Will a Car Muffler Make a Generator Quiet?

Comments · 2.8K

• VI

  @victorkrivor2174 · 6 years ago

  I’ve done something similar to this, but you MUST use a motorcycle muffler instead of a car, especially for single cylinder engines, because they’re designed for the constant 100-0-100 pulses of the exhaust, instead of the continuous gas flow from a multi-cylinder car. I personally used a stock Honda grom muffler and it was VERY quiet, and they’re not too expensive. Just make sure you don’t have a hole in the system 😊

  5.3K

• WI

  @williamterry8912 · 6 years ago

  Try a sheet of plywood leaned against the generator to see if you can reflect the sound towards your neighbors and lower the level at your meter.

  1.3K

• DW

  @dwightmcclusky5286 · 6 years ago

  Imagine welding up a muffler on a generator just to have the guy you sell it to make a video of him removing it

  1K

• WE

  @wesjohnston8286 · 4 years ago

  Something to note about sound: the decibel measurement system is a logarithmic system, meaning, it isn’t a linear system (like inches or liters).<br>What this means is: for every 3 decibels increase, sound pressure (or perceived volume) DOUBLES. So a 6 decibel increase in your measurement means that the sound pressure has increased 4 times.

  978

• MI

  @Mike_Neukam · 4 years ago

  If anyone wants to mount an automotive muffler to a generator, it needs to be supported by the engine/alternator assembly, not the generator frame. &nbsp;Everything attached to the engine needs to be able to move as one unit because the engine and alternator are mounted on rubber isolators. &nbsp;If you don&apos;t, either the muffler bolts will vibrate loose, or something will break. &nbsp;Maybe both.

  745

• AD

  @adolforosado · 6 years ago

  I saw one running in southern Mexico once with a motorcycle muffler and it&apos;s the quietest generator I&apos;ve come in contact with.

  128

• BU

  @buckmurdock2500 · 5 years ago

  The engine manufacturer usually makes a &quot;quiet&quot; generator muffler that doesn&apos;t always come standard on store bought generators (I know, I was shocked too). That&apos;s usually the best option to reduce generator exhaust noise over all the homebrew methods. It will never be whisper quiet because much of the noise from a small air cooled engine is not from the exhaust.

  146

• MA

  @MadScienceHacksTV · 6 years ago

  A large amount of the noise is actually mechanical.

  1.6K

• RO

  @rolsta2871 · 3 years ago

  Just a little tip. &nbsp;If you decide to use steel water pipe screwed into the block to mount a muffled remember the pipe is a lot thicker and won&apos;t disperse the heat and can burn out the exhaust valve. &nbsp;It has happened.

  84

• ST

  @StevenSmith-jt6yg · 4 years ago

  From some of my experimenting with portable generators. I found a great deal of noise came from the induction side. That mechanical sound of the valve opening and slamming shut makes a hell of a racket.

  28

• AZ

  @azurplex · 6 years ago

  I agree that a motorcycle type muffler would be a better mod. <br>But actually the loudest noise of a portable genset is vibrating metal. Add more isolation to the mounts and the noise can drop a LOT. &nbsp;Enclose it with baffles while directing air and exhaust flow and you’ll make it practically disappear.

  70

• JU

  @juansolo1617 · 6 years ago

  Add an inline exhaust resonator pre-muffler. The standalone resonators will give it a deeper tone but they work WONDERS for quieting down an engine without a full cat.

  47