Community Forums

jollyjim · 03-14-2010, 08:00 AM

We have bought an Aero Turbine muffler to install on our 04 Beaver Monterey and have a couple of questions for others who have had this muffler installed on their MH.

Where did you get the install performed? We live in Florida and most of the places we have found on the Internet seem to be in the Pacific Northwest. We are thinking about trying some of the big truck places like Kenworth or Freightliner.

We are also wondering what kind of change in fuel consumption you may have experienced. We are about to take a trip to Alaska this summer and are hoping that the difference in fuel consumption will pay for the purchase/install of the new muffler.

What we have read indicates that the change in sound is not really objectionable. Not really louder... just mellower. How does your Aero Turbine sound?

Papa_Jim · 03-15-2010, 12:18 AM

I don't know if this helps you, but here's the name of a firm in Florida that installs that muffler on RVs.

Rick's Muffler
210 Ponce de Leon Blvd
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-824-8978

I want to put this muffler on our coach, too. I have yet to find someone to do it closer to home.

Jim Sanderson
Canada, eh?

J Walker · 03-15-2010, 06:51 AM

The Aero muffler is an interesting product. It should improve performance and fule mileage. The effect on the engine of the reduced exhaust back pressure is unknown to me. I called Cummins and asked their opinion and all they could do was recommend the original stock muffler. That is understandable since they can't test alternative parts. It seems that the exhaust gas would travel past the turbo faster with the Aero and spin it faster. Of course the engine and transmission have to be capable of the increased HP and torque. A place that sells a kit to install the Aero is Brazel's Brazel's RV Centralia Washington
There are also some dealers listed but none in Florida.

Mike Canter · 03-15-2010, 07:43 AM

My recomendation here is to make sure when they install the new muffler that you do not cut or modify the original exhaust pipe so you can return to a stock configuration later if you want to. If they need a modification then have them make a new pipe or an adapter. Also I would keep the original muffler.

Something to think about. Any performance gain with a free flow muffler will really only be felt with a wide open throttle. Gas milage and performance will not change at a steady cruise RPM/mph. The muffler might help you in accelaration, passing or hill climbing but everything else will remain the same except for the increase in the exhaust sound.

MaverickBBD · 03-15-2010, 10:15 AM

I had one installed last October at Brazil's in Centralia, WA. I also had an AFE high performance air filter installed at the same time. I am one of these guys that writes down every mile and gallon of fuel driven. I have 4,773 miles since install. MPG 7.442. Overall mileage (32,638mi) 7.483. I am currently about 1/2 through an approx. 10k trip. I have a feeling when all is said and done I might get an increase of maybe 1 mpg. I definitely feel an overall increase in power. The only thing that I can say for certain is there is a profound increase in noise. The group I am traveling with kid me about installing glass packs. Especially when I accelerate at a stop light.

jollyjim · 03-15-2010, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimkate

I don't know if this helps you, but here's the name of a firm in Florida that installs that muffler on RVs.

Rick's Muffler
210 Ponce de Leon Blvd
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-824-8978

I want to put this muffler on our coach, too. I have yet to find someone to do it closer to home.

Jim Sanderson
Canada, eh?

Thanks Jim.

This is funny. Camping World in St. Augustine had recommended this same shop to us before we ordered the muffler. I called Ricks this morning and Rickey said bring it on down. He thought that he would have to measure and order an elbow to install. We took it to him and after a couple of hours the job was done. Yes it is louder, but it is a different tone. It is lower and mellower. On acceleration it really sounds off at about 1600 rpm, but still not objectionable from inside the MH. At highway speed you can barely hear a difference from the stock muffler.

The trip home of about 50 miles really wasn't much of an indication of what my fuel useage will be. We were headed into a headwind of about 10-20mph. I guess we will find out more on the next trip.

The people at Rick's were great, friendly folks that knew their business. They don't have a lot of room to park and are on busy, busy US1, but they were great. They will order and install the muffler for you and were very reasonable. He said that he had installed quite a few of the Aero Turbine mufflers for your fellow Canadians.

Papa_Jim · 03-19-2010, 07:29 PM

I understand that the Aero Turbine muffler is available with and without resonator. I think the resonator would cut the noise a little without appreciably affecting performance.

The only reason I've been considering this muffler is to gain a little horsepower and mileage. I think anybody trying to do some real performance work on the engine (which we are not!), would find it essential to use a muffler like this. After all, air in, air out, fast and easy, that's what it's all about.

Any response from any using this muffler would be appreciated.

Jim Sanderson
Canada, eh?

jollyjim · 03-19-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimkate

I understand that the Aero Turbine muffler is available with and without resonator. I think the resonator would cut the noise a little without appreciably affecting performance.

The only reason I've been considering this muffler is to gain a little horsepower and mileage. I think anybody trying to do some real performance work on the engine (which we are not!), would find it essential to use a muffler like this. After all, air in, air out, fast and easy, that's what it's all about.

Any response from any using this muffler would be appreciated.

Jim Sanderson
Canada, eh?

We purchased the 5050XL that has a resonator. It is still pretty loud, but from inside at cruising speed it is not very much difference than the stock muffler.

I'll have to drive it some more before we are able to tell if we are getting better fuel economy and if it seems to have more power.

Snowman 1 · 03-19-2010, 07:58 PM

I had the Aero muffler and AFE air cleaner installed at Brazel's last year. Picked up 25 hp and 75ft/lbs at 1400 rpm. It is considerably louder outside at the back of the coach but is not objectionable inside the RV while traveling. You can hear the exhaust when traveling by roadside walls like jersey barriers, fences and tunnels. I kinda like it though. Like the bikers say 'Loud pipes saves lives'. Haven't noticed an increase or decrease in our mileage.