If you own a 4-cylinder car, chances are you've asked yourself, "How can I make my exhaust sound better?" Perhaps you want it refined with a deep, tuned sports tone, or maybe you simply want it to sound more aggressive, leaning towards a racecar. 

Luckily, the right modifications can improve the exhaust note while also keeping the driving experience seamless and refined. Just knowing how the systems work and what respective mods you need are the key. 

Below, we explain the best ways to get that 4-cylinder engine to sound deeper, sportier, and more powerful without excessive noise or drone. Let's dive in! 

1. Why Do 4-Cylinder Engines Sound the Way They Do?

According to an article from the Motor Authority, the number of cylinders in an engine significantly affects its sound characteristics. The article explains that engines with more cylinders, such as V6s and V8s, fire more frequently per revolution, creating a smoother and deeper exhaust note. In contrast, 4-cylinder engines have fewer firing events per cycle, which results in a higher-pitched, sometimes "buzzy" sound.

Before understanding the upgrades, let us comprehend why these detuned sound characteristics are produced by the four-cylinder engines. V6 or V8 engines have overlapping power strokes that create a fuller, rounder, refined exhaust tone, while their four-cylinder counterparts favor high-frequency sounds that generate a sharper, unbalanced exhaust note. 

The nature of an engine sound depends on three major characteristics:

1. Engine Configuration & Firing Order

• Combustion chambers of a 4-cylinder engine are smaller, meaning they produce exhaust pulses with shorter duration and higher frequency. 

• If, however, during the staggered firing of V6 or V8 engines, the lower and deeper tones prevail. 

Exhaust Design

• Most factory exhaust designs are geared toward efficiency and noise reduction, with little concern for performance and tone. 

• Typical mufflers and resonators knock down the ringing sound to comply with noise regulations. 

Exhaust Pipe Diameter

• High-pitched sounds are derived from smaller pipes, while deeper tones are produced from larger pipes.

If you want a richer, sportier sound, you’ll need to enhance airflow and fine-tune how exhaust gases exit your vehicle.

2. Upgrade Your Muffler for a Deeper, Sportier Tone

Mufflers most significantly enhance the sound of your exhaust. Most OEM mufflers are designed to be quiet; aftermarket mufflers can enhance the tone without excessive noise.

Best Muffler Types for 4-Cylinder Engines:

• Straight-Through (Glasspack) Mufflers

  • Less restrictive, providing a loud and aggressive sound.

  • Can cause drone at highway speeds.

• Chambered Mufflers

  • Designed to shape sound waves for a deeper, more muscular tone.

  • Great for a sporty but not overly loud exhaust.

• Resonator Mufflers

  • Removes high-pitched frequencies, producing a smoother, more refined exhaust note.

3. Upgrade or Remove the Resonator

Isn't it really cool that, most of the time, your exhaust system can be equipped with a resonator? Such components would usually act in tuning sound frequencies and eliminating unwanted noises. 

Would you consider removing it or replacing it?

• Replace that with a high-flow resonator so you can have more fuel-efficient bodies while the extension of the muffler without too much cabin drone.

• By replacing the resonator, volume and intensity are although it sometimes annoys with buzziness or rasp in certain frequencies.

A high-performance resonator might be the ideal solution for you if you desire a deeper tone, yet not too loud.

4. Install a Cat-Back or Axle-Back Exhaust System

To see considerable changes in sound and performance, it is recommended that you consider a cat-back or axle-back performance upgrade.

What’s the Difference?

• Cat-Back Exhaust

  • Replaces everything from the catalytic converter to the exhaust tip.

  • Improves airflow, horsepower, and sound.

• Axle-Back Exhaust

  • Only replaces the rear section of the exhaust.

  • More affordable and still enhances sound.

5. Optimize Exhaust Pipe Diameter for a Fuller Sound

Your exhaust pipe diameter makes a huge difference in how your vehicle sounds and performs. Many factory exhaust systems come with piping too narrow to allow sufficient airflow and depth of sound into a vehicle. 

