Is the V8 too quiet?

[nextcar]

Now that I have finally reached the break in period for my 4.6, I've been driving a bit more aggressively. I'm very happy with the 4.6 as it is very quiet and smooth, which is what I want most of the time. However, there are times I wish the motor made more noise, like an aggressive V8 growl. When I test drove the 2012 V6, I really liked the noise it made during aggressive acceleration.

Are there other V8 owners out there wishing for more noise? Does the 5.0 make more noise?

My request to Hyundai, or any other auto maker, is to design a toggle switch which when flipped would allow more engine and exhaust noise. As I remember, the Ford Mustang has a sound tube from the engine intake to the cabin, to let in more noise. Although I wouldn't want a permanently open setup, I'd like the option of opening and closing such a tube.

 

[scottdk]

Way too quiet IMO.

Here's the worlds quietest burnout - R Spec style


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba4vxk6Bcjs&feature=feedu"]2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Tour - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Skywagon]

Way too quiet. I've got a 5.0, can't even hear it as shown in the above video. Below is a picture of a catalytic convertor cut out of a BMW 328i, an in line six with one of these per three cylinders. As one can see, I'm amazed an engine can run with these behind them. I cut these out and it made just the correct amount of difference, in my opinion. However, I'm in a state where if all the lights are out one passes inspection. Some states put sensors up the tail pipe. Don't think one will pass without the cats on. Regardless, I could never get my check engine light to go out. An outfit by the name of Riss Racing in CA, 714-850-0139, (I've tried calling them, no answer) was making what is called an oxygen simulator. It would be hooked into the engine ECU and make the computer think the cats were working properly. They never developed one for the 328i but had one for the 335i thus when I traded the car I had to put the cats back on.
Anyway, one could cut out the cats, more noise and HP. They do make hi-flow cats as well. One could also consider removing the big resonator behind the cats. One could also go with a cat back system. Regardless, I'm starting to think about trying something. I'm leaning towards resonator removal.
Thanks

 

[timc1475]

Ironically the low noise that the super smooth V8 makes was a selling point to me. They don't need to hear me comming, but instead I'll see them in my rear view mirror.

For those that like to announce their arrival and exit there is an easy fix with popping on an aftermarket exaust for all the growl you and your neighbors can take, including your local law enforcement lol.

 

[nextcar]

wow, that sounds like more work than i'm willing to do.
i'm just hoping the next genesis will have an on-off switch to change the exhaust or something, but that's just wishful thinking. i don't think there are too many people outside an enthusiast forum wishing for more noise.

 

[Skywagon]

Found this!

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopdisplayproducts.asp

 

[Gambler]

You can change exhaust to get a louder sound, but you might be wishing for it to be quieter at that point.

 

[TJPark01]

My request to Hyundai, or any other auto maker, is to design a toggle switch which when flipped would allow more engine and exhaust noise.

It already exists, it's called the window button. You can search the forum for people who swapped the mufflers and got some nasty unintended consequences. Yup, the dreaded drone. The noise was cool for about a month and then they figured out that real world driving, the kind that takes you to CVS and Whole foods, not the fantasy driving of you on the Autobahn, doesn't need constant noise.

 

[ASHDUMP]

For whatever reason all the Infiniti's I hear sound nice. They have a medium tone which you can hear nicely. My Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 also had a nice sounds.... The Genesis to me sounds like a Rice Rocket.

 

[dond13]

Now that I have finally reached the break in period for my 4.6, I've been driving a bit more aggressively. I'm very happy with the 4.6 as it is very quiet and smooth, which is what I want most of the time. However, there are times I wish the motor made more noise, like an aggressive V8 growl. When I test drove the 2012 V6, I really liked the noise it made during aggressive acceleration.

Are there other V8 owners out there wishing for more noise? Does the 5.0 make more noise?

My request to Hyundai, or any other auto maker, is to design a toggle switch which when flipped would allow more engine and exhaust noise. As I remember, the Ford Mustang has a sound tube from the engine intake to the cabin, to let in more noise. Although I wouldn't want a permanently open setup, I'd like the option of opening and closing such a tube.

They can't make a car too quiet for me. My first Lexus was a '99 LS400 and THAT was quiet. I remember the first year they made a Honda Gold Wing. That was a quiet bike. I stopped at a stop sign one day and a man with his son was on th curb. The young boy turned to his dad and asked "Is that an electric motorcycle?" THAT was quiet!

My wife drives a Prius and I read where they want to ADD NOISE to the car so that people who are hard of hearing can hear it. I think everything has reached point where people are NOT comfortable unless there is a lot of NOISE everywhere.

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[Kurt]

I was trying to pull in to a parking spot at a rest area but there was a lady standing in the spot not paying attention. I had to honk at her to get her to move so I could park. When I got out of my car she said "sorry, I didn't even hear you behind me."

 

[Rey]

I have done a fair amount of practical research on exhaust systems. There are but two systems offered for the Genesis: Magnaflow and Borla. They both offer 2.5" exhausts with a central muffler and two rear mufflers. People will claim that one is better than the other, but I think the difference is marginal. The big difference is pricing with Borla being considerably more expensive.

