Muffler

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This article is about the engine piece. For the piece of clothing, see Scarf. For a silencer as fitted to a gun, see Suppressor.

Muffler and exhaust pipe on a Ducati 695

A muffler (or silencer in British English) is a device for reducing the amount of noise emitted by a machine. On internal combustion engines, the engine exhaust blows out through the muffler. The internal combustion engine muffler or silencer was developed in parallel with the firearm suppressor by Hiram Percy Maxim.

1 Description
2 Advantages
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Description

Dual exhaust pipes attached to a car's muffler

Mufflers are typically installed along the exhaust pipe as part of the exhaust system of the engine. The muffler accomplishes this with a resonating chamber, which is specifically designed such that opposite sound waves are likely to collide, canceling each other out. They are a common piece of equipment on automobiles, usually slung under the rear of a car, but many diesel-powered semi trucks have large mufflers mounted vertically behind the cab.

Catalytic converters also often have a muffling effect.

[edit] Advantages

Mufflers that reduce backpressure were invented in the late 20th century, and resulted in increased engine efficiency, performance, power output, and simultaneously decreased overall wear and tear on the engines' components, as well as sound to levels in compliance with the law.