Want to add 10 to 20 horsepower to your ride with one small change? Installing a downpipe is good for anyone with a turbocharged vehicle who wants to see an improvement in performance. Which one is right for you? Let’s answer: what are the different types of downpipes?

What’s a Downpipe?

On a turbocharged vehicle, your wastegate bleeds off excess gas while slowing your turbine wheel. This leads to your compressor wheel slowing down and stops you from exceeding boost targets. Those spent gases leave the turbine housing outlet and enter the downpipe. After turbo, the downpipe is the first part of your exhaust and is usually the most restricted portion of newly turbocharged vehicles.

Flange With Simple Pipe

This is used on many stock exhausts because it’s cheap to make and simply designed. While it gets the job done, it’s far from ideal, as its design joins wastegate and turbo gases, which creates post-turbo turbulence, leading to reduced flow.

Bell Mouth/Split Bell Mouth

A bell mouth is a much better option, as its wide opening provides more room for the different gases to join together. It isn’t a very complex system, which leads to fewer possible sources of failure.

A split bell mouth initially separates your wastegate and turbo gases, then joins them again toward the rear of the bell mouth. While this offers some advantages and good performance, you’ll have to contend with the increased price and complexity because of the splitter. Don’t underestimate the value of simplicity.

Divorced Wastegate

A divorced wastegate keeps the wastegate and turbo gases separated for longer to improve power production while avoiding turbulence. Once more, however, cost and complexity come into play with this design. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it; just keep in mind there might be extra time and money spent along the way.

If you’re in the market for a solid turbo downpipe, we have an excellent selection at Private Label MFG. Now that you know what the different types of downpipes are, take your turbocharged car to the next level!