Both systems will drone under certain common conditions. Drone is very annoying to me, and I was determined to eliminate it. I bought a Magnaflow, mostly because it is far cheaper. Magnaflow has an "X-Pipe". I thought I could reduce the drone by replacing the X pipe with a Magnaflow X Muffler, which is just an X pipe within a muffler. The result was a nice mellow sound with an annoying drone.

Came across research on Dynomax VT muflers, which have been out a year now. Took off the rear Magnaflow mufflers and replaced them with the Dynomax VT mufflers. Now I have 10K miles on the mufflers with no drone whatsoever and a nice muted V8 sound. I'm a geezer and like a quiet car, but I also like to hear a motor now and then.

The technology used by Dynomax is a simple spring loaded flap. Corvette and Jaguar use a similar technology using an electric motor. Principal is the same - flap partially closed during low throttle (drone) conditions causing exhaust gases to slow and attenuate. Flap opens under high load lowering back pressure.

Were I to do this again, I think I would retain much of the stock system. I would certainly remove the big dimple in front of the central resonator. I would use the central resonator as it seems fairly efficient. I would replace the rear mufflers with Dynomax VTs at about $100 each. The hard part is the fabrication to use the stock exhaust tips, particularly on the 2012.

 

[nextcar]

It already exists, it's called the window button.

hahaha. At first, i laughed, then i thought, maybe i should try it, even though it's 100 degrees heat during the day. i will report back on how it sounds.

i've made the mistake of installing aftermarket mufflers before, with resultant drone, and i'll never do it again.

 

[Gambler]

i've made the mistake of installing aftermarket mufflers before, with resultant drone, and i'll never do it again.

+1

 

[nextcar]

per TJPark's recommendation, i tried the window-open method, but sadly there was no significant increase in noise. the V8 and exhaust system are definitely tuned for maximum silence.

oh well, still i am happy 90% of the time, but just wish i could hear the v8 rumble the other 10% of the time.

 

[Skywagon]

As we all know sound is subjective. If an exhaust system is properly done it sounds good and is not offensive to anyone. I've had several cars that, from the factory, had subdued and quality sound. It's not easy to replicate but I learned a lot today. My R Spec was on the lift so I took some pictures. The Catalytic converters are up below the exhaust manifolds. That's good news. The first picture is of the lower side of the cat. The second picture is of the oxygen sensor down stream of the cat. The third picture is of the two resonators which I mistook for cats while laying on my garage floor. One could have a shop weld a short piece of pipe with flanges and simply remove the resonators. If the sound wasn't right they could be easily re-installed. The same goes for the first muffler, and even perhaps for the second ones. Most of the pictures were taken from the right side of the car so the front of the car is to the right. Obviously this is the R Spec. I don't know what the exhaust system of the 4.8 looks like but I'd wager it's about the same?

 

[Skywagon]

As we all know sound is subjective. If an exhaust system is properly done it sounds good and is not offensive to anyone. I've had several cars that, from the factory, had subdued and quality sound. It's not easy to replicate but I learned a lot today. My R Spec was on the lift so I took some pictures. The Catalytic converters are up below the exhaust manifolds. That's good news. The first picture is of the lower side of the cat. The second picture is of the oxygen sensor down stream of the cat. The third picture is of the two resonators which I mistook for cats while laying on my garage floor. One could have a shop weld a short piece of pipe with flanges and simply remove the resonators. If the sound wasn't right they could be easily re-installed. The same goes for the first muffler, and even perhaps for the second ones. Most of the pictures were taken from the right side of the car so the front of the car is to the right. Obviously this is the R Spec. I don't know what the exhaust system of the 4.8 looks like but I'd wager it's about the same? I now know why our cars are so quiet. A resonator and two mufflers for each 4 cylinders. Regardless, since there are so many removable parts I'd bet be considerably cheaper to pay a shop to manufacture parts than install an entire cat back system

Taken facing back of car.

Facing front of car.

 

[Rey]

I've spent a lot of time modifying the 2009-2011 exhausts systems; and, in my opinion, the R-Spec exhaust appears to be identical to earlier exhausts.

The rear cats are redundant like those on the earlier models. There are no oxy sensors at these cats. Motor Sports Authority sells straight pipes to replace these cats at a reasonable price.

Further aft you will see huge dimples in the pipes to clear a cross member. This is overkill as there is plenty of clearance. A nice power increase can be obtained by cutting out these dimples and replacing them with straight pipes. Then just lower the cross member with a few washers.

The central resonator and rear muffler appear to be the same as earlier models.

Note, I say all this without measuring anything, but it does look identical to me. The only area they might have changed would have been to boost the pipe diameter aft the cats from 2.25" to 2.50".

 

[Skywagon]

Rey,
Thank you very much!!. So they are cats. The tech told me they were resonators. Regardless, I'll get up under my car and check out the diameter of the pipes. Obviously if they are different than what is offered they'll have to be made. Here is another picture of them. Perhaps you'd be able to tell by it if the diameter of the pipe has changed? Regardless, that website is excellent info.
Thanks again.

 

[Rey]

Skywagon,
I just looked at my spare rear cats from my 2009. In the 2009-11 rear cats the intake is 2.5" and outlet is 2.25". It looks to me, from your picture, as though the intake and outlet are the same diameter meaning 2.5".