LAS VEGAS, Nov. 2, 1999 - The Walker® Quiet-Flow™ muffler from Tenneco Automotive is a premium exhaust product that features an open flow pattern for increased exhaust flow and better engine efficiency. Beyond it's technology and greater efficiency, the Quiet-Flow lives up to its name - it's quiet.

The Walker Quiet-Flow muffler represents a new generation of replacement mufflers that deliver improved sound quality and an average of 35 percent less exhaust backpressure when compared to other replacement mufflers.

The Best of Both Worlds
Previously, open flow exhaust patterns resulted in louder and noisier sound emissions than most consumers prefer. This dilemma forced manufacturers to compromise between engine performance and exhaust sound. Tenneco Automotive engineers worked to find ways to increase exhaust flow yet improve sound quality. The breakthrough provided by the new Quiet-Flow muffler is the result of a highly durable, continuous-strand fibrous material that is licensed in North America to Tenneco Automotive for use in Walker replacement exhaust products.

Developed by Owens Corning, this material is inserted into a select chamber in the Quiet-Flow via a patented manufacturing process. As exhaust gases and sound waves pass through the muffler, medium to high frequency sounds are channeled into the select chamber containing the fibrous material. The material then dampens the sound.

The sound-absorption properties of the fibrous material also allow Tenneco Automotive engineers to tune each muffler application for optimum sound quality. As a result, each Quiet-Flow muffler is custom tuned to filter out more of the high frequency engine noises, resulting in more pleasing, lower sounding exhaust tones.

Open Flow Design
As exhaust gases and sound waves are generated from the engine, they need to travel through the exhaust system's intricate duct work to be channeled out of the vehicle. Most exhaust systems channel gases and sound waves through a "tortuous path" of small-diameter louvre tubes and "pinch points" to help deaden sound waves before they leave the vehicle. Employing this type of exhaust system design reduces sound, but also highly restricts the flow of exhaust gases, which can rob an engine of power and limit its operating efficiency.

Using the fibrous material and its sound-absorbing characteristics allowed Tenneco Automotive engineers to design the Walker Quiet-Flow with larger-diameter louvre tubes and, in many cases, eliminate pinch points. The result is a less restrictive exhaust flow and improved engine performance.

High-Quality Construction
The new Walker Quiet-Flow muffler is made with an aluminized steel construction that offers greater resistance to corrosion than low-carbon metal materials found in economy mufflers. The Quite-Flow muffler also features a spun-lock construction for durability. This style of construction reduces seam splitting and blow-outs, traditionally some of the most common types of muffler failure.

The Walker Quiet-Flow muffler represents a new generation of replacement mufflers that deliver improved sound quality and an average of 35 percent less exhaust backpressure when compared to other replacement mufflers.

Tenneco Automotive is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of ride control and emission control products and systems, which are sold under the Monroe® and Walker® global brand names. Among its products are Monroe® Sensa-Trac® shocks and struts, Rancho® shock absorbers, Walker® Quiet-Flow™ mufflers and DynoMax™ performance exhaust products, and Monroe® Clevite™ vibration control components.