Flowmaster Vs Magnaflow Exhaust

flowmaster vs magnaflow comparison chart

What is the best exhaust system for your car?

For some, the choice between exhaust systems is all about the raw sound, while others will choose based on brand loyalty. And whether you drive a car, truck, or SUV, you won't go wrong in choosing an exhaust system from either brand. But if you're looking for the perfect exhaust for your vehicle, check out this comparison between Flowmaster and Magnaflow to help you make the right choice.

Which is the better exhaust system?

Flowmaster vs. Magnaflow

Flowmaster

  • Manufactured in: USA
  • Muffler Design: Chambered
  • Packaging: No packaging
  • Construction: Stainless steel
  • Sound Quality: Tuned rumble
  • Design Comparison: Chambered design in Flowmaster will give consistent sound from the very first time you start the car.
  • Scavenging Effect: Exhaust gases will flow right through the muffler at normal speed; fast-moving gases means more horsepower. Creates a beautiful growl but slows down exhaust gases; baffles within in the muffler are designed to create a scavenging effect.
  • Warranty: Flowmaster offers lifetime limited warranty on all the stainless steel exhaust systems and mufflers.

Magnaflow

  • Manufactured in: USA
  • Muffler Design: Straight-through
  • Packaging: Stainless steel with acoustical packaging
  • Construction: Stainless steel
  • Sound Quality: Deep and loud
  • Design Comparison: Magnaflow muffler takes as long as 400 miles to settle into its normal sound. If you like a loud exhaust, Magnaflow is perfect for you. The straight-through design is less effective at reducing exhaust noise.
  • Scavenging Effect: No flow restrictions. Mufflers are louder than stock and give the engine more power.
  • Warranty: Magnaflow offers the lifetime warranty on most of their performance exhaust products.

Comparison between Flowmaster and Magnaflow mufflers

Flowmaster

Flowmaster mufflers feature patented Delta flow technology. The Delta-shaped baffles within the muffler chamber improve exhaust performance while reducing exterior noise.

The following mufflers can be found in Flowmaster exhaust kits for pickup trucks and SUV's:

  1. 70 series - features 3-chambered Delta flow design for relatively quieter operation. Available in aluminized steel.
  2. Super 40 - used Delta flow baffles but is based on a race muffler design. It creates a deep aggressive sound and available in aluminized and stainless steel.
  3. Super 10 -loudest muffler produced by Flowmaster. It features a single chamber Delta flow design that produces an exhaust note only slightly quieter than a fully open exhaust. Available in stainless steel.

Magnaflow

Magnaflow offers 4 basic muffler configurations:

  1. MF series features a straight-through design and stainless steel construction.
  2. XL mufflers feature large diameter body and chambered design for a more refined exhaust sound. The perforated core directs harsh exhaust tones into the insulation material surrounding the chambered section.
  3. Glasspack offers straight through design with one inlet and one outlet. This is a great choice for customers seeking loud noticeable exhaust note.
  4. Race mufflers feature short straight through design with high-temperature packing material making it ideal for vehicles subjected to the rigors of track use. The high noise level makes them less ideal for street vehicles.

About the Brands

Flowmaster

  • Date Founded: 1983
  • Founder: Ray Flugger
  • Headquarters: The company has two locations totaling more than 400,000 square feet in Santa Rosa California and West Sacramento, California.
  • Products: Performance exhaust systems, mufflers, exhaust kits, racing mufflers, stainless steel mufflers and exhaust accessories for cars, muscle cars, trucks, diesel trucks, SUV's, motorhomes, ATV's. Best known for their line of high-performance "chambered mufflers".

Magnaflow

  • Date Founded: 1981
  • Founder: Jerry Paolone
  • Headquarters: Facilities include:
  • 50,000 square foot headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita.
  • a 280,000-square foot manufacturing and distribution center in Oceanside.
  • a secondary 125,000 square foot manufacturing facility.
  • a 30,000-square foot research and development tech center.
  • Products: Ranges from direct-fit converters and cat-back systems to universal mufflers and builder's kits for fabricating your own custom exhaust system.
  • Produces three styles of exhaust systems that include the competition series, race series and street series.

Competitive Advantages

Flowmaster

  • Employee Hiring & Training: Over 150 production employees are cross-trained in multiple roles to accommodate a wide variety of production variables including stamping, welding, pipe bending, painting, polishing, testing, and packaging.
  • Innovations: The manufacturing team is constantly experimenting with new machinery and reconfiguring existing machines and work processes to increase efficiency and product quality.
  • Technology: Flowmaster has built and programmed its own robots to complete the weld on the muffler body while journey men welders complete the more intricate welds inside mufflers and its inlets and outlets.
  • Quality Testing: Flowmaster has approximately 350 active exhaust systems and creates jigs to guarantee a great fit and regularly tests system fit as they come off the line to ensure quality and sound levels.
  • Eco-friendly Practices: Flowmaster complies with environmental regulations by upgrading their plant air handling systems. Welding gases used to eliminate odors and VOC's.
  • Recycling: Flowmaster has an aggressive in-house recycling program to reuse scrap materials created during the manufacturing process.

Magnaflow

  • Employee Hiring & Training: Magnaflow strives to hire quality people who care about the workplace and are a good match for the company.
  • Innovations: The 30,000-square foot R&D tech center is home to two in-ground dynamometers, a flow bench, and sound testing to ensure that every new part passes quality and performance standards before being approved for manufacturing.
  • Technology: Magnaflow manufactures all products in the USA using premium components and the latest technology.
  • Quality Testing: Every new part must pass their quality and performance standards before being approved for manufacturing.