Need advice re: Inserting silencer in muffler -does it adversely affect performance?

[tr8theta]

Hello cc members
I just signed up today. I bought a 1998 Honda Civic EX with a V-Tec engine for my son as his first car.
It has 165k on it. The exhaust system piping is about 2 1/2 in diameter with a muffler which is loud. I was told that it's a racing exhaust system (what do I know?) so I inserted the muffler silencer which toned ithe loudnesst down a bit but my check engine light came on within minutes of installing it.
I want to know if using this silencer will in anyway adversely affect the performance of the car or reduce the mpg or affect the engine or catalytic converter. I'm getting conflicting advice from supposedly knowing technicians. An Autozone person checked the check engine light and said it's the 02 sensor for the catalytic converter that's gone bad. Did my inserting the silencer make this happen???
Please answer in layman's terms...I'm not a mechanic or very savvy with the terminology.
Thank you for your help.
Thomas

 

[young_]

I ran a silencer on my exhaust for a while with no issues. I know plenty of people that have ran them with zero issues. It shouldn't cause a Check Engine Light.


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[R3dline]

id just change the o2 sensor, a silencer isnt going to harm it, if anything it will help, these cars are not meant to have a 4 inch fart can.

 

[RonJ]

Post the CEL code.

 

[XpL0d3r]

to ClubCivic!

You if you can get back to AutoZone, have them pull the code again, and post it here. Some fellow members should be able to help you out.

 

[civexspeedy]

Yeah before you do anything, get the cel code. The cel could not even be related to the silencer/exhaust at all. Regardless, a silencer shouldn't hurt anything but might decrease performance/mpg a very tiny amount. After all you are restricting the flow of exhaust. But the difference should not be significant.

 

[mikekh10a]

a silencer isnt going to harm it, if anything it will help, these cars are not meant to have a 4 inch fart can.

Silencer doesnt help with anything besides sound level. And i dont think any car is meant to have a "4 inch fart can" lolz

 

[crash!]

Silencer only effects performance when you're higher horsepower. It restricts the engines ability to breathe, but if you're sticking it on a stock motors exhaust you'll be just fine.