Single-Exit Exhaust vs. Dual-Exit Exhaust: Which System is Right for You?

By Mike Cote - November 9, 2018

You don’t want to rob your vehicle of its power potential. That’s why you’ve decided to upgrade your exhaust system. But, if you want to get the most out of it, you must determine whether you’d be better off with a dual exhaust or a single exhaust. Before you can make that decision, you need to understand the pros and cons offered by each.

The Benefits of a Single Exhaust System

A single exhaust combines the primary exhaust tubes into one collector. It uses a single pipe to route the exhaust gases out. Single exhausts come factory-equipped on most cars and trucks, and they’re generally an efficient method of elimination. An aftermarket single exhaust, like this one from Borla, is designed to deliver major power gains, improved fuel economy and a throaty growl.

There are several benefits of a single exhaust system, such as its lighter weight, lower cost, and increased exhaust gas velocity. The only major drawback of a single exhaust is absolute flow, which is limited to the diameter size of your tubing.

The Benefits of a Dual Exhaust System

A dual exhaust, on the other hand, keeps the exhaust streams from the opposing cylinder banks on a V-configuration engine completely separate. Because the main purpose of an exhaust system is evacuation, there’s very little to be done by a dual exhaust system which cannot be accomplished by a single. One major benefit of a dual exhaust system is that it allows increased flow from engine to tailpipe without significantly affecting your ride’s ground-clearance.

Whether you decide on a single exhaust or a dual exhaust, you’ll want to choose an exhaust made by one of the best brands in the biz to ensure optimum performance. Names like Flowmaster and Banks are responsible for some of the best single and dual cat back exhaust systems available.

What’s the best performance exhaust system for you?

To make your buying decision even easier, we provide a huge selection of customer reviews, right here on our site. We make it easy for you to get all the information you need before making your next purchase.