Worst Sounding Engine

[MX793]

The Gallardo's doesn't, or at least the 5.2 L version doesn't, nor does the version used in the Audi R8 (I looked it up).

The Lexus engine is a perfect 72? vee: it doesn't need split journals. The Porsche is 68?, and off the top of my head I'm not sure but I think it doesn't have split journals either. I figure it's close enough to 72? they're not worried about the vibrations.

Correct, the 5.2 does not, although the related 5.2 used in the S6 and S8 does.  The 5.0 V10 did as well.

[SVT666]

- Viper doesn't sound good.

- Honda 4 pots literally sound like sewing machines.

- New Camaros sound good outside the car, but inside the car they are very muted and drone a bit.

- Anything with a fart can muffler.

[Laconian]

Oh yes, Harley engines. They sound like shit and HD owners are always much too enthusiastic about sharing that crappy arhythmic farting noise with the world.

[Raza]

I don't know what you guys have against 4 cylinder engines, but the 1.8T and 2.0T sound great when you're pushing it. 

[2o6]

I don't know what you guys have against 4 cylinder engines, but the 1.8T and 2.0T sound great when you're pushing it. 

Many VW engines sound very good, especially the VR6.

[SVT666]

I don't know what you guys have against 4 cylinder engines, but the 1.8T and 2.0T sound great when you're pushing it. 

As do Subaru 4 pots and the SVT Focus 4 banger.  They growl.

[Mustangfan2003]

I don't know what you guys have against 4 cylinder engines

It's 4 cylinders short 

[GoCougs]

Oh yes, Harley engines. They sound like shit and HD owners are always much too enthusiastic about sharing that crappy arhythmic farting noise with the world.

Forgot about that. H-Ds are the worst. I secret laugh full well knowing that 95% of people think guys on loud H-Ds are complete tools. That such pipes tend to actually slow the bike down is poetic justice.

[SVT666]

Forgot about that. H-Ds are the worst. I secret laugh full well knowing that 95% of people think guys on loud H-Ds are complete tools. That such pipes tend to actually slow the bike down is poetic justice.

And how exactly, does no muffler slow the bike down?

[NomisR]

And how exactly, does no muffler slow the bike down?

Because the riders do not want to be deaf so they ride slower, and of course, hold up traffic because they're crusing in the passing lane.

[MX793]

And how exactly, does no muffler slow the bike down?

Lack of back-pressure in a true, unbaffled straight pipe actually causes a drop in horsepower (and Harleys don't tend to have much to begin with, so they need all they can get).

[GoCougs]

And how exactly, does no muffler slow the bike down?

Most I/C engines need a bit of back pressure to properly scavenge exhaust after combustion. Google the issue and you'll see volumes of information (it's complex, and beyond me without doing a lot of research). For an extreme example, try running a two-stroke engine without its muffler. Thing probably won't run, or if it does, will readily stall under load at low RPM (lack of back pressure kills low RPM torque).

After market exhausts that show an improvement in overall power usually do so at higher RPM and not uncommonly at the expense of low end torque. Without modifying gearing (lower) vehicle performance is not improved, and in some cases, actually decreased, especially when cruising or at part throttle or in sensitive applications (two-stroke engines, low RPM V-twins).

No automaker is going to botch exhaust design to hurt performance, as that implies restricting output, which implies lower efficiency (MPG). A modern automobile is a highly engineered system not easily bested by bolt-on parts out of a catalog.

[the Teuton]

Forgot about that. H-Ds are the worst. I secret laugh full well knowing that 95% of people think guys on loud H-Ds are complete tools. That such pipes tend to actually slow the bike down is poetic justice.

...but Triumph bikes sound like mobilized sex on wheels.

[hotrodalex]

After market exhausts that show an improvement in overall power usually do so at higher RPM and not uncommonly at the expense of low end torque. Without modifying gearing (lower) vehicle performance is not improved, and in some cases, actually decreased, especially when cruising or at part throttle or in sensitive applications (two-stroke engines, low RPM V-twins).

No automaker is going to botch exhaust design to hurt performance, as that implies restricting output, which implies lower efficiency (MPG). A modern automobile is a highly engineered system not easily bested by bolt-on parts out of a catalog.

Depends on the exhaust system. Most of the ones you seem are just for sound, but there are quite a few options to increase power/back pressure (and usually still get a nice sound)

[Mustangfan2003]

Oh yeah anything with glass packs sounds bad. 

[hounddog]

I did not look to see if it was mentioned, but the 3-cyl. Geo engine has to be on this list.

It sounded like it was going to fly apart at every rpm it hit.

[FoMoJo]

This is incorrect and in the case of the Viper's engine not even physically possible.  The Viper's engine has the banks laid out at 90 degrees.  The crankshaft for an I5 or V10 has the crank journals set at every 72 degrees.  You'll never have two pistons at TDC at the same time with such a configuration.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding.  The info here gives the firing order as...

