What To Look For In A Honda Civic Cat Back Exhaust

Modifying your exhaust system on your Honda Civic is one of the most cost effective solutions to adding horsepower and torque. The exhaust system is made up of the exhaust manifold(header), downpipe, catalytic converter, muffler, and exhaust tip. Since we are discussing Honda Civic cat back exhausts we will be concerned with the piping and muffler choice.

There are several options when it comes to Honda Civic cat back exhausts. You could buy a direct bolt-on kit from one of the several exhaust system manufacterers. You also could purchase a system from a local muffler shop. Each choice has distinct advantages and disadvantages.

To understand why its necessary to upgrade to a Honda Civic cat back exhaust, I'm going to use an analogy. Its all about exhaust escape velocity and exhaust flow capacity. Imagine a water hose. If you take off the spray nozzle the water will flow slowly, but it will flow out at more volume. If you attach the nozzle the water will flow faster, but volume will decrease. In order to make good power from a Honda Civic cat back exhaust you are going to want to find the perfect balance between velocity and flow. This is where your Honda Civic cat back exhausts piping size comes into play.

Honda Civics utilize a small four cylinder engine for power production. This means that for naturally aspirated applications(no forced induction) you do not need piping any larger than 2.25 inches. If you go any larger you will notice a decrease in bottom end power. Larger piping is like taking the nozzle off of the water hose. Higher exhaust flow, but decreased velocity.

The muffler that is used in your Honda Civic cat back exhaust also effects total power gained. You may choose to go for a glasspack, which is a cansiter stuffed with fiberglass to reduce noise. These type of mufflers flow extremely well, but they are extremely loud. You may draw unwanted attention from your local law enforcement officers.


Honda Civic cat back exhausts sometimes employ other canister style mufflers that use a combination of baffles and fiberglass to reduce noise. This is the most common choice of Honda Civic tuners. These type of mufflers give your Honda Civic that signature unmistakeable Honda four cylinder exhaust tone.

Another choice is to have no muffler at all! This will provide you with the best flow, however the noise will be almost unbearable to those outside of your vehicle. I would only recommend doing this if you were going to use your Honda Civic for off-road use only, such as drag racing or autocross.

Honda Civic cat back exhausts come in many different forms and fashions. Choosing the correct one will set your Honda Civic apart from all of the others. Remember to shop around and consult other Honda Civic tuners to help you make a good buying decision.