too small.

Make sure they do it around 2.5" bore.

 

[MOZZalba]

I actually noticed a reduced '5K kick' after fitting just an ITG panel filter although I felt the lowdown throttle response was slighlty improved.

 

[LegoHead]

I have found that dropping into 2nd at 100 gives a real nice kick.lol.

 

[mitch]

thanks for all your help guys !

 

[mitch]

looks like a dead loss unfortunatly guys - I phoned them yesterday and today and was told various things including that they wouldn't fit a 63mm bore to an engine like the 172 as it doesn't generate enough power and that the back boxes that they use do not cause any back pressure so there shouldn't be any problems with the power delivery..

shame really cause they seemed a descent couple of blokes who booked me in there and then - I can't help feeling that I've been short changed with a standard system that isn't really built for the car and is also louder than I hoped for.

looks alot like Brian's 172 exhaust, but without the bumper cut

http://www.cliosport.net/index.php?ind=gallery&op=foto_show&ida=82


thanks again for all your advice guys I'll go and sulk now..

mitch

 

[thedoc]

are they having a laugh? I know a 172 isn't a 1000bhp car, but to say it doesn't generate enough power to warrant a 63mm bore is b0ll0cks!
As said earlier in the thread, a 1.6 engine has a larger bore as standard.
Your poor car is being strangled.

 

[Fred@BTM]

they're talking out of their backbox

 

[lewisniven]

I have found that dropping into 2nd at 100 gives a real nice kick.lol.

presuably thats ur 182 thats sat at GDI with the wrecked pistons then? lol

 

[Thomss]

Get it sorted mate, the system should make it better not worse.

 

[klio]

maybe you guys can point me in the right direction here.. I've had my 172 for a couple of years now and has just clocked up 20k untill recently I've had no real major problems untill on the way home one night the exhaust backbox just dropped off ..

to make matters worse, the car sounded like a tractor so I had to find someone local to do it. I decided after scanning the forum here that a stainless cat back was the type to go for and by all accounts custom ones were better than off the shelf jobbies.. anyhow, at the start of Feb, I went to Triple X performance exhausts in worcester and had a stainless cat back system fitted. I said to the chap that I wanted a reasonable kind of sound, but not something too loud.

two hours later and £320 less, I came away with my car which sounded not a great deal quieter than without the backbox but I realised that it would probably need a few hundred miles to bed in a bit and hopefully dull down a bit.

now the problem.. the exhaust note has quietened down a bit, but still attracts too many tw*ts at traffic lights etc. and just to make things worse, I'm sure that the kick that I used to get at the 5k point has gone. Don't get me wrong, the car is still fast, but just feels flat after 5000 ?

I took it out tonight a gave it a real f**king caning, but I'm gutted to think that this has effected the performance as I thought that the OEM exhaust was sh*t and limited the performance if anything.

if it makes any sense I had the following fitted :-

1 x TXM6" 16" 54mm Round Box
1 x 3" Welded Tp
1 x 4" x 10" 50mm Round Box
4 x 50mm x 1m 304 Tube

i suppose after all this talk that I would like to know if this would lose the performance of the car and if so could anything be done about it ? also, can these things be quietened down at all ? I'd hate to think I've wasted a load of cash

any ideas ? surely someone has maybe had this before ?

thanks

mitch

check all the diameters of piping on the new exhaust

 

[haitch]

couple of 'decent blokes' who dont know much about exhausts. my first was a k-tec catback (never sat straight), then after recomendation i got my first prospeed (looked/sounded great but i got 2" bore as i didnt know any better), after being informed i had another from charlie @2.5" and the difference was VERY noticable (full system), the rs thrives on 2.5-3" bore (especially with other mods) best to get it sorted or it will haunt you! somewhere like prospeed/H&S/Yozzasport etc known reputations on here. 'triple x performance'...sounds like a sylvia saint movie

 

[nezza]

Anyone know what the Mongoose system is? The pipe is f**king massive!! I have just replaced my K&N Induction kit with the standard air box again - still noisy!!!

 

[Lam7r]

I have notice the 5k kick has almost vanished since fitting my sports cat and full magnex system. The power delivery and torque is progressive from 2k onwards and just keeps going. The kick is still there i think but very hard to notice now.

Agree that they should redo your system or refund you seeing as the fooked up.

 

[Andy GDI]

50mm is too small, odds are the silencer is smaller inside as well...

 

[Dubai182]

looks like a dead loss unfortunatly guys - I phoned them yesterday and today and was told various things including that they wouldn't fit a 63mm bore to an engine like the 172 as it doesn't generate enough power and that the back boxes that they use do not cause any back pressure so there shouldn't be any problems with the power delivery..

shame really cause they seemed a descent couple of blokes who booked me in there and then - I can't help feeling that I've been short changed with a standard system that isn't really built for the car and is also louder than I hoped for.

looks alot like Brian's 172 exhaust, but without the bumper cut

http://www.cliosport.net/index.php?ind=gallery&op=foto_show&ida=82


thanks again for all your advice guys I'll go and sulk now..

mitch

Mitch that is utter crap. Go back and demand they change it to the specification you asked for in the first place. You could make their lives very unhappy if you've got the desire too,they are in the wrong not you....get it sorted,don't let them walk over you.