Firing Order

1, 10-9, 4-3, 6-5, 8-7, 2 (unequal firing 90-degree and 54-degree intervals)

[MX793]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding.  The info here gives the firing order as...

Firing Order

1, 10-9, 4-3, 6-5, 8-7, 2 (unequal firing 90-degree and 54-degree intervals)

I think that's a case of somebody trying to make the distinction between a 90-degree and 54-degree gap in the firing.  The only way for two pistons to fire at the same time is for them both to be at TDC at the same time.  For a motor with a 90-degree V, that means two of the crank journals need to be some multiple of 90-degrees apart.  The crank on a V10 (or I5) without split pins has the journals set 72-degrees apart.  You'll never have two pistons at TDC at the same time in such a configuration.

Now, if the banks were 72 degrees or if there was an 18-degree split in the crank journals, you'd have two pistons at TDC at the same time.  But even in that configuration, you wouldn't fire two cylinders simultaneously.  You'd want the two pistons that move together to fire alternately.  So when one piston is ending its compression stroke, it's partner is ending its exhaust stroke.  This makes the engine run more smoothly because you'll be getting one firing every 72-degrees instead of one twin firing (one "big bang") every 144 (as with an I5).

[FoMoJo]

I think that's a case of somebody trying to make the distinction between a 90-degree and 54-degree gap in the firing.  The only way for two pistons to fire at the same time is for them both to be at TDC at the same time.  For a motor with a 90-degree V, that means two of the crank journals need to be some multiple of 90-degrees apart.  The crank on a V10 (or I5) without split pins has the journals set 72-degrees apart.  You'll never have two pistons at TDC at the same time in such a configuration.

Now, if the banks were 72 degrees or if there was an 18-degree split in the crank journals, you'd have two pistons at TDC at the same time.  But even in that configuration, you wouldn't fire two cylinders simultaneously.  You'd want the two pistons that move together to fire alternately.  So when one piston is ending its compression stroke, it's partner is ending its compression stroke.  This makes the engine run more smoothly because you'll be getting one firing every 72-degrees instead of one twin firing (one "big bang") every 144 (as with an I5).

I've often heard that the Viper 'fires-two-cylinders-at-once' but never really looked into the explanation.  In attempting to do so - there seems to be some difficulty in getting a clear explanation - it seems that, in fact, it does.  However, one of the pistons is at the exhaust cycle thereby invoking a 'wasted spark' ignition.  Now, in trying to understand the reason for that, it seems that it has to do with depleting the charge in the coil; as there are five coils, each coil fires two pistons.  As for the reason for a 90-degree and 54-degree alternating (odd) firing sequence, I now understand better the reasons for that.  If nothing else, I've learned a thing or two.

[Northlands]

- Viper doesn't sound good.

- Honda 4 pots literally sound like sewing machines.

- New Camaros sound good outside the car, but inside the car they are very muted and drone a bit.

- Anything with a fart can muffler.

Wat?

IIRC, Sporty made a good point about 4 cyls and automatic transmissions. Listen to someone using a manual properly in a Honda 1.6 , 1.7 or 1.8 and they don't sound too bad at all.

Maybe I'll have to try and record the noise later in mine. It's mostly stock , so it won't have a retarded sounding exhaust note to cover the engine noise. 

[thewizard16]

Oh yeah anything with glass packs sounds bad. 

For the last two days, my car sounded even worse. Sounded like a raspy, slightly deeper toned, huge fart can was on the thing. People were polite enough not to stare at me when I drove home and then to the muffler shop though, thankfully.

[sportyaccordy]

I don't know what you guys have against 4 cylinder engines, but the 1.8T and 2.0T sound great when you're pushing it. 

I don't know about this

- Honda 4 pots literally sound like sewing machines.

But I know plenty about this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzW8ECb5xWk

5% sewing machine (for smoothness), 95% zombie electric guitar hooked to some out of phase high tension power lines

4 bangers are generally pretty boring in sound to me, especially when turbocharged. But Hondas (or any 9K RPM 4 bangers) really know how to scream.

[68_427]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&v=mZ4iIZaYhXU&annotation_id=annotation_74242

[CALL_911]

I don't know about this

He's right.

[FoMoJo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&v=mZ4iIZaYhXU&annotation_id=annotation_74242

Yeah, that's pretty bad.  It sounds like a bunch of giant mosquitoes flying over a duck pond.

[sportyaccordy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW3xLR7CGtM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcL2q53YPCI#t=1m33s

[Rupert]

Goodness.

[TBR]

- Honda 4 pots literally sound like sewing machines.

Disagree.

Corollas are the worst.

[S204STi]

...but Triumph bikes sound like mobilized sex on wheels.

I got to ride a Street Triple with the Arrow exhaust... oh w0w... DO WANT!

[S204STi]

I think a lot of the problem with Honduhs is the poor selection of mufflers. I knew a guy at work who owned a CRX with the muffler missing. It sounded just fine; a bit louder but not buzzy or farty or drone-ey like those with coffee cans mounted.