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Commercial Exhaust Silencers for Trucks

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Commercial Exhaust Silencers for Trucks

HGV trucks have a powerful engine and exhaust system that allows for long journeys and heavy trailer weight. Due to its large size, the turbo/engine creates much louder sounds than a car’s engine, and therefore needs an appropriate silencer (sometimes known as a muffler). Commercial trucks are also expected to limit their road noise to reduce noise pollution near built-up areas.

What are commercial truck silencers and why are they important?

Commercial truck silencers are designed to reduce the sound of your vehicle’s engine and/or turbo. Exhaust systems can be loud, especially when you are exerting more force on the engine by going at faster speeds. It is a legal requirement for all vehicles to have a silencer, and trucks can be louder than the average car, so it’s important you reduce the noise with the appropriate silencer. The UK’s regulations for road noise are that exhausts should be no louder than 72 decibels, and if this is exceeded it can lead to a £50 fine.

The effects of road noise pollution

Noise pollution from traffic can take a toll on our health over time. It has been proven to cause high stress levels, high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes, and can eventually lead to premature death (BBC). It is therefore vital to ensure you don’t contribute to harmful road noise and get a proficient silencer to mask your exhaust’s noise.

The different types of commercial truck silencers

There are plenty of silencers which differ in size, internal function, and components.

Sizes and shapes:

The appropriate size for an exhaust silencer depends on how large the vehicle is. A larger vehicle will exert more force and energy and, as a result, it makes the engine louder – hence the need for a sizeable exhaust silencer. A bigger silencer allows for the loud sound to pass through more perforated filters or ‘diffusers’ in a larger surface area which diminishes the sound before it escapes. These are typically shaped as boxes or cylinders

HGV exhaust silencer
Box-shaped exhaust silencer

HGV exhaust silencer
Cylinder-shaped exhaust silencer

Flat-bodied (‘straight-through’) exhaust silencers work by making the sound travel straight-through the body. It has insulated perforated material inside to mask the sound from when it enters the single inlet and escapes the single outlet. Smaller vehicles benefit from this type of exhaust silencer as it takes up less space with its flat body.

HGV exhaust silencer
Flat ‘straight-through’ exhaust silencer

Inlets and outlets:

Exhaust silencers can feature single inlets (entrances), or dual inlets if you have more than one engine output, for example a two-valve or multi-valve engine which can be found in some vehicles. Alternatively, they can have single outlets (exits) or dual outlets which divides the sound so it’s not as blaring. Single outlets are best suited for smaller engines as these will usually be quieter than larger engines.

HGV exhaust silencer
Exhaust silencer with dual inlet

Some inlets/outlets have angled exhaust bends which are made to reach the turbo/engine in a certain position. The angled exhaust bends also create more space for the sound waves to travel so that it can diminish whilst inside the perforated tubes before it escapes.

HGV exhaust silencer
Cylinder-shaped silencer with angled exhaust bends
HGV exhaust silencer
Flat box-shaped silencer with long angled exhaust bends

For commercial trucks, large silencers (such as the box or cylinder-shaped silencers) are the most suitable, with a dual outlet to divide the sound and, depending on whether your engine is a two-valve or multi-valve, may need a dual/multi inlet too.

Material:

Commercial trucks drive for miles in a variety of climates and experience tough conditions like road salt and exhaust condensation, so the material of a silencer is important to reduce unwanted damage. Our exhaust silencers are typically made from one of two materials: aluminium or galvanised steel.

Aluminium is a natural material found in the earth’s core. It is lightweight, strong, and resistant to corrosion. As it has naturally durable properties and is more corrosive-resistant than galvanised steel, it is better in outdoor conditions like rain and ice. It is also a great sound absorber and is perfect at limiting your exhaust noise, whilst its lightweight properties make the vehicle easier to move, thus improving fuel efficiency.

Galvanised steel is made through a process of hot-dipping steel into zinc to coat it which prevents any corrosive substances from reaching the steel. Galvanised steel is much stronger and, as a result, heavier. Although, it means that it is resistant to bending when under force or hot weather which is also beneficial for an engine which can get hot. The protective zinc coating makes the steel last a long time, so it requires low maintenance.

How to choose the right silencer for your truck

There are varying components in a truck’s exhaust system that can differ between each truck. You must first consider this when choosing an appropriate silencer so that you can fully optimise its use. Some trucks have more than one engine outlet, so will need a silencer which has the right number of inlets to plug into. Otherwise, the silencer won’t function properly and will only silence one part of the exhaust system.

Large trucks correspondingly need larger silencers as more gas is produced, whilst the ‘straight-through’ type of silencer would benefit smaller trucks as less gas is produced and therefore doesn’t need as much space before the sound is minimised.

Commercial trucks will need silencers made from a durable material which won’t rust easily and is less prone to any wear and tear.

For those wanting an affordable option, aluminium is cheaper to purchase than galvanised steel. Aluminium also offers sound-proofing material, which is a suitable property for silencers, as well as it being lightweight which can save money on fuel as it will improve fuel efficiency.

Galvanised steel is stronger yet heavier, so isn’t as suitable as aluminium for fuel efficiency, however the thicker material proves better for heat-resistance. Despite galvanised steel being the expensive option between the two, it is more low maintenance than aluminium as the zinc coating offers a second protective layer.

In summary, having a properly functioning silencer for your commercial truck is important as it can:

  • Improve its overall efficiency
  • Means your truck is following government guidelines by adhering to noise pollution regulations
  • Control the engine’s backpressure, meaning better performance and endurance

If you have decided on an appropriate silencer, you can purchase a range of reliable, good quality silencers fit for your truck size or brand (DAF, Scania, etc) on our website here. Or if you’re still considering which silencer is best, you can contact our helpful team.

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