Straight pipes improve horsepower and torque, resulting in an increased MPG. The MPG will be better mostly on vehicles that have an aggressive driving style. However, a straight pipe is not the most efficient method to improve MPG as it causes excessive turbulence in the engine.
In addition, the straight pipe is known to disrupt the airflow. So ultimately, you have to decide whether you are willing to compromise engine efficiency merely to get a better MPG.
Having said that, if your straight pipe is tuned correctly and well-maintained, your vehicle is unlikely to have such issues.
Also, remember that straight-piping a car does not always increase the MPG. Most of the time, it stays the same.
In the following paragraph, I will go into more detail about how straight pipes affect MPG.
Does Straight Pipe Affect Gas Mileage?
Straight pipes do affect a car’s gas mileage but in a positive way. Immediately after installing the straight pipe, you will notice a slight increase in MPG.
The DPE, NOx sensors, and some other components in the exhaust hinder a vehicle’s performance. The car will run smoother and more efficiently as you remove all those junk components from the exhaust to install the pipe. It results in superior mileage.
A significant advantage of straight pipes is that you won’t have to worry about fuel economy being ruined.
As long as you stick to the basic techniques for saving fuel, straight piping your vehicle will increase its gas mileage and never do the opposite.
Do Straight Pipes Save Money?
Straight pipes indeed save money through improved fuel economy. Nevertheless, you should not forget that enhanced fuel efficiency comes at the cost of harming your car’s engine.
I would even question whether straight pipes are cost-effective at all as they increase expenses on a large scale.
The cost of a straight pipe alone can reach over $300. On top of that, you must tune the newer pipes. The pricing for tuners starts at $250 and goes all the way up to a thousand dollars.
Do not forget the regular maintenance you have to provide for your straight pipe.
In summary, though straight pipes lower the cost of fuel, the ancillary costs that they incur make it apparent that they do not save money in the long run.
So it means straight piping your vehicle won’t save you a lot of bucks. Then why do people do it anyway? Let’s see some of the advantages of straight piped cars.
Straight Pipe Advantages
Here are the top three reasons people straight pipe vehicles even though it is expensive.
Better Performance
The absence of all those junks like different sensors, DPF, and even the catalytic converter actually enhances the car’s overall performance. As a result, you will notice better horsepower and torque, along with a superior fuel economy.
Increased Speed
As a result of removing unnecessary components from the car, it becomes lighter. Thanks to the lightweight, the vehicle will accelerate quicker and run faster overall.
Great Sound
In a crowd, how do Ferraris and Lamborghinis stand out? It is the roaring sound of these supercars that attracts people to them, and you can usually guess what kind of car it is by listening to the sound.
Although the straight pipe won’t produce the exact same tone, it will still sound quite lovely from an aesthetic standpoint.
Does Straight Pipe Waste More Gas?
The straight pipe does not waste gas; rather, it saves gas by ensuring better fuel efficiency. Even if it does not save gas or provide a better MPG, the fuel consumption will remain the same.
However, even straight-piped vehicles consume a great deal of fuel in some instances. It occurs when the driver does not follow basic driving guidelines. Let’s see some of those.
- Driving aggressively (rapid acceleration and braking).
- Idling the car means leaving it running when it is not moving.
- Not using the cruise control, especially on the highway.
- Not maintaining the vehicle adequately, such as leaving the air filter clogged.
- Using high-performance tires.
Avoid cheap straight pipes if you want to save gas and improve your car’s performance. Instead, go for the high-quality pipe upgrades.
To Sum Up
Hopefully, I have answered all of your questions regarding whether straight pipes increase MPG or not. While you get slightly better gas mileage by straight piping, there are some drawbacks that you should keep in mind beforehand.
If you are planning on straight piping your truck but are not sure how to pass inspection with the pipe, click here for some helpful tips.
