exh_item.gif (9012 bytes)   The MGF Exhaust Tests 

 

Aims:

The primary purpose was to perform an impartial investigation into the performance enhancing characteristics of some of the exhausts currently available for the MGF. Many performance claims have been made for these systems, from the modest to the incredible. Therefore, to put the power enhancing capabilities of these exhaust systems into some context, we conducted this group test.

 

The Exhausts:

The exhaust systems chosen had to be readily available new in the UK at the time of the investigation.

The exhaust systems tested were (in no particular order):

  1. Janspeed
  2. Steven Palmer (Miltek) Supersports
  3. Steven Palmer (Miltek) GranTourismo
  4. Piper
  5. Trevor Taylor Fxtreme
  6. MGOC Double S
  7. Mike Satur Daytona (with quad exhaust pipe finishers)
  8. The standard exhaust system.

Other exhaust manufacturers were invited to participate, but owing to production difficulties, could not meet the deadline.

 

The Cars:

The MGF model chosen for the tests was the entirely standard 1.8MPi, with no other performance enhancing modifications. One car was a well used example with 30,000 miles under its belt, whilst the other was show room fresh (thanks Rover ;o).

The performance measures:

The outcomes measured were:

  • Performance: Power (bhp) and torque (lb.ft)
  • Sound volumes: recorded with sound meter, 1.5 meters away from left hand tail pipe, at 45 degrees elevation (dB)
  • Subjective measures: best looking, best built, easiest to fit, best sounding.

Sadly, attempts to get reasonable digital sound recordings from each of these exhausts failed. Bah! That'll have to wait until another day.

The data was collated, and has been published in MG World already. Click on the MG World logo below to discover exactly who makes the best exhaust. This internet report includes data never before published.

Click here for the results
 
 
 

std_v_spgt (50112 bytes)

MILTEK GRAN TOURISMO SPORTS EXHAUST SYSTEM (Stainless steel).

Uniquely styled and well made exhaust system. Silencer box has identical construction to it's Supersports sister, but the performance figures aren't quite as impressive. Similar torque gain, and a good deal quieter.

 

Std_v_tt (50440 bytes)

TREVOR TAYLOR FXTREME SPORTS EXHAUST SYSTEM (stainless steel).

Robustly constructed, this system requires modification to the heat shield to fit. No tail pipe finishers supplied with the exhaust (as they would be with customer supplied systems). Very very loud, and sounds wonderful. Neighbours will not be keen!

 
 

std_v_msd.sd (51919 bytes)

MIKE SATUR DAYTONA SPORTS EXHAUST (stainless steel).

Fantastic system, with detachable tail pipe finishers- get bored with one style change them for another! Well made, easy to fit. Best performing with the optimal 5 bhp gain. Voted the best sounding system, the best built and the best designed. So I guess we thought it was the best exhaust system on the day- and it was...!

 

std_v_std(MGW).td (53731 bytes)

Old versus new MGF: how does the power compare?

Many have commented upon how much better their cars feel after the engine has run in over a period of 20,000 miles. Can this be observed in the power curves of a factory fresh MGF and a 30,000 mile old example? Have a look at the curves above. In actual fact, there is remarkably little difference between new (red and green curves) and the run-in example (black curves)- in fact these are probably within the tolerances of normal manufacture. What maybe telling is slightly more mid-range torque in the higher mileage car that may go some way to explain the better throttle response and better performance we notice as the miles pile onto a new car. May require more investigation?

 

 

New Exhaust on the block: the Pheonix

A recent release onto the MGF exhaust market is the Pheonix exhaust system. The company that manufacture it come with big claims for their product. It looks good, and like the other systems tested, is well made and attractive. An unusual stylistic feature is the allen key bolts on the tail pipes. Interesting to sy the least! A plainer version is also available.

The performance tests were performed with the help of a local member of the MGOC on his own car at an independent rolling road. Below are two of the power curves recorded.

 

 

This first curve demonstrates two potential problems when comparing the results between different rolling roads and different cars. Both the black and the green results are recorded from standard MGFs, although what immediately becomes clear is that the green curves are significantly lower than the black curves: the black curves are the results from the MG World exhaust system tests, the green curves from the Pheonix tests. The problem could be with the rolling road, or with the car being tested suffering from a loss of power. Both sets of tests were performed on good faith- so it means that when one looks at rolling road results (even the ones here!) one needs to be wary of absolute power gain quotations- but look at the power gains, and consider what the causes of an unexpectedly low standard curve might be, and indeed how a particular 'good' result might have been achieved...

std_v_std(pheonix) (56543 bytes)

pheonix_group.gro (58854 bytes)

The Pheonix tests were well designed and constructed. They even compared their system with the (by then) achknowledged 'gold standard' exhaust system: Mike Satur's Daytona system. The power curves between the Pheonix and the Daytona are practically identical (the Pheonix claiming a marginal upper hand).