Exhaust Acoustics – Reducing the noise of your vehicles
Vehicle acoustics are really important, and every industry and application is covered by strict legislation which determines the maximum amount of noise in decibels that machinery and vehicles can make.
Failure to meet these regulations and exceeding these noise levels can have a serious impact to your business in terms of compliance, health & safety and insurance – which is why it’s so important that you take the right steps to minimise take the right steps to minimise noise.
Along with reducing emissions and directing exhaust gasses, one of the key duties of an exhaust system is to reduce engine noise levels, and in medium and heavy-duty diesel engines, the engine is responsible for a lot of the vehicle noise.
In this guide, we take a look at some of the different factors that contribute towards vehicle noise, and some of the steps you can take to minimise the noise levels of the exhaust system in your diesel engines.
Sources of vehicle noise
There are 5 main sources of noise in a medium or heavy-duty diesel vehicle. These are:
- Fan noise
- Tire noise
- Mechanical noise
- Air intake noise
- Exhaust system noise
Whilst there are steps you can take to reduce all of these (e.g. choosing quieter tires, looking after the air intake system, making sure that the engine is serviced regularly) - in this post, we’re going to focus on the exhaust system.
Quick and easy ways to reduce exhaust system noise
If you need to reduce exhaust noise, there are plenty of easy steps you can take:
- Check the exhaust tubing – over time, exhaust tubing can start to degrade. Old, worn and leaking tubing is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to noise, so make sure you repair or replace it straight away.
- Reposition your stack and tailpipe – the position of your exhaust system has a big impact on the noise it makes. On vertical exhaust systems, a straight stack will be quieter than a curved one. With horizontal systems, angling exhaust pipes towards the centre of the road will cut down noise levels.
- Support your exhaust system properly – this will prevent vibration noise
- Install a resonator or muffler – these are specifically designed to reduce the noise of your exhaust system
- Modify your single exhaust to a dual system
Specifying the right exhaust system
Of course, none of these steps will be effective if you don’t have the right exhaust system or components fitted to your machinery.
Specifying and installing the correct mufflers and silencers, and making sure that all your components are well maintained and in good working order will make a real difference. Many modern emission reduction devices and filtration systems will also have a big impact on sound attenuation, to help minimise the noise your exhaust system makes.
If you or your business requires advice on choosing the right systems to help minimise noise, Alexis Filters’ expert exhaust team are more than happy to provide advice on the best products and solutions.
Expert support and exhaust systems from Alexis Filters
If you need additional information, advice or guidance on any aspect of reducing engine noise, emissions or exhaust systems, we’re here to help.
Alexis Filters are exhaust system specialists – providing a comprehensive range of high performance exhaust systems, components and accessories for all kinds of on-road and off-road vehicles and applications.
Choose Alexis, and you’ll benefit from the best prices on quality components from leading brand Donaldson, as well as responsive, personal service and expert advice on all your filtration needs.
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