Best Pipe sizes for 4-cylinder engines 

• Generally, 2.25-2.5" is perfect for Naturally aspirated noisy but well-controlled sound.

• 2.5-3" Perfect for Turbocharged noisy sound-better airflow. 

Warning: Do not put oversized pipes (like 3.5"+ on a non-turbo) in your vehicle because it would deprive backpressure too much and leave you lacking torque in the lower end.

6. Install a High-Flow Catalytic Converter

High-flow catalytic converters allow exhaust to flow more freely, thereby allowing better sound and performance.

Reason for Upgrade

• Stock catalytic converters are restrictive and stifle the engine's tone.

• A high-flow cat helps improve sound clarity and not making your exhaust too loud.

Warning: A catalytic converter removal (also known as "cat delete") is likely illegal in some regions, so check on your local laws before carrying out any changes.

7. Add an Exhaust Tip for Extra Tone & Style

While an exhaust tip won’t drastically change your sound, it can add subtle improvements.

Best Exhaust Tips for 4-Cylinder Sound Enhancement

• Resonated tips - Slightly deepen the tone 

• Dual-Wall or Rolled-Edge Tips - Amplify Sound Resonance for Better Exhaust Note 

• Larger diameter tips - Provide Full, Aggressive Exhaust Sound. 

Tip: A good choice of exhaust tip gives great aesthetics yet tunes an acoustic sound in one's car.

8. Tune Your Engine for Maximum Sound & Performance

ECU tuning is to fine-tune your sounding and performing even after exhaust upgrades. 

Benefits of Tuning

• Optimizing air-fuel ratios for a more responsive throttle 

• Maximizing the gains of the exhaust modifications from the add-on 

• Adding the popping and crackling sounds in the exhaust to add a sportier feel to the whole experience. 

If a full exhaust system or significant performance changes have been made to your vehicle, a tune is highly recommended.

Conclusion

Simply amplifying your 4-cylinder exhaust noise isn't enough; you have to satisfy the trifecta of the right tone, right performance, and right comfort. 

If you are cost-conscious, a high-performance muffler or a resonator delete can already give you a gargantuan improvement. For a more classy sound, a cat-back exhaust system will deepen your tone and add power. For the best overall results, do a combination of tuning and further exhaust upgrades, like larger exhaust piping and a high-flow catalytic converter. 

Choose your combination of parts to match the sound and driver's needs you want. Choose between a deep, aggressive growl or a nice sporty sound; whichever way you go, the right modifications can help you achieve it.

For the best exhaust upgrades, check out Blox Racing’s collection and start transforming your 4-cylinder today!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What can I put in my exhaust to make it sound better?

Such mufflers also have a seed and baffle which are modified to help enhance the vehicle's sound. Add a sound-amplifying exhaust tip. Exhaust tips that feature dual walls or flared ends, or even just those that are big in diameter, often amplify the volume of the went exhaust. You'll have to increase your exhaust pipes by 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter.

2. Can a 4 cylinder car beat a V6?

However, the V6 engine or whichever seems to win the competition would depend on things like Power output: Generally a V6 engine tends to produce more horsepower and torque than a four-cylinder engine; however, there are occasions when a turbocharged four-banger can better a naturally aspirated V6.

3. How to get deep-tone exhaust?

Probably the most excellent option to allow for a resonant deep voice soundtrack is an aftermarket cold air intake system for your engine. When the engine is revved and the throttle suddenly released, one can hear the sound of air being sucked into the intake, altering the engine's dull note into a much more pronounced and aggressive sound.

4. Is a V6 louder than a 4-cylinder?

For bigger vehicles, the bigger engine is usually a quieter and more capable choice.

5. What exhaust gives the best sound?

Cat-back exhausts- These are the best-sounding exhausts that will also give you some power gains.